St. Petersburg, FL – RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate announced today that Garrett Manes will compete in a partial schedule of the 2026 Toyota GR Cup North America series with the support of longtime partner Wigen Water Technologies, marking the Virginia native’s professional sports car racing debut with a team he already knows well.
Manes, 24, from Powhatan, Virginia, returns to the RVA Graphics Motorsports family after previously competing with the team in endurance racing. His step up to the GR Cup represents the culmination of a remarkable journey from elite sim racer to real-world championship contender—one built on a foundation of winning at every level he has entered.
Farran Davis, Team Development Manager. “Garrett is someone we’ve seen develop firsthand through our championship winning endurance racing program, and his track record speaks for itself. He’s won championships in sim racing, karting, and NASA competition and now he’s ready to bring that same mentality to the GR Cup feels like a natural next step.”
The partnership with Wigen Water Technologies has been instrumental in Manes’s development as a professional racing driver. The Chaska, Minnesota-based water and wastewater treatment design and engineering firm has supported Manes throughout his racing career, providing the stability and resources that enabled his progression from grassroots competition to the professional ranks. Wigen Water Technologies’ continued commitment to Manes’s program makes his GR Cup debut possible and underscores the company’s belief in the value of long-term investment in emerging talent.
Manes arrives at the GR Cup with one of the most diverse and accomplished resumes of any driver entering the series. A professional sim racer with over 2,750 career victories, he competed in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series from 2021 to 2024—the highest level of competitive sim racing—driving for teams including Elliott Sadler eSports and fgrACCEL. His virtual accolades include wins in the eNASCAR Pro and Road to Pro series, 24 Overall Championships, and ranking in the top 5 internationally for the highest overall iRating.
That elite-level skill has translated directly to real-world success. In 2025, Manes captured the K1 Speed E-World Championship and a $25,000 prize, won the NASA Mid-Atlantic Spec E30 Championship while also earning Rookie of the Year honors, and finished third at the NASA National Championships. He won back-to-back Spec E30 races in his first weekend in the car. In February 2026, he added the K1 Speed Virginia State Championship to his growing list of titles.
RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate enters the 2026 season as one of the Toyota GR Cup’s most accomplished teams, having earned “Crew of the Year” honors, four race wins, and a second-place finish in the team championship during the 2025 season. The team’s roots in endurance racing date back to its founding in 2007, with the organization evolving into a professional sports car racing operation competing in both GR Cup and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Additional details regarding Manes’s 2026 race schedule, livery design, and partnership announcements will be released in the coming weeks.
About RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate
RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate competes in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and Toyota GR Cup North America. The team fosters young drivers, assisting with on- and off-track development to further their careers. Contact Team Development Manager Farran Davis at farran@rvagfx.com.
About Wigen Water Technologies
Based in Chaska, Minnesota, Wigen Water Technologies is a water treatment company providing custom water and wastewater purification solutions across North America. The firm brings precision engineering expertise to critical water infrastructure projects, serving municipalities as well as industrial and ultrapure clients.