Chris Coffey Overcomes Adversity to Make Sebring Season Opener

February 28, 2026

Two-time GT champion Chris Coffey has had to overcome a great deal of adversity to be able to take the green flag in the Trans Am Series season opener at Sebring International Raceway. Competing for the SGT class title for the first time this season, Coffey has transitioned from his faithful GT Maserati to a Ferrari in 2026.

Three weeks ago, the transmission on his No. 97 Traffic Grafix/NAI Racing/GTE Engineering Ferrari 458 Challenge failed while the team was participating in a test day at a local track in preparation for the 2026 season. Team owner Colin Cohen ordered a new transmission from Ferrari, which unfortunately, never arrived. As the only full-time mechanic on his car, Coffey wound up reconstructing a new transmission utilizing the parts from two failed ones.

With the transmission and engine removed, Coffey was fixing a minor oil leak when he discovered that the motor was close to a catastrophic failure. On his own, Coffey got the parts and built a running engine from a bare engine block in just four days.

The team hit the track again, attempting to test the new engine and transmission, but a tire failure on lap four ended their day. Forced to load up the car for Sebring essentially untested, the team arrived for the season opener and set the fastest time in practice. With qualifying canceled due to rain and lightning, the starting lineup for tomorrow’s TA/GT race was set by practice times, meaning that Coffey will start first in class.

Live coverage of the TA/GT race from Sebring will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. It will be streamed LIVE on Trans Am’s YouTube channel, @TheTransAmSeries, and broadcast LIVE at RacingAmerica.TV