The Pirelli GT4 America series will have a 32 car entry for their maiden venture to NOLA Motorsports Park in Louisiana next weekend, the second race meeting of the year.
Not returning from the Sonoma Raceway meeting are the Mercedes-AMG GT4s of RENNtech Motorsports’ two-car team, as well as the single-car entries of Snow Brothers Racing, Cameron Racing, and the #35 Conquest Racing entry; two Porsche 718 Cayman GT4s from Absolute Racing and GMG Racing (#032), two Toyota GR Supra GT4s from Accelerating Performance (#55) and Smooge Racing (#69), the #124 ARG/Rotek Racing Ford Mustang, and the #888 Zelus Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.
Offsetting these eleven departures is one new entry from Regal Motorsports, a Kentucky-based outfit who will field the #427 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR for Anthony Bartone and GT World Challenge legend Andy Pilgrim.
Among the returning entries, Robert Orcutt replaces Todd Hetherington in the #17 TRG Toyota GR Supra GT4, alongside Dr. James Rapaport. Also, the #21 Toyota GR Supra GT4 of Nick Shanny and Terry Borcheller is now entered under the Carrus Callas Raceteam banner (was Accelerating Performance).
Among the strong 32-car field, NOLASPORT certainly stand as the local favourites. Their #47 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, driven by Scott Noble and Jason Hart, scored two Pro-Am Cup podiums last time out at Sonoma, and will look to lead the charge for the Louisiana-based squad.
They’ll be joined by the #7 entry of Sean Gibbons and Sean Owen, and the #19 of Alain Staid and Thomas Merill, who were second in Am Cup at Sonoma in race one.
The #18 RS1 Porsche of Eric Filguerias and Stevan McAleer took overall and Silver Cup victories in both races at Sonoma, and will look to build upon their success with another strong outing at the 4.4 kilometre, 16-corner road course. In Pro-Am Cup, BSport Racing’s #15 Aston Martin driven by Bryan Putt and Kenton Koch will look to do the same. BimmerWorld’s #34 BMW M4 GT4 (James Clay/Charlie Postins) leads the Am Cup standings after a win in Sonoma race one and a second-place finish in race two.
Completing the field comprised of 14 Pro-Am, 12 Am Cup, and 5 Silver Cup entries is the Invitational class #49 Saleen 1 GT4 driven by founder Steve Saleen and Eric Curran.
Images © Fabian Lagunas / SRO Motorsports Group America
