It’s safe to say that this isn’t what anyone expected on the first proper days of the SRO Motorsports America season. Instead of practising for the weekend’s races, every team has been parked for the last 48 hours after portions of the repaved Sonoma Raceway surface began to break apart.
Every resource available has since been diverted towards track repairs to ensure the weekend will continue as planned for SRO America’s championships including GT World Challenge America.
This notebook has been published as Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup North America has gone out for a 30-minute practice session, to assess the circuit after the exhaustive repair work that has been carried out.
As it stands, GT World Challenge America and the other SRO America series are still expected to practice tomorrow morning, and then race in the afternoon. Many drivers that DSC has spoken to over the last 48 hours are hopeful that the weekend will proceed without any further issues – and we’re also hopeful, for the sake of the series and its stakeholders, that there are no further issues.
Weekend withdrawals
Unfortunately, one car has already been scratched from the GT World Challenge entry list which now sits at 12 cars. Montreal Motorsport Group (MMG) has yet to receive its new #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R. The upstart team is expected to make its debut at Sebring.
That leaves just 12 GT World Challenge America entries on hand for the opening round of the season – though more are on the way, including Random Vandals Racing’s new BMW M4 GT3.
GT4 veteran Custodio Toledo was due to make his GT3 racing debut in this new Ferrari 296 GT3, running in the GT America sprint series.
But with the uncertainty over the weekend due to the surface issues, the lack of testing time, and Toledo coming off a wrist injury that has cost him time behind the cockpit – AF Corse USA has loaded up its equipment and withdrawn from Sonoma.
GT World Challenge America gallery
Despite the lack of track action, the garage has been open to spectators today for fans to get an up-close look at all of the cars.
Flying Lizard Motorsports will debut the new-for-2024 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 this weekend. Elias Sabo and Andy Lee will also make their GT3 racing debuts in GT World Challenge America.
The team also has a second 2024 Vantage GT3, the #2 driven by two-time GT America GT4 class champion Jason Bell – who is also making his GT3 debut this year.
While the new Vantage GT3 is here, Aston Martin’s GT4 customer teams are all using the previous-generation Vantage GT4. DSC has spoken to multiple teams who have expressed interest in racing the new car but are still monitoring its availability.
Racers Edge Motorsports’ Acura NSX GT3 is an ex-IMSA chassis with very low mileage. Despite the departure of WTRAndretti from the programme, Racers Edge will continue with the #93 NSX driven by HPD Academy graduate Luca Mars – and Zach Veach, who arrives via his prior association with Honda and Andretti Global in the IndyCar Series.
They’ll be competing for Pro class honours with Samantha Tan Racing (STR)’s striking new #28 BMW M4 GT3 driven by Bill Auberlen and Varun Choksey…
…and with Wright Motorsports’ #120 Porsche driven by Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer, who are weeks removed from a Sebring 12 Hours podium and will be heading to Long Beach after this weekend.
STR’s #38 driven by Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen also has a fresh look for this year, the team’s third season in GT World Challenge America.
George Kurtz and Colin Braun will continue their busy racing season and defend the Pro-Am titles in the CrowdStrike Racing by Riley #04 Mercedes.
DXDT Racing is here with two Mercedes for the last time, with Bryan Sellers and Scott Smithson expected to race the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R at Sebring next month.
However, Chouest Povoledo Racing is making the step up to GT3 this year with its new Mercedes, driven by co-founders Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo.
Chouest and Povoledo last drove a Mercedes in 2021, in a GT4 America entry from RENNtech Motorsports.
Esses Racing’s Mercedes is back for the first of its four appearances this year, carrying its livery inspired by the Formula One team.
Turner Motorsport is also back in SRO America full-time running the #29 BMW for rookie Justin Rothberg. Rothberg will run a dual programme in GT World Challenge America and in GT America with Robby Foley as his co-driver and coach.
Last but not least is GMG Racing’s #32 Porsche of Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent, which marks GMG’s full-time return to World Challenge America.
New Nissan Z NISMO GT4s debut
Over on the GT4 side, there’s plenty of excitement about the new, expanded portfolio of Nissan Z NISMO GT4s.
TechSport Racing is back with its two cars in the latest spec, after running the original Nissan Z GT4 last season.
Blackdog Racing’s new Z is also here, marking a new beginning for the team after switching from the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.
And so too is Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Z – but not in the traditional Flying Lizard red and silver cars it was meant to be!
That’s because the car that will race this weekend is a spare car that was built up 48 hours after Stefan Rzadzinski crashed the primary car just one lap into Wednesday’s interrupted tests.
Nissan had one available spare chassis at the track, which has now been prepared for Rzadzinski and Damir Hot. The damaged primary car rests in the back of the Flying Lizard tent.
This is also Flying Lizard Motorsports’ last race based out of its shop in Sonoma before it finishes moving all operations into its new headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.
RS1 switches to Silver class with Filgueiras & Dubets
There’s also a noteworthy driver and class change for last year’s GT World Challenge America Pro champions, RS1.
Eric Filgueiras was meant to share the #28 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with Community Beer Works’ Tom Kopczynski in a Pro-Am entry. But Kopczynski stepped away from the cockpit owing to increased commitments outside of motorsport.
With CBW’s full backing, the team will change to a Silver class entry after signing former Auto Technic Racing driver John Capestro-Dubets on Monday. Dubets was the co-driver for 2023 Silver champion Zac Anderson last year but had to miss rounds due to a back injury sustained in a Lamborghini Super Trofeo crash.
GT2 presence in GT America
Three GT2 cars are racing in GT America this weekend, including GMG Racing’s new #44 Mercedes-AMG GT2 driven by Brett Holden.
It will compete for class honours with the TPC Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo cars.
There are also a few GT3s you won’t see in GT World Challenge America!
One of them is ProSport Competition’s 2019-spec Aston Martin Vantage GT3, acquired from The Racers’ Group, and driven by Tim Savage.
Last seen at Road America before GMG Racing owner James Sofronas suffered injuries in a testing crash at the circuit, the #14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 is racing this weekend with Sofronas behind the wheel for his SRO America return.
This year will mark the 30th anniversary of Sofronas’ debut in what was then known as the SCCA World Challenge.
GMG Racing will have a total of four cars from three marques – including a second Porsche for Kyle Washington to race with in GT America.
The SRO America fan-favourite Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R of MISHUMotors has also returned for 2024. Mirco Schultis had planned on retiring the car after last season, but thanks to an extension of the Callaway’s GT3 homologation – and the addition of Long Beach to the GT America calendar – he has decided to run this season.
Johnny O’Connell celebrates 40th year of racing
And then there’s SKI Autosports’ new Audi R8 LMS GT3, purchased from Conquest Racing driver Manny Franco and now driven by racing legend Johnny O’Connell (no relation!)
This weekend marks an important milestone for O’Connell as he begins his 40th year of professional racing. He began his career in 1984 in the Russell Pro Series and first drove at Sonoma Raceway in 1986 – when it was known as Sears Point Raceway.
“Johnny still has the drive and enthusiasm he did 40 years ago, and based on our results from last year is still as competitive as ever,” said SKI Autosports co-owner Kent Hussey. “Melissa (Hussey, co-owner) and I love to see him in our car, doing what he does best. We are incredibly proud of our entire team and their hard work and dedication.
“We have enjoyed racing in the SRO GT America series the last few years and have gradually stepped up our programme and participation. We plan to run the full series this year with our eyes on competing for the championship.”
Feature image © Fabian Lagunas / SRO Motorsports America; additional images © Dailysportscar.com
