Turner Motorsport has officially announced its full-time return to SRO Motorsports America racing circuit in 2024, with a new look and new driver line-up in GT World Challenge America.
Robby Foley, a mainstay of Turner Motorsport’s activities in IMSA and SRO America racing, returns to partner GT3 racing newcomer Justin Rothberg in the #29 BMW M4 GT3. Rothberg will also drive in the GT America sprint series with Foley as his coach.
Rothberg, 22, is the reigning Ferrari Challenge North America Pro-Am champion, with six wins, six podiums, and 12 top-ten finishes in his first full season in the series. “I’m excited to move up into a more completive form of racing with a team that has a proven track record and a co-driver with solid experience as a coach,” said Rothberg. “I’m excited to learn a new type of car. The BMW M4 felt familiar at the test, despite being my first front engine.
He also brings with him sponsorship from his family’s company, Laticrete, founded by his grandparents Henry and Lilian Rothberg. “It’s special to continue my grandfather and grandmother’s legacy,” he said of the new sponsorship deal. “It’ll be great to have clients come out to the racetrack and actually get to meet and get them involved – and have it be more than just a product they use at the job site.”
Foley has been with Turner Motorsport since 2018 in IMSA and raced full-time in GT World Challenge America from 2021-2022 with Turner, earning class wins in both seasons alongside Michael Dinan – and an overall win at Road America in 2021.
“I’m super excited to be back in SRO full-time after a hiatus in 2023,” added Foley. “I’m looking forward to joining Justin, who is a great young talent who’s had success in his career already.
“I’ll do my best to teach him what he doesn’t know and to mentor him into these more advanced races with pit stops and driver changes. We’ve already tested for a day, and he’s shown that he is naturally talented. He’ll have a great group around him to get him up to speed, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Turner Motorsport planned to return to GT World Challenge America with a new line-up in 2023 centred around Hunter McKenna, but those plans fell through suddenly before the season. Foley and the team only appeared for a one-off at VIRginia International Raceway – where he won a pole position and finished tenth overall alongside co-driver Vincent Barletta.
“Seeing Justin take the track with his family’s company on the hood brings a smile to my face,” said team principal/namesake Will Turner. “Our team would like to thank (Latricrete Senior Vice President) Sean Boyle, the Rothberg family, and everyone at Laticrete for their support this year.
“We’re hoping to build on a strong 2024 season and continue our rich history of racing success.”
The confirmation of this programme will also accelerate Turner Motorsport’s path to surpassing Schnitzer Motorsport as the most experienced BMW racing team at all levels of professional motorsport. Between GT World Challenge America, GT America, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, Michelin Pilot Challenge, and VP Racing Sportscar Championship series, Turner Motorsport is now expected to eclipse 600 starts before the end of 2024.
Feature image © Turner Motorsport
