This weekend’s GT World Challenge America season opener at Sonoma Raceway.
- Thread starter teamzr1
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The 2025 GT America powered by AWS season kickstarted with Practice 1 late Thursday afternoon, with the golden sun breaking through the clouds at Sonoma Raceway as competitors took to the track for their first session
George Kurtz and Anthony McIntosh were the standouts in the SRO3 and GT4 classes, but the margins remain tight across the board.
SRO3 Class
As the SRO3 Class was back in action on the hills of Sonoma Raceway, George Kurtz set the fastest lap time in his No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3.
However, he had pressure from his competitors, as Elias Sabo challenged him for the top of the leaderboard.
The driver of the bright orange No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO settled into second place, 0.689 seconds away from Kurtz’s time.
Mirco Schultis rounded off the Top 3 in his No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06R GT3, leaving the brand-new No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevy Corvette Z06 GT3.R piloted by Ross Chouest in fourth place.
Series veteran Kyle Washington settled into the Top 5 with 6 minutes remaining in the session. Washington is back for another season aboard his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R. Canadian Marc Muzzo set the 6th-best lap time of the session, a mere 0.012 from 5th place, commanding the No. 13 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 296 GT3.
GT4 Class
Anthony McIntosh was the one to catch in the GT4 class, leading for the entirety of the session with his No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
Matt Travis was in hot pursuit on board the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, originally in contention against McIntosh, but a late lunge from Mark Crigler in the No. 140 Paradaime Performance Engineering Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport saw him secure the second-quickest time in class with five minutes remaining.
Travis went on to settle for third, ahead of Denny Stripling in the No. 188 Fast Track Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO, while the Top 5 was further completed by Max Hewitt in the No. 39 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO.
Let’s Get Racing
The GT America powered by AWS will return to the track for Practice 2 on Friday morning, March 28th at 9:15 AM PT.
If you can’t make it to Sonoma Raceway, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSonoma.
George Kurtz and Anthony McIntosh were the standouts in the SRO3 and GT4 classes, but the margins remain tight across the board.
SRO3 Class
As the SRO3 Class was back in action on the hills of Sonoma Raceway, George Kurtz set the fastest lap time in his No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3.
However, he had pressure from his competitors, as Elias Sabo challenged him for the top of the leaderboard.
The driver of the bright orange No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO settled into second place, 0.689 seconds away from Kurtz’s time.
Mirco Schultis rounded off the Top 3 in his No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06R GT3, leaving the brand-new No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevy Corvette Z06 GT3.R piloted by Ross Chouest in fourth place.
Series veteran Kyle Washington settled into the Top 5 with 6 minutes remaining in the session. Washington is back for another season aboard his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R. Canadian Marc Muzzo set the 6th-best lap time of the session, a mere 0.012 from 5th place, commanding the No. 13 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 296 GT3.
GT4 Class
Anthony McIntosh was the one to catch in the GT4 class, leading for the entirety of the session with his No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
Matt Travis was in hot pursuit on board the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, originally in contention against McIntosh, but a late lunge from Mark Crigler in the No. 140 Paradaime Performance Engineering Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport saw him secure the second-quickest time in class with five minutes remaining.
Travis went on to settle for third, ahead of Denny Stripling in the No. 188 Fast Track Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO, while the Top 5 was further completed by Max Hewitt in the No. 39 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO.
Let’s Get Racing
The GT America powered by AWS will return to the track for Practice 2 on Friday morning, March 28th at 9:15 AM PT.
If you can’t make it to Sonoma Raceway, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSonoma.
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teamzr1
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***The second and final day of testing for the majority of SRO America competitors wrapped up on Thursday at Sonoma Raceway, with Bill Auberlen topping the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS time charts in the fourth and final session in the No. 51 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
***Auberlen’s 1:34.575 lap time, however, was more than 1 second slower than Philip Ellis’ benchmark 1:33.278 lap set in Wednesday’s second session aboard the No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, which stood as the quickest over the two days of running at the Northern California circuit.
***Thursday’s activities were hampered by intermittent rain showers, which saw only roughly half of the GT3 cars take to the track for testing. Rain is in the forecast for Sunday.
***Tyler Gonzalez, in the No. 68 RAFA Racing Team Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, was quickest of the GT4 cars in testing, with a 1:41.854 lap time that was also set on Wednesday.
***Both the Toyota GR Cup North America and new-for-2025 McLaren Trophy America took to the track for the first time on Thursday for sessions. Westin Workman led the way in the opening GR Cup session in his BSI Racing Toyota GR86, while Jesse Lazare was quickest in his Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura Trophy Evo.
***Chouest Povoledo Racing took delivery of its two brand-new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs, chassis Nos. 19 and 20, on Feb. 7 at Pratt Miller Engineering’s headquarters in New Hudson, Mich.
***Team principal Aaron Povoledo : “Me, Charles Price, our crew chief, and our two truck drivers were there helping load up a couple million bucks of worth of cars and spare parts, freezing our butts off!”
***Dollahite Racing is giving the Ford Mustang GT3 its GTWC America debut this weekend, driven by the Bronze driver pairing of Scott Dollahite and Anthony Lazzaro. Despite being eligible for the Am class, understands, the Texas-based team elected to race in the more populous Pro-Am category.
***Lazzaro, meanwhile, is looking to add to his Pirelli World Challenge Race 2 victory at Sonoma in 2014, driving an R. Ferri Motorsports-run Ferrari 458 GT3.
***He said: “The fact that I have the opportunity to race the new Ford Mustang GT3 in SRO this year is really a dream come true. The last time I raced SRO at Sonoma I won, which motivates me. Bill [Dollahite, team owner] and I go way back, and now to be driving with his son, it’s a full-circle moment and special.”
***Alec Udell, who finished runner-up in the GTWC America Pro class championship with Tommy Milner after claiming an eight-race class win streak with DXDT Racing, is on-site this weekend, although it does not currently have a drive in SRO America this year.
***Udell is slated to finish out the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in DXDT’s Corvette, although understand that he could be put into action for several sprint races alongside Robert Wickens, who will be debuting with Milner next month at Long Beach.
***Archangel Motorsports’ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo for drivers Aaron Telitz and Todd Coleman is the ex-Pfaff Motorsports chassis that the Canadian team used in WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro competition last year.
***While not taking part in the series this weekend, GMG Racing team owner/driver James Sofronas and fellow team driver CJ Moses are slated to contest selected GT America powered by AWS races later this season.
***Sofronas is confirmed to take part in next month’s Grand Prix of Long Beach in his Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, and possibly more races later in the year, while Moses will be out in action in his Audi R8 LMS GT2 when his schedule allows as the Chief Information Security Officer and VP of Security Engineering for Amazon Web Services.
***Sofronas drove the Audi to his most recent SRO race win last August at Road America. “We are looking forward to having CJ Moses back in the GT2 class once again,” said Sofronas. “I will also make a few cameo appearances in my Audi in GT America.”
***Kyle Washington, however, is confirmed for the full GT America season alongside his full-time GTWC America program alongside Tom Sargent, both in Porsche 911 GT3 R machinery, which have contrasting white and black liveries this year. The black-colored car is entered in GTWC America.
***In addition to GMG, which is planning to take delivery of six McLaren Artura Trophy Evo cars, Riley Motorsports is also eying potential expansion in the new single-make series as well, according to team boss Bill Riley.
***Riley said: “Joining the new McLaren series is an intriguing opportunity for our team. McLaren’s legacy in motorsports aligns with our dedication to performance and innovation. We are eager to bring our expertise to this series and compete at the highest level.”
***Riley has a single McLaren Trophy America car entered this weekend for Eric Filgueiras and Tom Kopczynski in a program that’s being run by Jarett Andretti and members of his former Andretti Motorsports operation that was most recently active in the WeatherTech Championship GTD ranks last year.
CrowdStrike by Riley’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for George Kurtz and Colin Braun is confirmed for a limited season SRO America program that will also include the GT America round at Long Beach and GTWC America season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.
***Kurtz is set to defend his CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa class win in June, although in an SPS automotive performance-run Mercedes-AMG instead of a Riley-run operation.
***CrowdStrike by Riley’s Mercedes-AMGs, which are competing in both GTWC America and GT America this weekend, are carrying a new livery that originated on a non-Evo Mercedes-AMG GT3 that Kurtz drove as part of a one-off appearance in a Masters Endurance Legends race at Circuit of The Americas, which was as part of the support bill for Formula 1 last year. A similar design is on his LMP2 car this year as well.
***CrowdStrike is celebrating its eighth year as an official partner of SRO America. The cybersecurity company will continue to host exclusive CXO events on selected race weekends.
***SRO Motorsports Group is moving ahead without a title sponsor for GT World Challenge this year, despite a deal that is understood to have come close to materializing. Sim racing hardware company Fanatec, which filed for bankruptcy and was purchased by U.S.-based computer peripherals firm Corsair, elected not to renew its sponsorship with the series that dates back to 2021.
***Sonoma marks the SRO America debut of Al Kamel North America, which has taken over as the official timing and scoring provider following its acquisition of USAC Timing. Former ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race director Scot Elkins serves as the company’s CEO, while he has remained Clerk of the Course at SRO America events.
***Pre-event ticket sales for this weekend’s event are up by 80 percent over last year, according to SRO America’s VP of marketing communications and business development Robbie Montinola, who is also expecting further growth for next month’s round at Circuit of the Americas.
***While GT America has its first official practice session this evening, official track action will continue tomorrow, with practice sessions for GTWC America, GT4 America, GR Cup and McLaren Trophy, as well as the first race of the weekend for TC America.
***Auberlen’s 1:34.575 lap time, however, was more than 1 second slower than Philip Ellis’ benchmark 1:33.278 lap set in Wednesday’s second session aboard the No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, which stood as the quickest over the two days of running at the Northern California circuit.
***Thursday’s activities were hampered by intermittent rain showers, which saw only roughly half of the GT3 cars take to the track for testing. Rain is in the forecast for Sunday.
***Tyler Gonzalez, in the No. 68 RAFA Racing Team Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, was quickest of the GT4 cars in testing, with a 1:41.854 lap time that was also set on Wednesday.
***Both the Toyota GR Cup North America and new-for-2025 McLaren Trophy America took to the track for the first time on Thursday for sessions. Westin Workman led the way in the opening GR Cup session in his BSI Racing Toyota GR86, while Jesse Lazare was quickest in his Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura Trophy Evo.
***Chouest Povoledo Racing took delivery of its two brand-new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs, chassis Nos. 19 and 20, on Feb. 7 at Pratt Miller Engineering’s headquarters in New Hudson, Mich.
***Team principal Aaron Povoledo : “Me, Charles Price, our crew chief, and our two truck drivers were there helping load up a couple million bucks of worth of cars and spare parts, freezing our butts off!”
***Dollahite Racing is giving the Ford Mustang GT3 its GTWC America debut this weekend, driven by the Bronze driver pairing of Scott Dollahite and Anthony Lazzaro. Despite being eligible for the Am class, understands, the Texas-based team elected to race in the more populous Pro-Am category.
***Lazzaro, meanwhile, is looking to add to his Pirelli World Challenge Race 2 victory at Sonoma in 2014, driving an R. Ferri Motorsports-run Ferrari 458 GT3.
***He said: “The fact that I have the opportunity to race the new Ford Mustang GT3 in SRO this year is really a dream come true. The last time I raced SRO at Sonoma I won, which motivates me. Bill [Dollahite, team owner] and I go way back, and now to be driving with his son, it’s a full-circle moment and special.”
***Alec Udell, who finished runner-up in the GTWC America Pro class championship with Tommy Milner after claiming an eight-race class win streak with DXDT Racing, is on-site this weekend, although it does not currently have a drive in SRO America this year.
***Udell is slated to finish out the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in DXDT’s Corvette, although understand that he could be put into action for several sprint races alongside Robert Wickens, who will be debuting with Milner next month at Long Beach.
***Archangel Motorsports’ McLaren 720S GT3 Evo for drivers Aaron Telitz and Todd Coleman is the ex-Pfaff Motorsports chassis that the Canadian team used in WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro competition last year.
***While not taking part in the series this weekend, GMG Racing team owner/driver James Sofronas and fellow team driver CJ Moses are slated to contest selected GT America powered by AWS races later this season.
***Sofronas is confirmed to take part in next month’s Grand Prix of Long Beach in his Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, and possibly more races later in the year, while Moses will be out in action in his Audi R8 LMS GT2 when his schedule allows as the Chief Information Security Officer and VP of Security Engineering for Amazon Web Services.
***Sofronas drove the Audi to his most recent SRO race win last August at Road America. “We are looking forward to having CJ Moses back in the GT2 class once again,” said Sofronas. “I will also make a few cameo appearances in my Audi in GT America.”
***Kyle Washington, however, is confirmed for the full GT America season alongside his full-time GTWC America program alongside Tom Sargent, both in Porsche 911 GT3 R machinery, which have contrasting white and black liveries this year. The black-colored car is entered in GTWC America.
***In addition to GMG, which is planning to take delivery of six McLaren Artura Trophy Evo cars, Riley Motorsports is also eying potential expansion in the new single-make series as well, according to team boss Bill Riley.
***Riley said: “Joining the new McLaren series is an intriguing opportunity for our team. McLaren’s legacy in motorsports aligns with our dedication to performance and innovation. We are eager to bring our expertise to this series and compete at the highest level.”
***Riley has a single McLaren Trophy America car entered this weekend for Eric Filgueiras and Tom Kopczynski in a program that’s being run by Jarett Andretti and members of his former Andretti Motorsports operation that was most recently active in the WeatherTech Championship GTD ranks last year.
CrowdStrike by Riley’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for George Kurtz and Colin Braun is confirmed for a limited season SRO America program that will also include the GT America round at Long Beach and GTWC America season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.
***Kurtz is set to defend his CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa class win in June, although in an SPS automotive performance-run Mercedes-AMG instead of a Riley-run operation.
***CrowdStrike by Riley’s Mercedes-AMGs, which are competing in both GTWC America and GT America this weekend, are carrying a new livery that originated on a non-Evo Mercedes-AMG GT3 that Kurtz drove as part of a one-off appearance in a Masters Endurance Legends race at Circuit of The Americas, which was as part of the support bill for Formula 1 last year. A similar design is on his LMP2 car this year as well.
***CrowdStrike is celebrating its eighth year as an official partner of SRO America. The cybersecurity company will continue to host exclusive CXO events on selected race weekends.
***SRO Motorsports Group is moving ahead without a title sponsor for GT World Challenge this year, despite a deal that is understood to have come close to materializing. Sim racing hardware company Fanatec, which filed for bankruptcy and was purchased by U.S.-based computer peripherals firm Corsair, elected not to renew its sponsorship with the series that dates back to 2021.
***Sonoma marks the SRO America debut of Al Kamel North America, which has taken over as the official timing and scoring provider following its acquisition of USAC Timing. Former ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race director Scot Elkins serves as the company’s CEO, while he has remained Clerk of the Course at SRO America events.
***Pre-event ticket sales for this weekend’s event are up by 80 percent over last year, according to SRO America’s VP of marketing communications and business development Robbie Montinola, who is also expecting further growth for next month’s round at Circuit of the Americas.
***While GT America has its first official practice session this evening, official track action will continue tomorrow, with practice sessions for GTWC America, GT4 America, GR Cup and McLaren Trophy, as well as the first race of the weekend for TC America.
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- Callaway Corvette, Shultis, top the SRO3 charts
- BMW and Stripling quickest in GT4
- Practice 2 Results
An added challenge came in the form of light rain that plagued the majority of the session as the drivers had to navigate the slippery track.
The session was halted with 15 minutes remaining due to a red flag.
However, the green flag running resumed with nine minutes left on the clock.
Mirco Shultis went quickest in the SRO3 class, while Denny Stripling topped both the GT4 and overall charts.
SRO3 Class
Early on, as the track was still dry, but cool, series veteran George Kurtz set the fastest lap time in the SRO3 class, commanding the No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3, which adorns a brand-new livery for the 2025 season.
Kurtz, however, came back in the pits for a long period, giving the No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06R GT3 of Mirco Schultis the opportunity to settle at the top of the charts.
Kyle Washington didn’t lose time, and set the second fastest lap in his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R, with 20 minutes remaining in the session.
The session came to a brief halt as a red flag was deployed.
Drivers were able to resume the session, but the times remained unchanged, with Shultis coming in first, and Washington second.
Ross Chouest, aboard his new No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevy Corvette Z06 GT3.R, set the third-fastest lap time of the session, with Elias Sabo in the No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO following suit.
Though, a problem arose for the Flying Lizard driver as he caused the brief red flag.
Series 2024 Vice-Champion Justin Rothberg rounded off the Top 5 in his No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
GT4 Class
Denny Stripling showed his strengths in the wet weather conditions, reaching for the top of the leaderboard from start to finish, going on to set the quickest time in his No. 188 Fast Track Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO.
He was closely followed by 2024 Vice-Champion Curt Swearingin in the No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, who rose up to second on his final flying lap, finishing just a mere 0.184 seconds behind.
Meanwhile, after going quickest in class in Practice 1, Anthony McIntosh was in the mix yet again on board his No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2, finishing third.
The Top 5 was further completed by Tim Savage in his No. 007 ProSport Competition Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, and Mark Crigler in the No. 140 Paradaime Performance Engineering Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
Let’s Get Racing
The GT America powered by AWS will return to the track for Qualifying on Saturday morning, March 29th at 8:40 AM PT.
If you can’t make it to Sonoma Raceway, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSonoma.
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
George Kurtz stormed to pole for this afternoon’s GT America powered by AWS season-opening round at Sonoma Raceway, outpacing the competition by more than two seconds.
Kurtz, in the No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, reeled off a best lap time of 1:34.665 in the 15-minute qualifying session.
It was a considerable 2.297 seconds ahead of second-placed Elias Sabo in the freshly rebuilt No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
Justin Rothberg was third quickest in the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3, with Mirco Schultis fourth aboard his Callaway Corvette C7-R.
The No. 13 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 296 GT3 of Mark Muzzo completed the top-five in SRO3.
GT4 pole honors went to Anthony McIntosh in the No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
Race 1 gets underway at 1:10 p.m. PST, with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels.
Kurtz, in the No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, reeled off a best lap time of 1:34.665 in the 15-minute qualifying session.
It was a considerable 2.297 seconds ahead of second-placed Elias Sabo in the freshly rebuilt No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
Justin Rothberg was third quickest in the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3, with Mirco Schultis fourth aboard his Callaway Corvette C7-R.
The No. 13 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 296 GT3 of Mark Muzzo completed the top-five in SRO3.
GT4 pole honors went to Anthony McIntosh in the No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.
Race 1 gets underway at 1:10 p.m. PST, with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels.
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George Kurtz claimed a dominant victory in the first GT America powered by AWS race of the weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
The CrowdStrike by Riley driver, who claimed pole position by more than two seconds, took his No. 04 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo to a 15.026-second win in the 40-minute contest.
It came after a delayed start, first for a second formation lap, which was then prolonged by a further lap when Ross Chouest’s No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R stopped on track.
Chouest rejoined the field at the tail end of the 14-car grid en route to a seventh place result.
Elias Sabo came home second in the No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO, with Mirco Schultis completing the SRO3 class podium in his Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R after challenging Sabo at points during the race.
The No. 13 R. Ferri Motorsports Ferrari 296 GT3 of Mark Muzzo was fourth, ahead of Justin Rothberg, who suffered a three-position grid penalty due to a tire pressure sensor malfunction in qualifying.
That penalty, which is also in effect for Sunday’s Race 2, saw the Turner Motorsport BMW driver work through the field to finish fifth.
Kyle Washington took his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R to a sixth place result, ahead of Chouest.
GT4 class honors went to the No. 59 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 of Anthony McIntosh.
McIntosh finished 10.693 seconds ahead of the No. 39 Van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo of Max Hewitt.
Matt Travis completed the class podium in third, aboard the No. 47 Nolasport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport after a late challenge on Hewitt.
All cars finished the race except for the No. 007 ProSport Competition Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Tim Savage, which stopped on track shortly after Chouest’s dramas, although did not bring out another yellow.
Race 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 9:25 a.m. PST with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels as well as on MAVTV.
The CrowdStrike by Riley driver, who claimed pole position by more than two seconds, took his No. 04 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo to a 15.026-second win in the 40-minute contest.
It came after a delayed start, first for a second formation lap, which was then prolonged by a further lap when Ross Chouest’s No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R stopped on track.
Chouest rejoined the field at the tail end of the 14-car grid en route to a seventh place result.
Elias Sabo came home second in the No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO, with Mirco Schultis completing the SRO3 class podium in his Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R after challenging Sabo at points during the race.
The No. 13 R. Ferri Motorsports Ferrari 296 GT3 of Mark Muzzo was fourth, ahead of Justin Rothberg, who suffered a three-position grid penalty due to a tire pressure sensor malfunction in qualifying.
That penalty, which is also in effect for Sunday’s Race 2, saw the Turner Motorsport BMW driver work through the field to finish fifth.
Kyle Washington took his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R to a sixth place result, ahead of Chouest.
GT4 class honors went to the No. 59 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 of Anthony McIntosh.
McIntosh finished 10.693 seconds ahead of the No. 39 Van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo of Max Hewitt.
Matt Travis completed the class podium in third, aboard the No. 47 Nolasport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport after a late challenge on Hewitt.
All cars finished the race except for the No. 007 ProSport Competition Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Tim Savage, which stopped on track shortly after Chouest’s dramas, although did not bring out another yellow.
Race 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 9:25 a.m. PST with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels as well as on MAVTV.
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Watch all of race 1 from yesterday
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- GMG Racing, Porsche, Takes Top Step in SRO3
- Aston Martin, van der Steur Racing Close Out Strong GT4 Debut
- Provisional Race 2 Results
Kyle Washington and Max Hewitt were the ones to come out on top in their respective SRO3 and GT4 classes, mastering the art of racing in the rain as they each secured their first wins in the championship.
SRO3 Class
It was a difficult day for pole sitter and Race 1 winner George Kurtz, as his race came to a premature end following a spin-off track into the grass in his No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 on the opening lap.
This promoted Kyle Washington into the lead in his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R, while Justin Rothberg managed to complete an overtake on board his No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO to move up into second place shortly before a full course caution emerged.
The green flag running briefly resumed, however, a spin on the front stretch at the halfway mark between the No. 80 Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Elias Sabo and the No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Ross Chouest brought out the yellows once again.
The field continued behind the safety car until the checkered flag was waved, with Kyle Washington claiming first, accompanied on the podium by Rothberg and Mirco Shultis in the No. MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06R GT3.
“My coach told me ‘don’t crash’, so I didn’t!” admitted Kyle Washington at the podium. “It was very wet out there, treacherous conditions with puddles throughout the track.”
GT4 Class
In the limited green flag running that took place, Max Hewitt was the one to make the most of it in his No. 39 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO, pulling off passes to move up into the lead before the race was plagued by another caution after Curt Swearingin’s No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport and Denny Stripling’s No. 188 Fast Track Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO spun into a tire barrier.
After graduating from the Toyota GR Cup series, Hewitt has truly made a splash as secured a win on his debut weekend in GT America. It was also a strong showing from Anthony McIntosh, yesterday’s winner, who returned to the podium with his No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2, this time in second. The Top 3 was completed by Matt Travis in the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
“I would have liked a better race, but you can't really expect too much with these conditions,” said Max Hewitt. “I'm happy to take away P1. I wish I could have given Anthony a proper race, but there's always the next one, so I can really give him a challenge. Overall, I'm pretty happy with how this debut went.”