Ozarks Round Confirmed in Updated 2022 Schedule

An event at the new Ozarks International Raceway has been confirmed on the 2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS schedule as part of an updated calendar issued during SRO Motorsports Group’s annual press conference.

Announced on Sunday, SRO America plans to visit the new purpose-built road course in Gravois Mills, Mo. on May 21-22, filling the previous to-be-determined slot on the schedule.

As previously reported by Sportscar365, an event at the state-of-the-art circuit, owned by occasional Pirelli GT4 America competitor JR Pesek, had been under consideration.

In addition to GTWC America, GT4 America, GT America powered by AWS, TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School as well as the IMSA-sanctioned Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America are all expected to be part of the weekend bill.

“We have done an inspection along with our friends at IMSA,” SRO America President and CEO Greg Gill told Sportscar365.

“We are now waiting for FIA homologation and approval. Pending that, that is where we plan to race.”

Gill stressed that confirmation of the event is pending final circuit homologation and a commercial agreement.

“The FIA process is a clear process, but we were involved from 2017 with receiving the original plans from the promoter,” he added.

“So we’ve seen it, we’ve been a part of it, and we’ve had six or seven visits at this point already, so we’re actively involved with the circuit in being regularly updated.

“So I can say that business will continue consistently.”

Gill reckons the circuit will produce “tight, fast and fun” racing for all of SRO America’s championships.

“I don’t believe it was a track built with one particular class of GT3, GT4, GT2 or TC in mind,” he said. “They’ve even had bikes on the track, so they’re trying to build it as a full-use facility.”

VIR Shifted to Avoid Le Mans Clash

Gill also confirmed that the round at Virginia International Raceway has been moved one week back to avoid a clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The VIR date has now been confirmed for June 18-19, which maintains GTWC America’s schedule of not clashing with any IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship weekends.

“With the VIR date, we realized that we were in conflict with Le Mans,” Gill explained.

“We obviously have members of our paddock who race there, and we have a continued engaged involvement.

“We certainly didn’t want to conflict with that. All thanks go to the people at VIR who were able to make those changes for us, to allow us to move. So a great ‘thank you’ to VIR for making that happen.”

2022 SRO America Schedule:
April 16-17 – Sonoma Raceway
May 21-22 – Ozarks International Raceway
June 18-19 – Virginia International Raceway
July 23-24 – Watkins Glen International
Aug. 5-7 – Nashville Music City Grand Prix*
Aug. 20-21 – Road America
Sept. 24-25 – Sebring International Raceway
Oct. 8-9 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
*GT America only