New, Returning Entries for Sonoma Kickoff

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

The GT America powered by AWS season is set to kick off next weekend at Sonoma Raceway, with a total of 17 cars on the entry list between the SRO3 and GT4 classes.

The series will retain its single-driver sprint format after initially announcing an option for two drivers and pit stops that was met with limited interest among competitors.

Released on Friday, the entry list features seven GT3-spec entries representing six manufacturers or constructors, alongside ten cars in GT4, split between five brands.

While Johnny O’Connell will not defend his SRO3 title, runner-up Justin Rothberg is set to return in his No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 EVO, in a class that will include the full season debut of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R with Chouest Povoledo Racing driver Ross Chouest.

A Callaway-built Corvette C7-R will also be on the grid at Sonoma for Mishumotors’ Mirco Schultis, along with Elias Sabo’s Flying Lizard Motorsports BMW, the return of George Kurtz and CrowdStrike by Riley’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, as well as Kyle Washington’s GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

R. Ferri Motorsport will make its return to SRO America competition with a Ferrari 296 GT3 for Marc Muzzo.

Additional SRO3 entries, including defending team champions SKI Autosports with Memo Gidley as its new driver, are expected to join the grid later this season, with an additional six entries expected according to a statement from SRO America.

With reigning GT4 class champion Isaac Sherman stepping up to GT World Challenge America powered by AWS alongside Jason Daskalos in a CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG, there will also be a new champion in the GT4 ranks this year.

Last year’s runner-up Curt Swearingin is again entered for a season-long campaign in his ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, as one of five Porsche entries in the class.

Longtime Pirelli GT4 America series star Matt Travis is entered in a Nolasport Porsche for Sonoma, while Mark Crigler is with Paradaime Performance Engineering, also in a Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

Additionally, RCX Motorsports will field a pair of Porsches for Haywood E Whichard Jr. and Jozsef Petkes.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America class champion Anthony McIntosh will pilot a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 for JTR Motorsports, while Denny Stripling will be in Fast Track Racing’s BMW M4 GT4 EVO.

A pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT4s will also be on the grid, with Tim Savage in a previous-gen model for ProSport Competition and Max Hewitt in the new-for-2024 EVO, which is entered by van der Steur Racing.

Additionally, a Nissan Z NIMSO GT4 is expected to take part under the Flying Lizard banner, with a to-be-confirmed driver.

GT America competitors will have the opportunity to take to Sonoma Raceway on Wednesday and Thursday for a two-day test, with official track action kicking off next Friday.

Qualifying is on tap for Sat. March 29 at 8:40. a.m. PST, with Race 1 set for a 2:10 p.m. start time and Race 2 on Sun. March 30 at 9:25 a.m.

Both races will be carried live on MAVTV, as well as on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John