Long Beach Weekend Notebook

Photo: Jonathan Grace

***The GT America powered by AWS field has been reduced to 17 cars after an initial 21-car pre-event entry list that was published last week. The No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Jason Daskalos did not show up, nor did the No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 of Anthony McIntosh, Max Hewitt’s van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo or Robb Holland’s Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

***While the SRO3 car count remains with a healthy 12-car class grid, there are now only three GT4 entries to go along with the pair of GT2 cars competing in the pair of 40-minute races this weekend.

***SRO3 class and overall pole-sitter Gray Newell, who scored his first-ever GT3 pole position on for Race 1 on Friday, said he felt like he had to “go get” the pole after seeing the No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG of Jeff Burton pull to the side of the road and risk a red flag, which eventually did come out after a period of green flag racing.

***Newell told Sportscar365: “The whole field could have gone quicker. Burton was right in front of me on the out lap and something happened and he clipped the wall. Fortunately he had the good graces to pull off and get out of the way and let us do a couple of representative laps.”

***The Heart of Racing driver, in his first season of racing the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, is confident for tomorrow’s 40-minute race. “We’ve got a great car,” he said. “I really, really like where the window is at right now, so I’m excited for tomorrow.”

***George Kurtz enters the weekend with a two-point lead in the SRO3 driver championship standings over Kyle Washington, who broke through to score his first career overall victory last time out at Sonoma Raceway. This weekend will mark Kurtz’s last scheduled GT America race until the season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

***The Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II underwent two pre-event Balance of Performance adjustments, with the car initially getting a 25 kg weight increased and 1.5 mm larger air restrictor before being changed on Thursday to a 2 mm smaller restrictor but with 35 kg less weight compared to the first set of adjustments.

***Elias Sabo, who took part in the event last year in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4, steps up to SRO3 competition, as part of his full-time campaign in the series with a dedicated BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

***Program manager Darren Law confirmed to Sportscar365 that Sabo’s chassis is from last year’s mid-season switch, upgraded to Evo specification, whereas his and Andy Lee’s GT World Challenge America powered by AWS car is a new-for-2025 car.

***DXDT Racing, Turner Motorsport and Heart of Racing Team are all pulling double duty this weekend, with entires in both GT America and Saturday’s 100-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. Long Beach, meanwhile, will mark Gray Newell’s first solo race in a GT3 car, having been one of several additions to the field this weekend that normally compete in GTWC America.

***SRO America has expanded its paddock presence inside the Long Beach Convention Center this year, with a dedicated display featuring additional race cars on display from CrowdStrike by Riley and Turner, sim rigs and other fan-related activities.

***This weekend marks the second consecutive year that GT America is part of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach event. SRO America was previously represented at the event with a Pirelli GT4 America Sprint round in 2019, and prior to that, Pirelli World Challenge races.

***MTS, an Italian-based motorsport school, is set to launch its first U.S. location in Indianapolis in May. The school offers hands-on weekend courses for those interested in becoming a racing mechanic or data acquisition technician. Former Michelotto engineer Rossella Manfrinato, who most recently engineered Johnny O’Connell to last year’s GT America championship with SKI Autosports, will be involved with the school.

***SRO America has paid tribute to Shigeaki Hattori, who passed away at the age of 61 following a road car accident. Hattori Motorsports had been an entrant in Pirelli GT4 America with a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO.

***Series President and CEO Greg Gill said: “We are heartbroken by the news of Shigeaki Hattori’s passing. He was more than just a respected team owner, he was a passionate competitor, a mentor, and a true ambassador for the sport. His contributions to motorsport, both behind the wheel and as a leader of talented teams, left a lasting impact that will not be forgotten. On behalf of everyone at SRO America, I extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones. He will be truly missed.”

***Race 1 at Long Beach gets underway this afternoon at 5:20 p.m. PST (8:20 p.m. EST), with Race 2 set for a 11:20 a.m. PST (2:20 p.m. EST) start on Sunday, as a build-up to the NTT IndyCar Series race. Live coverage of GT America will be available on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel, MAVTV and on Twitch, featuring commentary from Ryan Myrehn and Calvin Fish in the booth and Amanda Busick on pit lane.

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