Two-Driver Option, 50-Minute Race Format Confirmed for 2025

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

GT America powered by AWS will add the option for two-driver lineups, while expanding the races from 40 to 50 minutes in length with the addition of a mandatory pit stop beginning next year.

Confirmed by SRO America on Wednesday, the format shakeup in the series’ top SRO3 and GT2 classes will see the creation of a new Pro-Am category, alongside the existing Am class, which will be open for one or two drivers per car.

Pro-Am will consist of a Silver-rated driver paired with a Bronze, with Am reserved exclusively for Bronze-rated pilots.

The GT4 class will remain for single-driver Bronze-rated drivers in an unchanged format, except for the lengthened races.

Speaking with Sportscar365, SRO America President and CEO Greg Gill said they saw two things that prompted the evolution of the series, which has been both a driver and fan-favorite in recent years.

“We’ve been very happy with the Bronze series and Bronze drivers, and even in some cases where people needed to be Bronze derogated, it worked well,” said Gill.

“We’ve seen good success with that but we were still seeing people say, ‘I’d like to be able to drive with my pro [driver coach]. I want my Silver driver to help me in this class.’

“Globally, we were also seeing this in British GT and GT2 [European Series] where we allow a second driver.

“That’s the genesis behind this… and how we can do that where it’s not in conflict between our GT World Challenge series or directly related to what we’re doing with Pirelli GT4 America already, which was very clear.

“It’s finding that sweet spot in between for some drivers, and on the same token, recognizing that there are some Bronze drivers out there that say, ‘Fine, I’ll be in the car for 50 minutes and do it myself.’

“Guys like James Sofronas, Jason Daskalos… Stephane Ratel did it as well.

“We already had a format that works for us that way. It was just rolling it out in the States and making it a natural evolution.”

Gill said all cars will be required to complete a pit stop during a pre-determined time period of the race, with single-drivers receiving a time penalty, as commonly seen in some single-make series with two-driver optional entries as well.

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