Cooper Makes Last-Lap Pass for Road Atlanta Race 1 Win

Photo: Fred Hardy/SRO

Michael Cooper made a last-lap pass on Luca Mars to take overall victory in the opening Pirelli GT4 America race of the weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in a remarkable drive to the front by the Blackdog Racing driver.

Mars, in the No. 028 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, held command of the 60-minute contest after co-driver Spencer Pumpelly sped away from pole.

However, a full-course caution for an accident by the No. 5 OGH Motorsports McLaren Artura GT4 of Sean Gibbons reset the gaps and set up a ten-minute shootout to the finish.

Gonazlez put heavy pressure on Mars at the restart, although his No. 68 RAFA Racing Team Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 dropped down the running order in the closing minutes with a suspected issue.

A hard-charging Cooper, meanwhile, flew through the field and passed Mars in Turn 12a on the final lap, finishing 1.051 seconds ahead of the RS1 driver.

The overall win, and Pro-Am class honors for the Blackdog Racing McLaren, came in co-driver and team owner Tony Gaples’ record-breaking 273rd start in SRO America/World Challenge competition.

Additionally, Cooper has now come within one win of equaling Peter Cunningham for all-time wins.

RS1’s Mars and Pumpelly still picked up maximum points for their Silver class win, while the No. 51 AutoTechnic Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO of Kevin Boehm and Francis Selldorf finished second in Silver and third overall.

The No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW of Josh Green and Bruno Colombo completed the Silver podium in fourth overall, ahead of Jonathan Neudorf, who brought the No. 131 Advance Motorsports McLaren home in fifth.

Kenton Koch rebounded from a 30-second penalty during the driver change from Sam Craven due to unauthorized work on the pre-grid when a tire was punctured and replaced, to finish second in Pro-Am.

Koch benefitted greatly from the late-race yellow that neutralized the field.

Silver class title contender Gonzalez, meanwhile, dropped to eighth overall and fifth in Silver at the checkered flag.

Am class honors went to the No. 21 ACI BMW of brothers Alex and Michael Garcia, who teamed for a tenth place overall result.

Race 2 for GT4 America is on tap for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EST with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.

RESULTS: Race 1

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