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Pirelli GT4 America

Cooper Wins Race 1; Takes Over GT4 Sprint Points Lead

Michael Cooper takes over GT4 Sprint points lead with Race 1 win at Road America…

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

Michael Cooper has claimed a dominant victory in the first Pirelli GT4 America Sprint race of the weekend at Road America, with the McLaren Automotive factory driver taking over the points lead as a result.

Cooper took his No. 10 Blackdog Speed Shop McLaren 570S GT4 to a 1.748-second win over the No. 66 TRG Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport of Spencer Pumpelly in the caution-free 50-minute race.

Having started third on the grid, Cooper took over the lead with a pass around pole-sitter Shane Lewis on the opening lap in Turn 6 and gradually extended his margin over the Robinson Racing driver.

Lewis dropped back to finish third in the No. 72 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, ahead of teammate Gar Robinson in fourth.

It marked Cooper’s third Pro class victory of the season and has seen him take a one-point lead over Ian James, who suffered suspected engine-related issues to his No. 50 Panoz Avezzano GT4.

James drove his Panoz to an 10th place overall result.

Andrew Davis, making a one-off appearance in GT4 Sprint competition in the No. 81 Kelly Moss Road and Race Audi R8 LMS GT4, completed the top-five overall.

Staveley Clinches GT4 Sprint Am Title With Class Win

Drew Staveley has unofficially clinched the GT4 Sprint Am class championship with another win in his No. 12 Ian Lacy Racing Ford Mustang GT4.

Staveley finished 13 seconds ahead of Tony Gaples, who took his Blackdog Speed Shop McLaren to a runner-up finish, in the team owner/driver’s home race.

Jeff Courtney completed the class podium in third in his JCR Maserati GT4, also on home soil.

Race 2 for the GT4 Sprint series takes place Sunday at 10:05 a.m. CT.

RESULTS: Race 1

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

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