Ellis to Make Series Return in 19-Car Road Atlanta Entry

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

GT World Challenge America powered by AWS front-runner Philip Ellis will make an expected one-off return to the series for this weekend’s fourth round of the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, filling in for the Le Mans-bound Lorcan Hanafin.

The Mercedes-AMG factory star, who had been a mainstay in the SRO America-run championship with DXDT/Regulator Racing, which are not in the series this year, will join Jason Daskalos in the No. 27 JMF Motorsports Pro-Am entry.

Hanafin, who usually co-drives with Daskalos, received a late call-up to contest this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in a TF Sport/JMR Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

It is not the only change to the 19-car entry list, with Benny Simonsen subbing for the injured Ozz Negri, who ruptured his Achilles tendon and recently underwent surgery.

Simonson, the brother of the late Allan Simonsen, will be making his GTWC America debut in the Am class No. 163 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo alongside Jay Schreibman.

The field is down by two entries since last month’s event at Sebring International Raceway, which saw the partial season Ferrari from Triarsi Competizione and the Chouest Povoledo Racing Corvette, which participates only in the practice sessions for GT America powered by AWS prep.

With their breakthrough win at Sebring, Turner Motorsport’s Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg have closed to within five points of championship leaders Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier of JMF in the Pro class.

The Pro-Am class continues to be a Porsche affair, with drivers racing the 911 GT3 R Evo occupying the top four positions, led by GMG Racing’s Kyle Washington and Porsche Motorsport North Afmerica Selected Driver Tom Sargent, who picked up their second class win of the season last time out.

Road Atlanta, which has replaced Virginia International Raceway on this year’s calendar, returns to the SRO America calendar for the first time since 2011 when Pirelli World Challenge served as a support series for the Petit Le Mans that year.

Track action for GTWC America competitors kicks off on Friday with a test session and opening practice, with two additional sessions on tap for Saturday prior to qualifying in the evening.

The three-hour feature race is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST, with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.

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