Foley Gives High Marks on New Three-Hour Race Format

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Turner Motorsport’s Robby Foley has given high marks on the new three-hour GT World Challenge America powered by AWS race format, stating that it feels “more like a traditional IMSA race.”

The BMW factory driver, who along with co-driver Justin Rothberg have stepped up to the Pro class after back-to-back Pro-Am class titles, finished fourth in class at last month’s season opener at Sonoma Raceway.

It came in a hard-fought battle for the final podium position between Foley, in the No. 29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO and the No. 6 Dollahite Racing Ford Mustang GT3 EVO of Cameron Lawrence.

“I think everybody was reacting to the rules set,” Foley told Sportscar365 prior to the change in maximum drive time rules that go into effect this weekend at Circuit of The Americas.

“It was interesting. Fuel capacity comes into effect now, where it really didn’t before. We’ll see how the series handles that going forward.

“We took an early yellow, which nobody else did, basically because we had to, for fuel.

“We’ll see how that works out for the rest of the season.

“I like the format. It’s cool. It’s a little more like a traditional IMSA race.

“We finished fourth; caught the Mustang but couldn’t find a way by. A good start.”

When asked if he believes that he and Rothberg, in his first season in SRO utilizing his FIA Silver-rated driver status, could be more competitive this weekend at COTA, Foley believes the easier-to-pass nature of the track, home to the U.S. Formula 1 Grand Prix, will play into their benefit.

“I think so,” he said. “It’s easier to race there. I love driving Sonoma but it’s just so hard to pass in these cars with the aero wash.

“You have to have a pretty big advantage to be able to make a move, or somebody has to make a mistake.

“I think there will be a little bit more racing [here] for sure. We’ll see.

“Everybody’s going to keep learning. We’re also running these tires longer.

“It’s still a track position race but before it was really all about qualifying and staying at the front, so you had a really peaky, knife-edge car, which at the end of the stint was tough.

“Now you have to take that tire another 15 minutes or so.”

While the Pro-Am class again features the majority of the grid, Foley said he’s been impressed with the competitiveness and diversity in Pro, which features five different teams and GT3 manufacturers.

“There’s a strong grid,” he said. “Even in Pro right now, there’s five cars. It’s not an easy podium. And I think they’re five strong cars.

“There’s been big growth and it’s great to see.”

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