Increased 16-Car Field Set for COTA

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

The grid in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS is set for further growth this weekend at Circuit of The America, with 16 cars entered for the fifth and sixth rounds of the season.

The entry list features several key debuts and returning entries to the GT3-based championship, including the addition of a second DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R for Alec Udell and Corvette factory driver Tommy Milner, which will compete in the expanded five-car Pro class.

RS1, which made a winning return to the series last time out at Sebring International Raceway, will again be on the grid with its No. 85 Porsche 911 GT3 R for Trent Hindman and Jake Pedersen, who takes over co-driving duties for the balance of the season.

They join the existing full-season Pro entries from ST Racing, Racers Edge Motorsports and the points-leading Wright Motorsports Porsche pairing of Elliott Skeer and Adam Adelson.

The Pro-Am class will see the return of the Ferrari 296 GT3 to the Fanatec GT America grid, thanks to an entry from AF Corse for drivers Custodio Toledo and Riccardo Agostini.

CrowdStrike by Riley’s Colin Braun and George Kurtz hold a narrow two-point lead in the Pro-Am ranks over ST Racing’s Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen, with others on the Mercedes-AMG and BMW teams’ tails.

COTA will mark the second race for DXDT’s Pro-Am Corvette entry of Bryan Sellers and Scott Smithson, while sister squad Regulator Racing will be seeking another podium finish following a standout drive from Mercedes-AMG factory driver Philip Ellis at Sebring.

Flying Lizard Motorsports, GMG Racing and Chouest Povoledo Racing are also all represented in the class, with MMG again listed to take part with its Porsche featuring Alex Tagliani.

Additionally, Austin-based Esses Racing will be making its second Fanatec GT America start of the season with its Mercedes-AMG, as the sole Am class entrant with drivers Will Hardeman and Alan Metni.

Track action kicks off on Friday with a pair of practice sessions, followed by qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday afternoon. Both 90-minute races will be streamed live on SRO’s GT World YouTube page and also on Twitch.

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