Record GTS Entry in SprintX Debut at COTA

Photo: PWC

A record entry of GT4 machinery is set for this weekend’s Pirelli World Challenge GTS round at Circuit of The Americas, in the category’s debut of the SprintX format.

Thirty-eight cars are entered for the pair of 60-minute races, which will feature a mandatory pit stop for all cars, plus driver change for Silver and Gold-rated drivers and optional for Bronzes.

ENTRY LIST: COTA

It marks one of the largest-ever single-platform fields in PWC’s 29-year history and GT4 grids worldwide, second only to the GT4 European Series.

“We have an outstanding entry list of top teams, cars and drivers for the COTA SprintX season opener,” said PWC GTS class manager Jack Baldwin. “The growth of the exciting new GT4 cars and manufacturers has allowed many new competitors in the GTS division. 

“The GTS SprintX class gives many of our customer racers a chance to compete at a pro level at a very good price point and I’m looking for some great racing at COTA this weekend.”

An additional ten cars have joined the GTS class since the Sprint season-opener at St. Pete earlier this month, along with second drivers for the majority of the field, which will be split between Pro-Am and Am classes.

Two cars, the No. 69 Racers Edge Motorsports SIN R1 GT4 and No. 71 MarcoPolo Motorsports KTM X-Bow GT4, are currently listed in the GTS Pro category, but with only single-driver lineups with Silver-rated drivers.

It’s understood only Bronze-rated drivers are permitted to drive solo in SprintX races.

Among the star power added for this weekend includes Colin Braun (No. 04 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4), Kyle Marcelli (No. 13 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR), Ryan Eversley (No. 23 Cade-It by Flying Lizard Audi GT4), Andy Pilgrim and Michael Cooper (Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4.Rs) and reigning TC champion Paul Holton (No. 78 Compass Racing McLaren 570S GT4).

Some of the cars, featuring former professional drivers, meanwhile, will be subject to a 2.5 percent minimum weight increase.

Increased GT SprintX Entry; GT Cup Returns

A total of 15 GT3-spec machines, meanwhile, are set for COTA, which along with the return of GT Cup, brings the total GT SprintX entry to 20 entries this weekend.

It includes the return of Lone Star Racing (Mercedes-AMG GT3), Black Swan Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 R) and the two-car DXDT Racing effort, with a Mercedes GT3 and Lamborghini Huracan GT3 each.

GTC, meanwhile, features a five-car entry made up of two Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeos and Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars each and a Ferrari 458 Challenge car.

As is the case with GTS, COTA will mark the first SprintX round of the season for GT cars, which will feature mandatory pit stops, tire and driver changes.

In all, 103 cars are on the entry list across the GT, GTS, TCR and TC races, in PWC’s first major weekend of the year.

Track action kicks off on Thursday with a promoter test day, followed by practice on Friday. 

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