Road America Friday Notebook

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

***The Fanatec GT World Challenge America entry has been reduced to 17 cars following the no-shows of Triarsi Competizione and ACI Motorsports. Justin Wetherill has prioritized Monterey Car Week, leading to the Florida-based team to sit out the weekend, while there was also an initial scheduling conflict for Pedro Torres of ACI.

***Torres’ participation in the next round at Sebring International Raceway, however, is currently in question after he recently twisted his ankle, which has required the use of crutches according to co-driver Spencer Pumpelly.

***Both the No. 23 TechSport Racing Nissan Z GT4 of Tyler Stone and Bryan Heitkotter as well as the Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez-driven No. 74 Copeland Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO have been withdrawn in Pirelli GT4 America, resulting in a 34-car entry for this weekend.

***GT4 America Silver class championship co-leader John Capestro-Dubets has been ruled out of competing this weekend due to a back injury sustained during the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America event at Road America two weeks ago. As a result, co-driver Zac Anderson is set to drive the No. 51 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 solo this weekend.

***While only occurring in rare instances, teams are able to request permission for single drivers in GT4 America on a case-by-case basis.

***In addition to GMG Racing, Wright Motorsports has also rolled out with a new Type-992 Porsche this weekend, although it is being focused on Adam Adelson’s GT America powered by AWS campaign. Adelson and Fanatec GT co-driver Elliott Skeer have continued to use its previous-gen Type-991.2 Porsche in the multi-driver series, which was previously shared between the two championships.

***TR3 Racing’s second Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for Paul Kiebler Jon Branam, which is debuting this weekend, is set to complete the remainder of the Fanatec GT season. It is the only Am class competitor here this weekend following the recent promotion of the No. 43 Bartone Bros Racing by RealTime Mercedes to Pro-Am following the addition of Adam Christodoulou.

***Christodoulou, a Mercedes-AMG Expert Driver, is making his debut at the four-mile Wisconsin circuit. “It’s a track everyone absolutely goes crazy about,” he said. “Road America is known as one of the best tracks in the world. I had my first experience with a test last week. The track is crazy quick, and there is no room for error. You have to keep your wits about you.

***Cedric Sbirrazzuoli is set for his GT4 America debut in the No. 35 Conquest Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 alongside Custodio Toledo, who makes his first start since NOLA Motorsports Park in April. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to drive alongside Custodio,” said Sbirrazzuoli. “Conquest Racing has a phenomenal program and I know that we’ll have a competitive car from the get-go.”

***Mercedes-AMG will have a soon-to-be-announced GT2 customer on the grid at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with the potential of additional cars for the GT America powered by AWS round. A total of eight GT2 cars have been sold to U.S. customers according to Mercedes-AMG customer project manager Julian Schoch.

***The next scheduled race for GMG Racing’s new Type-992 Porsche is the Indianapolis 8 Hour, with Kyle Washington, Jeroen Bleekemolen and a third, to-be-confirmed co-driver. Team principal James Sofronas was due to drive although it’s now unclear after Sofronas sustained a back injury in testing on Thursday according to the team’s race logistics manager Joe Foster.

***Foster told Sportscar365: “He’s going to do everything he can to get back into fighting shape for that.”

***SRO America held its ‘State of the Sport’ address Friday evening at The Osthoff Resort. Sportscar365 will have a dedicated notebook related to the event on Saturday, including reaction from SRO America President and CEO Greg Gill and SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO Stephane Ratel.

***Qualifying for Fanatec GT competitors gets underway Saturday at 9:05 a.m. CDT, followed by the first race of the weekend at 3:10 p.m., both which will be streamed live on SRO’s GT World YouTube page with the commentary team of Ryan Myrehn, Calvin Fish and Amanda Busick. The first GT4 America race of the weekend, meanwhile, is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start, which will also be available on the 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