SRO America ‘State of the Sport’ Notebook

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

***The final 2024 SRO America schedules are expected to be released prior to the series’ next round at Sebring International Raceway according to SRO America President and CEO Greg Gill, with several dates still in flux due to clashes with Ferrari Challenge North America.

***The latest version of the schedule, released on July 21, had one to-be-announced date, which is understood to either be a return to Sebring or a new event at Barber Motorsports Park, headlined by Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS.

***Sportscar365 believes that a return to Nashville for GT America powered by AWS is not likely in the cards due to paddock space restrictions related to the new track layout. However, Gill indicated that the GT America schedule will have between 8-9 rounds, with the goal of maintaining several events in support of NTT IndyCar Series street races.

***The IMSA-sanctioned Ferrari Challenge series currently has clashing dates with the SRO America events at NOLA Motorsports Park (April 26-28), Circuit of The Americas (May 17-19) and Virginia International Raceway (July 19-21). SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO Stephane Ratel explained to Sportscar365 the desire to avoid clashes due to driver and team overlap between the single-make series.

***Gill confirmed that the 90-minute two-race format for Fanatec GT will continue unchanged next year, amid the expectation of growth in the series with the arrival of customer cars from new GT3 manufacturers Ford and Chevrolet.

***The champion in Fanatec GT will receive an automatic entry to the 2024 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, as part of an increased focus around the Belgian endurance classic for North American competitors.

***This year’s race featured five teams from North America, with Gill outlining plans for a SRO America pavilion at next year’s centenary edition.

***GT2 cars will not only be eligible for GT America but also Fanatec GT in 2024, with additional growth expected in North America among new cars from Maserati and Mercedes-AMG.

***Ratel said they expect to have between 4-5 GT2 cars on the grid at this year’s GT America season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

***This year’s GT America champion will be awarded a full-season entry to compete in Fanatec GT in 2024, while the same will be on offer for the Pro-Am class champion in Pirelli GT4 America. The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School TCX class champion, meanwhile, will be awarded a full season entry into GT4 America.

***A GT4 America endurance race has been earmarked for Circuit of The Americas next year following competitor feedback over the last year. A final decision on the race format and length, which will likely end in darkness, will be determined before this year’s season finale at Indy according to Gill.

***Additional data from GT4 America’s ‘North American’ Balance of Performance is expected to be released following this weekend, as part of a new system that was implemented this year to offset GT4 machinery that is not competing on this continent.

***Geoff Carter has been confirmed in a new position as GT3 series manager after initially rejoining the organization earlier this year. It is part of several new staff additions to SRO America.

***Ratel expressed his desire to return to South America, hinting at a future race on the continent, potentially with a link to SRO America. “If you look at the SRO planet, we’re everywhere,” Ratel told Sportscar365. “I really hope one day we’ll have a race in South America again. I don’t know what it would be. But one day if we have a good deal and we have a good possibility of going.”

***Five of the seven rounds of the Toyota GR Cup North America have been confirmed for 2024, with the SRO-sanctioned single-make series kicking off at Sonoma prior to trips to COTA, VIR, Road America and ending the season at Indianapolis. Two TBAs remain in between Road America and The Brickyard.

***Among the key metrics shared from this year’s SRO America events include a reported 66 percent increase in attendance at Sonoma Raceway compared to 2022, the largest COTA fan turnout in World Challenge history and “major growth” in ticket sales at Road America, Sebring International Raceway and Indy.

***Additionally, live stream viewership has grown by 238 percent year-on-year, with YouTube subscribers on the global GT World page have recent surpassed 500,000, alongside SRO America’s new initiatives with the Twitch streaming platform.

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