VIR Friday Notebook

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

***In addition to the CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3s competing in Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and GT America powered by AWS, the No. 58 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2, driven by CJ Moses, has been withdrawn from this weekend’s activities, per a stewards’ bulletin on the GT America website.

***It has resulted in the GT America race returning to a two-class format for the first time this season, as Moses’ Audi was the only car entered in the GT2 class.

***Flying Lizard Motorsports has its largest-ever pro series effort this weekend, fielding a total of seven cars across three series. The effort, which has required four transporters, has seen the team lean on additional staff from its former K-PAX Racing operation as well as a crew member from AO Racing this weekend.

***The additional cars come in the form of GT America entries for Elias Sabo and Damir Hot. Sabo is debuting a brand-new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, while Hot’s GT America Nissan Z NISMO GT4 has been rebuilt from its accident in the season-opening weekend at Sonoma Raceway in April.

***Program manager Darren Law told Sportscar365: “We’ve definitely pulled some people from some other programs. We share mechanics between Lamborghini Super Trofeo and SRO, so it’s tough for some of those guys because we’re doing back to back events between IMSA and SRO. It’s a lot of work and a lot of logistics to make it happen.”

***Law said the team officially took occupancy of its new shop at APEX Motor Club near Phoenix last week.

***Sabo is slated to contest the next three GT America events in his new Aston alongside his full-season Fanatec GT America program with a different chassis, while Hot is committed for this weekend and the season-ending rounds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the single-driver series.

***Rodrigo Baptista, who debuted as Hot’s co-driver in the three-hour Circuit of The Americas enduro, will continue with the team in GT4 America for the remainder of the season according to Law.

***GMG Racing, which holds the record for the most entries at an SRO America event at eight cars, meanwhile, will have a ‘soft opening’ of its new 28,000 square-foot facility at The Thermal Club on Sept. 1, followed by a grand opening party on Oct. 26 according to team principal James Sofronas, who confirmed that his entire GMG business will be moving from its current base in Santa Ana, Calif.

***Random Vandals Racing’s BMW M4 GT3 that took part in Thursday’s test sessions has been purchased from Paul Miller Racing, which utilized the chassis for its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class championship-winning season last year.

***Koch told Sportscar365 that the team plans to test at Road America on Aug. 5-6 following the WeatherTech Championship weekend, in preparation for its Fanatec GT America debut two weeks later. Connor De Phillippi, who will join the team as its third driver for the Indianapolis 8 Hour powered by AWS in October, will be in attendance for the first day of the test alongside Koch and Conor Daly.

***Operation Motorsport, in conjunction with USAC and Virginia International Raceway, has announced the inaugural Veterans Race of Remembrance, set to take place over Veterans Day weekend on Nov. 7-9, 2025. The USAC-sanctioned event will feature a 12-hour multi-class endurance sports car race, a 100-minute ‘CanAm Challenge’ for GT4 and TCR machinery as well as a to-be-announced single-make series, along with veteran-focused activities.

***Operation Motorsport CEO Diezel Lodder said: “Operation Motorsport has provided recovery opportunities for medically retired Service men and women through motorsports for seven years. It has long been our dream to organize a Veterans Race of Remembrance. Thanks to our partners and the North American racing community, I am thrilled that the first race of its kind will happen on Veterans Day weekend 2025 at Virginia International Raceway.”

***Racers Edge Motorsports is working through its options for next year according to team principal Jon Mirachi, who indicated the team is aiming to remain in Fanatec GT America competition. Mirachi told Sportscar365 that discussions are already underway for 2025, with interest from multiple parties.

***Sportscar365 understands the Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 is unlikely to feature in the WeatherTech Championship next year due to the investment required to implement the sanctioning body’s mandatory torque sensors on the car, although the Acura is technically eligible to run in GT3 competition through the end of 2028, which could give Racers Edge further runway if it elects to remain with the platform in Fanatec GT America.

***Saturday’s action kicks off with qualifying for GT America, followed by Fanatec GT America qualifying at 9:05 a.m. EDT, which along with all races, will be streamed on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel and on Twitch.

***Race action kicks off at 1 p.m. for GT America, followed by Fanatec GT America at 3:10 p.m. and GT4 America at 5 p.m.

***Kyle Heyer will sub for Ryan Myrehn, who is on ABB FIA Formula E World Championship duty in London this weekend, in the SRO America booth alongside Calvin Fish, with Amanda Busick on pit lane.

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