VIR Weekend Notebook

Photo: Fabian Lagunas

***SRO America competitors were met with mixed conditions on Friday at Virginia International Raceway, with hot and humid temperatures followed by a short burst of rain and thunderstorms in the area in the afternoon, which halted the second practice for Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS competitors.

***Conquest Racing has a new chassis this weekend following its weekend-ending accident in Race 1 at Circuit of The Americas involving Manny Franco and the No. 94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3 of Chandler Hull. “We were left in a very tough spot after what happened at COTA, and I am incredibly proud of the team for rallying together to make sure we’re back in action and ready to go this weekend,” said co-driver Alessandro Balzan.

***The No. 16 ACI Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Spencer Pumpelly and Pedro Torres has struggled so far this weekend with a reported vibration. The duo are in one of two previous-generation Type-991.2 Porsches in the field, although the other car, the No. 120 Wright Motorsports entry of Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer, were quickest in opening practice.

***VIR marks the first time that Isabella Robusto and Joey DaSilva are actually sharing the No. 68 Smooge Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO despite them being the announced lineup at the beginning of the season. Robusto’s twin brother is racing in her place in the Toyota GR Cup North America this weekend, marking the first time twins have raced in the same SRO America weekend.

***While returning to the series for the first time since last year’s Indianapolis 8 Hour, this weekend’s GT3 Pro-Am program for Turner Motorsport is currently a one-off according to team owner Will Turner. Robby Foley has been joined by Vin Barletta in the team’s BMW M4 GT3, with Barletta also contesting GT America powered by AWS competition.

***Valkyrie Velocity has confirmed to Sportscar365 that it will focus its customer efforts on Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America for the remainder of the year, after having withdrawn its multi-car Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport program in Pirelli GT4 America.

***Dominic Starkweather and Chris Walsh will continue as co-drivers but now in the single-make series beginning next weekend at Watkins Glen International.

***The driver-through penalty equivalent has been declared as 30 seconds for this weekend, with the minimum pit stop time for GTWC America competitors set at 65 seconds and 70 seconds for GT4 America teams.

***SRO America President and CEO Greg Gill said several of their recent staff additions, including Scot Elkins and Geoff Carter, in race control and team relations, respectively, have been made as part of trying to “right-size” and “find the right people” for positions.

***Gill told Sportscar365: “Everybody knows Scot Elkins. His resume and experience speaks for itself. We got the opportunity to work with him on a weekend basis. Geoff Carter is the same way. There was an opportunity to do some weekend projects with us in team relations, so that’s what we’ve been doing. What the future holds for everybody, we’ll wait and see how the season progresses. So far we’re very pleased.”

***George Kurtz and Colin Braun are coming off LMP2 Pro-Am class victory in last weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, having teamed with James Allen in the CrowdStrike-backed Oreca 07 Gibson fielded by Algarve Pro Racing.

***Kurtz and Braun are set for their second 24-hour race of the month in two weeks’ time, with the duo joining Ian James and Felipe Fraga in a CrowdStrike Racing by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

***The car, which will be receiving technical support from SPS automotive racing, will be competing in the Pro-Am class, alongside several other SRO America stalwarts such as ST Racing with Rinaldi (Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020) and Car Collection Motorsport with GMG Racing (Porsche 911 GT3 R).

***A dedicated GT4 class will be at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb beginning next year. The event organizers have reached a deal with SRO Motorsports Group for use of the GT4 license that could also include an option for the organization’s Balance of Performance.

***SRO founder and CEO Stephane Ratel told Sportscar365: “We’ve granted them a license. We’re very pleased because Pikes Peak is another big name. GT4 is so successful it’s incredible. This one is cool because it’s different.”

***Operation Motorsport announced its entry into this year’s Race of Remembrance at Anglesey Circuit, Wales, UK on Nov. 10-12. The event, held over Veteran’s/Remembrance Day weekend, is highlighted by a 12-hour endurance race, heroes’ dinner, and pit lane Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday morning. Operation Motorsport will have two entries at the event that brings together beneficiaries across the SRO, IMSA, and FEL Motorsport paddocks.

***Qualifying for GTWC America begins at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, followed by Race 1 of the weekend at 3:10 p.m., which will be streamed on SRO’s GT World YouTube page. GT4 Race 1, which will also be streamed live, takes the green at 5 p.m., featuring commentary from Ryan Myrehn, Calvin Fish and Amanda Busick.

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