Blackdog Racing is returning to Sebring International Raceway this weekend looking for victory in its third straight trip to the historic Florida circuit and second in Pirelli GT4 America.
Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples will share the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4 in the pair of 60-minute races in the Pro-Am category at one of the world’s most iconic circuits.
The duo will arrive at Sebring sitting second in the Pro-Am championship on the strength of a season-opening victory at Sonoma – the team’s first race with the Artura GT4 – and a come-from-behind podium run at the end of three hours at Circuit of The Americas.
Last year’s GT4 America event at Sebring witnessed Blackdog Racing’s first victory in the championship with Gaples teaming with Max Root. The year prior, Gaples won in GT America’s GT4 class at the circuit.
Cooper is a past race-winner at Sebring as well in GT4 America with a 2023 Pro-Am victory to his credit. He already has driven the McLaren Artura GT4 at Sebring this year with a seventh-place class finish on the Sebring 12 Hours weekend.
Blackdog Racing and the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4 will race in the first of two Pirelli GT4 America races at Sebring at 4:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s second race at 11:10 a.m. ET. Live coverage of both races plus timing & scoring will be available at gt4-america.com and SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 33 BLACKDOG PERFORMANCE McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “At the end of the day, we accomplished one of our goals at COTA which was to finish on the podium in a double-points race. Now we can turn our attention to Sebring, which is one of the most fun and demanding tracks in America. We’re continuing to add to our notebook of what the McLaren likes from a setup standpoint and how we can drive it. Getting it to be compliant at Sebring will be huge but I think some of my past experience from earlier this year can help.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 33 BLACKDOG PERFORMANCE McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “It’s great to go back and challenge Sebring for another year. It’s one of the best circuits that we go to and my favorite flat track. I think it just suits me and how I like to drive our racecars. At least that's been the case the last couple years at the track. We all would be ecstatic if we can bring home our third straight Sebring win this weekend and gain some more ground in the championship.”
RAY SORENSON, TEAM MANAGER, BLACKDOG RACING: “Sebring is definitely a track that belongs on our schedule. It’s a great track, has a lot of history and forces drivers, teams and cars to prove themselves in order to be successful. We always embrace the challenge of racing around Sebring and will be prepared for whatever challenges the track and the weather throw at us.”
About Blackdog Racing
Ever dreamed of piloting a real SRO GT race car? Blackdog offers rental and “arrive and drive” racing in addition to purpose-built cars. Email sales@blackdogspeedshop.com to discuss the best way to put you in the driver’s seat!
About Blackdog Performance Cars
At Blackdog Performance Cars, luxury and performance converge in an exclusive collection of high-end vehicles, each designed to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. Our curated inventory is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and innovation, while our GT4 America McLaren Artura race team subtly underscores our passion for precision engineering on the track. Discover the ultimate blend of sophistication and speed at www.blackdogperformancecars.com.