Blackdog Racing went from hopes to heartbreak Saturday with a tough retirement in the second half of Pirelli GT4 America’s lone three-hour endurance race of the season.
The No. 33 Blackdog Cars McLaren Artura GT4 and drivers Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples put themselves in contention for a Pro-Am victory before contact after the team’s second pit stop forced the team back to the pitlane for the remainder of the event.
Gaples began fourth in class and drove the first 45 minutes and handed off to Cooper after 20 trouble-free laps. The race appeared to swing in the Blackdog McLaren’s favor after the first full-course yellow just past the one-hour mark. Cooper ran fourth at the green flag but drove his way to second and a challenge for the lead on the first lap following the restart.
He made the team’s second scheduled pit stop 10 minutes after assuming the class lead to get Gaples back in for his second stint. After leaving the pitlane and approaching the first turn, Gaples was hit when two Silver-class cars moved past with one turning down into the McLaren at the apex of the corner.
The resulting hit damaged not just the right-front bodywork but also the underlying suspension. The Blackdog crew worked quickly to try and repair the McLaren enough to get it out back and challenge for points, but the team had to retire it just inside the two-hour mark.
In Toyota GR Cup, Liam Harrison placed 18th in Sunday’s weekend finale in his No. 55 Blackdog Cars Toyota GR86. The series rookie got shuffled back early in the running to 21st position before rebounding in the final 18 minutes.
Sunday’s result made up for Saturday’s opening race of the weekend in which Harrison had to retire with a mechanical problem on the opening lap. A related issue caused him to stop on-track in qualifying and start from the back of the field, costing him valuable racing experience ahead of Sunday.
Blackdog Racing’s next event in Pirelli GT4 America is May 7-9 at Sebring International Raceway. The Toyota GR Cup series resumes June 12-14 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “Very disappointing and frustrating to finish the race on the pitlane. The team performed really well. Our two pit stops were solid, and Tony did a good job in his first stint to keep us near the front. I was able to make some moves and pass a few cars after the first restart heading to the second stop. That’s when everything went sideways for us. It was tough for Tony because there is really nowhere to go leaving the pitlane. A little more room by the other cars and we still would have been in the race. It’s just a difficult way to see it all end when our team worked so hard. We’ll come at Sebring and try to get back on the podium.”
TONY GAPLES , NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “This is a tough one to take. I honestly don’t know what else I could have done. It’s a difficult pit exit because you almost always stay to the left and take the apex from the inside. I don’t think I could have gone further left. Definitely didn’t intend to interfere in the race between the two cars that were coming through the first turn. I hate it for the team and everyone who gave a great effort all weekend. The pit stops were good and Michael did his usual excellent job. Just a tough way to end the weekend.”
LIAM HARRISON, NO. 55 BLACKDOG CARS TOYOTA GR86: “Things just didn’t go our way this weekend. COTA is a great track and a great test but the problem we had in qualifying kind of set the tone for the rest of the event. As a rookie, getting as much track time as I can is key and it’s even more important at a track like this. There’s still a lot we learned as a team that will make us better once we get back to the track in June.”
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.