Gaples set to set record for most SRO starts when No. 33 McLaren takes the green
It’s been more than a decade but Blackdog Racing is finally heading back to Road Atlanta for the sixth and seventh rounds of Pirelli GT4 America at the fast and rolling 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course in northeastern Georgia.
Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples will look to continue their strong form from the most recent round at Sebring in their No. 33 McLaren GT4 Artura. The pairing posted a pair of third-place finishes in the highly competitive Pro-Am category, which will grow to 15 entries of the total 32-car grid.
A pair of victories would go a long way toward helping move Cooper and Gaples into podium position in the Pro-Am championship standings. When the Blackdog McLaren has finished races, it has been on the podium in each of those three rounds – a runner-up at Sonoma and the thirds at Sebring.
Road Atlanta has been good to Cooper, who scored an IMSA victory in October with the McLaren, and it will be good to Gaples after this weekend as he will become the all-time leader in SRO Motorsports America starts (273) when he takes the green flag in Friday’s opening round of the weekend.
The Road Atlanta weekend also will mark the return of Liam Harrison’s No. 55 Blackdog Toyota GR86 for the seventh and eighth rounds of Toyota GR Cup. The promising rookie is searching for more points in his debut season and has impressed early with in-race charges to the front, including in the opening race of the year at the Arlington street circuit.
All races in both Pirelli GT4 America and Toyota GR Cup from Road Atlanta will stream live on SRO Motorsports’ GT World YouTube channel.
MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “It’s an exciting weekend for us going to Road Atlanta. First off, it’s a track that I really, really enjoy and is a good addition to our schedule. It has everything a driver wants – big speeds, a lot of elevation change and challenging brake zones with a lot of different cambers. It’s great that we get to race there.
“It’s also a big weekend for Tony. I’m really proud of him and admire his drive and longevity of his career. I see the passion he has for racing every weekend that we race together. He’s played a huge role in my career and I can’t thank him enough for that trust and friendship. I hope we can make this a weekend to remember with a win or two.”
TONY GAPLES , NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “What has kept me coming back? All the people. Race car drivers are all like-minded and just great individuals. There’s simply nothing better than competing in a race car. We all share the same intense passion for racing and driving. It's a unique niche in life, and I'm so happy to be part of it.
“This record means I've been doing this a long time. It doesn't really feel like it. I hope I'll be able to do another 272 starts before I retire from racing.”
LIAM HARRISON , NO. 55 BLACKDOG CARS TOYOTA GR86: “I’m excited to get to race at Road Atlanta. I’ve never driven it in real life but I’ve done a lot of laps on the simulator so I feel like I should have a good handle on it. It’s an iconic and technically challenging track with elevation changes and some of the cornering. As long as I can stay consistent throughout the weekend, I’m confident I can have a couple of good results there.”
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.