Sonoma, CA - Three-time SRO America Driver's Champion Michael Cooper will lead a talented Pirelli GT4 America Sprint field to the west coast and California's Sonoma Raceway, August 6-9. The event at the 12-turn road course set in the rolling hills of wine country just north of San Francisco, will feature three Sprint races, two originally scheduled for the Sonoma weekend and one to make up for a cancelled round at St. Petersburg.
Cooper comes into the weekend atop the Pro Division drivers championship standings after two dominant wins at VIRginia International Raceway. The driver of the #10 Blackdog Speed Shop McLaren 570s GT4 has won three of five races this season and will look to add to his current 100-championship point tally.
Sure to challenge Cooper for the top step in Sonoma is Spencer Pumpelly. Pumpelly has one win this season to go along with three second place finishes and will drive the #66 TRG - The Racers Group/LaSalle Solutions Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. He enters the weekend nine points behind Cooper.
Last year's Am Division Champion Drew Staveley heads to California sitting third in the standings with 79 points. He won Round 1 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and will pilot the #12 Ian Lacy Racing Ford Mustang GT4. Jarett Andretti sits only a point behind Staveley and will drive the #18 Andretti Autosport McLaren 570s GT4. Completing the Pro Division grid for Sonoma will be James Pesek in the #40 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4.
In the Am Division, Michael Dinan comes into the Sonoma races with an almost perfect record to date having won four of the five division's races thus far. His only 'blemish' was a second in Round 2 at COTA. Sitting atop the driver's championship standings with 118 points, he will drive the 210 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4. The weekend is especially significant for the Flying Lizard team as they are Sonoma based.
Aiming to cut into Dinan's championship points lead is Paul Terry who will drive the #59 Rearden Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4. Terry won Round 2 at COTA and comes into the weekend trailing in the championship by 42 points. Rearden Racing also brings its #191 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Jeff Burton who sits fourth overall in the standings with 60 points.
GMG Racing brings its #2 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 for Jason Bell, while Ian Lacy Racing has Frank Gannett behind the wheel of its #24 Ford Mustang GT4. Sonoma-based team Stephen Cameron Racing have entered their #119 BMW M4 GT4 for Sean Quinlan.
Action for the Pirelli GT4 America Sprint series starts Thursday, August 6 at 10am Pacific for the first practice session of the weekend. Round 6 of the championship is scheduled for a green flag start of 1:05pm on Friday. Rounds 7 and 8 are scheduled for Saturday at 9:25am and Sunday at 3:15pm local time, respectively.
Catch all the races live at YouTube.com/GTWorld. Follow all the action at gt4-america.com and across social channels.
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Pirelli GT4 America Entry List - PDF Link
Event Schedule - PDF Link