Bumper 31-Car Entry for Sonoma

Photo: Fred Hardy/SRO

A bumper 31-car entry is set for next weekend’s Pirelli GT4 America season opener at Sonoma Raceway.

The entry list, released on Friday, features stability in one of SRO America’s longest-running series, with six GT4 manufacturers represented in the stacked field which is split again between Silver, Pro-Am and Am classes.

While John Capestro Dubets and Eric Filgueiras will not defend their Silver class title, at least eight challengers will be vying for championship honors in the category.

It includes JMF Motorsports’ expanded two-car effort with Aston Martin Vantage GT4s, with Jesse Webb and Jonathan Neudorf in the No. 3 car and Braydon Arthur and Mike David Ortmann in the sister car.

With Gray Newell graduating to GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, Heart of Racing Team will field only a single Aston Martin Vantage GT4 EVO for the returning pair of Hannah Grisham and Hannah Greenemeier.

Marco Polo Motorsports makes its series return with a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 for Nicolai Elghanayan and Mads Siljehaug, while VPX Motorsport will again field its Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport for Danny Dyszelski and Alex Ellis.

RAFA Racing Team, the operation formerly known as Smooge Racing, will also have a Silver class Toyota for Tyler Gonzalez and Gresham Wagner.

AutoTechnic Racing’s Zac Anderson and Colin Garett will be back with their BMW M4 GT4 EVO, as part of a large BMW contingent that also includes fellow 2024 title rivals Random Vandals Racing with drivers Kenton Koch and Kevin Boehm.

The Paul Sparta-led operation has two additional full season BMWs, one apiece in Pro-Am and Am, with Sam Craven and Josh Green in the No. 94 entry and Sparta, making his return from racing since sustaining back injuries at last year’s Road America race, teaming up with Michael Kanisczak in the No. 98 BMW in Am.

Reigning Pro-Am champions ACI Motorsports has a revised lineup for its No. 7 Porsche, which sees 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup North America champion Riley Dickinson join team owner/driver Curt Swearingin.

The Tennessee-based team expands to a second full season Pro-Am entry for Dan Sibille and reigning Carrera Cup North America champion Loek Hartog.

Archangel Motorsports will make its series return for the first time since 2023 with an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Adrian Comstock and Thomas Merrill, while Nolasport is back with a Porsche for Michael Auriemma and Matheus Leist.

Stu McAleer, the younger brother of former series champion Stevan, is set for his pro racing debut as part of Fast Track Racing’s BMW lineup with Nate Cicero, while Blackdog Racing switches from Nissan to McLaren Artura GT4 machinery for the returning lineup of Michael Cooper and team owner/driver Tony Gaples.

Additional McLarens are entered by P1 Groupe (Alex Vogel/Matthew Bell) and TPC Racing (Aurora Straus/Zoe Barry)

The newly formed Dome Motorsport is the sole Mercedes-AMG GT4 representative, with Marc Miller and Edward Killeen as drivers, while  AutoTechnic will have its Pro-Am BMW entry for Tyler Stone and Matt Million.

BimmerWorld Racing’s James Walker Jr. and Tyler McQuarrie will return, while Parker Thompson will be back in the SRO America paddock as well, sharing a JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota with Anthony McIntosh.

Among the eight Am class entries include a Skip Barber Racing Aston for Alex and Michael Garcia, OGH Motorsports’ McLaren with drivers Sam Owen and Sean Gibbons, a BMW entered by Rigid Speed Company for Lucas and Joseph Catania and BimmerWorld’s Charlie Postins and James Clay.

RAFA will also enter an Am class Toyota for Anthony Geraci and Kenny Schmied, with Fast Track doubling up as well with Judson Holt and Dave Ogburn in a BMW, Thunder Bunny Racing’s Allen Patten and Laura Hayes in their Toyota and a to-be-announced lineup for Carrus Callas Raceteam’s BMW.

Flying Lizard has also yet to confirm the driver, or class, for its Nissan Z NISMO GT4, the only Nissan in this year’s field. It was previously announced that Damir Hot would return to the program.

Track action begins on Wednesday as part of a two-day test for SRO America competitors, with a pair of practice sessions kicking off official on-track action next Friday.

Qualifying is on tap for Sat. March 29, followed by Race 1 at 5 p.m. PST and Race 2 on Sun. March 30 at 11:35 a.m. local time.

Both 60-minute races will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels.