COTA Thursday Notebook

Photo: Jonathan Grace

***SRO America entries took to Circuit of The Americas for what was largely a test day on Thursday. Newly minted Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver Tom Sargent was quickest in GT3 across two sessions, thanks to a 2:03.597 lap time set in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R from the morning session.

***Philip Ellis was credited with the quickest time in the afternoon, a 2:04.226 in the No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, amid warm and humid weather conditions.

***Jason Daskalos, meanwhile, led the way in the 30-minute Bronze Test in the late afternoon, which was followed by an hour-long opening practice session for McLaren Trophy America.

***Jon Mirachi is not on-site this weekend for the first time in recent memory, having announced his retirement from day-to-day operations of Racers Edge Motorsports late last week. Longtime crew member Jim Pattin has been promoted to team manager, effective immediately. A team spokesperson confirmed to Sportscar365 that Mirachi has retained ownership of the Florida-based organization for the time being.

***Flying Lizard Motorsports is coming off a “great” test at COTA last week with its BMW M4 GT3 Evo for Elias Sabo and Andy Lee according to program manager Darren Law. Sabo will again be contesting both GTWC America and GT America races with separate chassis, in addition to the Arizona-based team’s two-car McLaren Trophy America program that includes George Lawrence and Brandon Kreutz.

***Law said: “We had a great test with the 511 Tactical BMW M4 GT3 car last week and look forward to implementing what we learned. For our McLaren Trophy program, both George and Brandon are learning and making great progress, they were both able to get some additional seat time between events at our home track Apex Motor Club and I am looking forward to watching their growth each weekend.”

***Kay van Berlo makes his first start of the GT4 America season in the No. 9 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport alongside Dan Sibille, subbing for fellow countryman Loek Hartog, who kicked off the season in the entry.

***It’s understood Hartog was scheduled to contest this weekend’s second round of the NLS season on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, but his plans fell through at the last minute.

***Michael Cooper, who is again pulling double duty between GTWC America with Racers Edge Motorsports and Blackdog Racing’s GT4 America effort this weekend, holds an impressive record at COTA including four wins in 2020, including three in one weekend. He also recorded his first victory with Blackdog at COTA in 2015 and was part of the Pro-Am winning lineup in 2023.

***Cooper said: “We’re off to a good start to the season after the first-round win at Sonoma. As important as that was, this weekend at COTA will be just as key. It’s a double-points race, and the team can play a big role in the outcome. I’m confident in the team, in Tony [Gaples, co-driver] and myself to get us a good result and more points.”

***Deniz Teoman was set to start the second McLaren Trophy America race at Sonoma Raceway from the Am class pole position and second overall before weather conditions at the track forced the race to be postponed and rescheduled to Friday at COTA as part of a triple-header weekend for the single-make championship. The Dark Horse Racing driver crashed his No. 5 McLaren Artura Trophy Evo during an optional practice session in Sonoma (in place of a rained-out qualifying), suffering front-right damage, which would have ruled him out of taking the start.

***However, with ample time for repairs between rounds and the postponement of Race 2, Teoman will still be able to lead the Am class field to green from the outside of the front row in the car he shares with Jeff Cook before Rounds 3 and 4 of the season take place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

***Inaugural McLaren Trophy Europe champion Tommy Pintos said drivers will likely make use of seventh gear on the lengthy back straightaway at the Austin road course, marking the only racing event on the American calendar where the McLaren Artura Trophy Evo’s top gear will be used in race conditions.

***BMW leads Porsche at the head of SRO’s GT4 Manufacturer Ranking table following a run of eight events across five consecutive weekends. Racing is now underway in seven of the nine points-paying series, with action in China, the U.S., UK, Australia and France launching the new campaign. Just 15 of the season’s 100 races are complete.

***In addition to GT4 America and GT America on tap this weekend, ADAC GT4 Germany and British GT are also in action, at Oschersleben and Silverstone, respectively.

***The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School grid has grown to ten cars, up from the eight that took part in the Sonoma event, highlighted by an additional Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO for Ricca Autosport, along with a Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS for Nick Roberts.

***Applications for PT Autosport’s Aspiring Driver Shootout, to be held on Nov. 3-5 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, is now open, with the winner earning a multi-year racing partnership valued at up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed). Prospective applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 23, but no prior racing experience is required or expected.

***PT Autosport-backed drivers Alex Sedgwick and Zach Hollingshead are competing in GTWC America and GR Cup, respectively, this year.

***Bell Racing Helmets and OMP, brands of Racing Force Group, have been named the official safety providers for SRO America. The collaboration began at last month’s season-opening round at Sonoma Raceway.

***SRO America’s second-ever GT Business Forum will be held Friday afternoon at COTA, featuring Archangel Motorsports driver Todd Coleman, chairman, president and CEO at eStruxture data centers, Bill Dollahite, team owner, entrepreneur former P1 Ferrari race car driver and Dollahite Racing team owner, Sam Decker, founder, investor, chairman at Saas, immersive AR/VR and motorsports, as well as Rob Malcom, USC Marshall Board of Councilors at University of Southern California – Marshall School of Business.

***The GT Business Forum will be hosted by Don Ruse, an associate professor at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas Austin.

***Friday’s track action is predominately practice sessions, except for TC America race action and the make-up race for McLaren Trophy America from Sonoma Raceway, which is set for a 2:15 p.m. CST start time.  Live coverage will be available on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels, as well as McLaren Automotive’s YouTube channel.

Jonathan Grace & Davey Euwema contributed to this report