Expanded 19-Car Entry for Sonoma Season Opener

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

An expanded grid of 19 cars are set for next weekend’s GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season opener at Sonoma Raceway.

The entry list, released on Friday by SRO America, features a heavily overhauled grid compared to last year, with only seven of the entries remaining unchanged from the 2024 season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour powered by AWS.

The Pro class is bolstered by two full-time BMW M4 GT4 EVOs from Random Vandals Racing, including the returning No. 99 entry of Kenton Koch and BMW M factory driver Connor De Phillippi.

BMW legend Bill Auberlen and Varun Choksey, meanwhile, move over from Samantha Tan Racing to the Paul Sparta-led operation, co-driving the No. 51 BMW.

2023 Pro class champions RS1 return to the top class with the all-new driver pairing of Alex Sedgwick and Jan Heylen in their Porsche 911 GT3 R, while JMF Motorsports steps up to GT World America competition with Michai Stephens joined by Mercedes-AMG factory driver Mikael Grenier in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

The remaining entries, all except the Am class No. 163 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 for Ozz Negri and Jay Schreibman, are entered in Pro-Am, which sees significantly increased competition from previous years.

It includes the series debut of the Ford Mustang GT3, for Dollahite Racing’s Scott Dollahite and Anthony Lazzaro, Heart of Racing Team’s new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO for Darren Turner and Gray Newell, as well as the Archangel Motorsports McLaren 720S GT3 with drivers Aaron Telitz and Todd Coleman.

Justin Rothberg and Robby Foley will defend their Pro-Am class title in their Turner Motorsport BMW, while Flying Lizard Motorsports will return with their BMW that debuted mid-season last year for Elias Sabo and Andy Lee.

RacersEdge will make its Aston Martin debut with former Flying Lizard driver Jason Bell teaming up with Michael Cooper in their No. 2 entry, while CRP Racing steps up with its Mercedes-AMG for reigning GT America powered by AWS GT4 class champion Isaac Sherman and SRO3 class star Jason Daskalos.

CrowdStrike by Riley will return to the series for the first time since Circuit of The Americas last year, with the longtime driver pairing of George Kurtz and Colin Braun in their Mercedes-AMG, which is expected to contest a limited-season campaign this year.

A fourth and final Mercedes-AMG will feature at Sonoma for Jeff Burton and Philip Ellis, in Regulator Racing’s entry.

Sister squad DXDT Racing will have an all-new lineup in Blake McDonald and Matt Bell in its solo Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, with Chouest Povoledo Racing making the switch to the bow-tie with Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo again as drivers.

The newly re-named LAB Motorsport by GT Racing Porsche will again feature Kyle Marcelli and Jean-Frederic Laberge, with GMG Racing back with its Porsche for Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent, while AF Corse will have a Ferrari in Pro-Am for the Brazilian pairing of Marcelo Hahn and Allam Khodair.

Testing action, over two days, begins on Wednesday, while two official practice sessions are on tap for next Friday, followed by qualifying on Sat. March 29 and Race 1 getting the green flag at 3:15 p.m. PST later that day. Race 2 is set for a 3 p.m. local time start on Sun. March 30.

Both 90-minute contests will be broadcast live on MAVTV, along with streaming coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube and Twitch channels.