GT4 America: Random Vandals scores double class wins, RAFA goes back-to-back in Am

The Pirelli GT4 America competitors put on quite a show for Race 2 at Sonoma Raceway, with overtakes galore unfolding across all three classes. The 60-minute sprint started under wet conditions, but the sun gradually broke through the clouds in the latter half, providing teams with a mixed bag to contend with.

It was an extremely strong Sunday drive for Random Vandals Racing, who secured the win in both the Silver and Pro-Am categories. Meanwhile, in the Am class, RAFA Racing Team pulled off a weekend sweep with back-to-back trips to victory lane.

Silver class

After experiencing some mechanical troubles on Saturday, Race 2 got off to a better start for the No. 68 RAFA Racing Team Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2 of Tyler Gonzalez as he lined up on the front row. Just behind, Kenton Koch was on the hunt in the No. 97 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO.

The two held their position in the opening half of the race, moving up into the two top positions overall at the very front of the field. As the pit stops and driver changes took place at the halfway mark, their respective teammates, Gresham Wagner and Kevin Boehm, returned to the track in P1 and P2.

It appeared as though Wagner had begun to pull ahead and build a healthy gap, but Boehm was in hot pursuit, gradually eating into Wagner’s lead lap after lap. In the final five minutes, Boehm had fully caught up and found the right opportunity to strike as the asphalt started to dry up, completing an overtake into first, going on to take the checkered flag a few laps later.

Wagner and Gonzalez finished second in what was a great comeback performance from the day prior, and the podium was completed by Mike David Ortmann and Braydon Arthur in the No. 4 JMF Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, who stayed out of trouble and scored their second podium finish of the weekend.

“I didn’t think I was going to get many opportunities,” explained Boehm. “He (Wagner) went a little wide coming out of Turn 6, and I made him defend, then I knew that the grip was just all over the place in Turn 7. So whatever he did, I was going to do the opposite and see what happened. It just barely worked out. I had no real plan, but you just have to take advantage of everything when it comes to you.”

“It’s a pretty good field here in Silver,” admitted Koch. “I’m just super happy to have Kevin as a co-driver. He really stepped up today and put it up there. I don’t know how he had tire life left at the end because I sure didn’t give him any. I think we did a good thing when we dropped the (tire) pressure in the pit stop. We dropped them more than we thought we should, but it ended up working out.”

Pro-Am class

Matheus Leist led the field to the green flag from first overall on board his No. 23 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, but the trouble arose for him fifteen minutes into the race as he ran wide on the slick track, leaving the door open for Parker Thompson to move ahead in the No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

Leist continued to struggle for grip, and with that, Josh Green found an opportunity to gain a position in his No. 94 Random Vandals Racing BMW for second place, with Michael Cooper doing the same shortly after in the No. 33 Blackdog Racing McLaren Artura GT4 for third.

Pit stops and driver changes came with their own set of drama, as a slow stop under full course yellow for the Blackdog pairing saw them drop far down the running order with Tony Gaples now behind the wheel. As Sam Craven took over from Green, he also moved into class lead in the process and never looked back, followed by Anthony McIntosh, who swapped in for Thompson.

Misfortune struck for McIntosh late in the race, having to nurse the Toyota back to pit lane after suffering a tire puncture with just eight minutes to go. With another podium position up for grabs, the battles heated up between Curt Swearingin in the No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche and Michael Auriemme in the NOLASPORT car. The two briefly made contact, to the detriment of Auriemma, and it was Matt Million who took the opportunity to capitalize on the situation, propelling his No. 53 Auto Technic Racing BMW into the final slot in the Top 3.

“The Random Vandals family is simply awesome,” said Craven. “This was a sweet redemption from yesterday. We certainly needed it. I’m very happy to have Josh as my co-driver. We made a ton of progress in the off-season.”

“It started out very wet, and I think we were really strong,” echoed Josh Green. “But as it started to dry, we lost the rear tire. Some of the other cars started coming, the Blackdog McLaren was hunting me down at the end of my stint. Then I handed the car to Sam and he was an absolute rockstar. You guys all watched it. Sam’s pace was insane. He did a really good job conserving the car, saving the tires, so at the end of the stint, he was just chilling on a Sunday drive.”

Am class

The Am class showed no mercy, as action arose across the board throughout the race. It was the No. 72 RAFA Racing Team Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO, co-piloted by Anthony Geraci and Kenny Schmied, that ultimately prevailed, but not without some unforeseen events taking place.

Towards the closing stage of the race, Geraci came in contact with the No. 37 Dome Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Edward Killeen, forcing both cars to shortcut the track. Geraci was handed a 30-second post-race penalty, however, he had a 32-second lead over the second car in class, the No. 07 Skip Barber Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 piloted by Alex and Michael Garcia, and was able to retain the win.

In the final minutes of the race, trouble arose for the No. 188 Fast Track Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Judson Holt, as the car went off track, losing all hopes of a podium finish. It was the No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Paul Sparta and Michael Kanisczak who went on to finish third.

“The track was getting better as the race went on,” said Geraci. “We got into the incident, and luckily I was able to stay with the leaders and follow their pace, and we came out ahead.”

Schmied added: “It was so tricky at the start, and I just trusted that he (Anthony) was going to bring it home, so I just tried to keep it safe. I handed it over to him. He just crushed it at the end.”

The Pirelli GT4 America field will return for the third and fourth rounds of the season at Circuit of The Americas from April 25-27.