Increased Grid Expected for Sonoma Season Opener

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Nearly 20 cars across eight GT3 manufacturers are expected for this month’s GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season opener at Sonoma Raceway, which would mark considerable growth for SRO America’s flagship GT series.

While an entry list for the March 28-30 event has yet to be released, the series has previewed the contenders for the new-look 2025 season.

It has so far confirmed 17 cars between seven manufacturers, with two additional teams awaiting announcements.

Aston Martin will have at least two of its Vantage GT3 Evos on the grid, with Racers Edge Motorsports making the switch from Acura with an all-new lineup of Jason Bell and Michael Cooper.

Heart of Racing Team, meanwhile, will graduate to the top series with a car for Darren Turner and Gray Newell.

Four BMW M4 GT3 EVOs are set to appear for Sonoma, headlined by two Random Vandals Racing entries for Connor De Phillippi/Kenton Koch and Bill Auberlen/Varun Choksey, the latter two who move over from ST Racing, which is no longer in the series.

Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg will defend their Pro-Am class title with Turner Motorsport, while Flying Lizard Motorsports will also return with a BMW for the expected driver pairing of Elias Sabo and Andy Lee.

DXDT Racing will again be on the grid with at least one Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, for the new driver pairing of Blake McDonald and Matt Bell, while two AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3s are expected, headlined by Jay Schreibman and Oswaldo Negri Jr., alongside a yet-to-be-announced driver crew in the No. 16 entry in Pro-Am.

Dollahite Racing will give the Ford Mustang GT3 its series debut with an expected Am class effort featuring the team owner/driver and a yet-to-be-announced co-driver.

Four Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos are set for Sonoma, headed up by Regulator Racing’s Jeff Burton and Philip Ellis, as well as the return of CrowdStrike by Riley’s entry for George Kurtz and Colin Braun, which is set to contest selected GTWC America races this year.

CRP Racing will make its series return with Jason Daskalos and Isaac Sherman at the wheel, while JMF Motorsports expands to field a Mercedes-AMG for the first time for Michai Stephens and Mikael Grenier.

The newly re-branded LAB Motorsport by GT Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R of Jean-Frederic Laberge and Kyle Marcelli will return to the Pro-Am ranks, while GMG Racing’s Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent will again do battle in the class as well with their Porsche.

They’ll be joined by RS1 in the Porsche stable, with a lineup yet to be announced.

Two additional entries are also expected, with announcements still to come.

It includes the return of Chouest Povoledo Racing with Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo, and an Archangel Motorsports entry, also with a yet-to-be-announced brand.

Should all entries materialize, it will mark a notable increase over the 13 cars that took part in last year’s season opener at the Californian circuit.