Sparta: Random Vandals “Not Afraid” of Pro Class Challenge

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Random Vandals Racing is “not afraid” of tackling the Pro class of GT World Challenge America powered by AWS according to team principal Paul Sparta, in what’s come as an expanded two-car BMW effort in its first full season series campaign.

The North Carolina-based operation, which made a mid-season GT3 debut last year, has come out in force this year with two Pro class BMW M4 EVOs as well as three BMW M4 GT4s in Pirelli GT4 America.

“The goal is to grow the program at a global level and to be at the top,” Sparta told Sportscar365.

“The reason we focused primarily on SRO this year was partially due to the oversubscription that there already was in WeatherTech, which is no knock on SRO or [IMSA]. It’s just a reality that it’s there.

“Also, with where we were, we felt it was better off to come without dealing with the torque sensors and the extra issues associated with doing that, and the difference in expense to run this.

“That was coupled with the fact that we had the addition of a third GT4 car.

“We’ve had great support from BMW. For us, it made sense to just focus on SRO this year and to really level up the entire program at a different scale but with a fewer number of events to manage.

“That seems to be playing out pretty well. We’ve been happy how we’ve been running so far this weekend.”

Sparta has retained Kenton Koch and BMW M factory driver Connor De Phillippi, who drove with the team in last year’s season-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS, while bringing on board BMW legend Bill Auberlen alongside his 2024 co-driver Varun Choksey for the second BMW.

When asked why the team elected to step into full-time GT3 competition with two Pro cars, Sparta said: “I get that question a lot.”

He added: “If we want to grow, we want the best people in the cockpit that we can get.

“I think Kenton and Connor are a killer combination. We’re really lucky to have them and they get along really well. Their feedback is excellent.

“Having Bill and Varun… Varun has really impressed us and Bill still has it. Right now the chemistry is working really well.

“I’m not afraid of the Pro class. The car is the same car and in a certain way, it’s a little bit liberating that we’re not having to manage someone who may need other things.

“If it was me in that car — and I’ve driven it — I’d need a lot of other things than simply worrying about how do we produce the best race car we can over time.”

Sparta Excited for Racing Return in GT4 America

This weekend’s SRO America season opener will mark Sparta’s first time back in GT4 America competition since sustaining a back injury in the opening race at Road America that ruled him out of the car for the remainder of the season.

“I’m 100 percent,” he said. “After I got medically cleared, we did some testing at Sebring in November and did a couple club endurance races, just to get some additional seat time back.

“We tested here [ten] days ago, so it was good then. I couldn’t be more excited to actually get out and do some racing.”

While the Bronze-rated owner/driver has previously expressed ambitions of graduating to the GT3 ranks, Sparta said he has to have the pace needed to compete.

“If I am good enough to be a really solid Bronze in a program that has a mandate for a Bronze,” he said. “I don’t know, but there’s a race in France that I hear is pretty popular… I’d really consider it.

“But I’m not going to do that if I’m not fast enough to do that. I’m not worried even with age and the endurance [aspect] or anything like that. The car is not particularly intimidating.

“The team is first and I’m second.”