RS1, Chouest Povoledo, and Auto Technic Racing Score the Final Wins of the Year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with RS1, Nolasport, and BimmerWorld Take the Championships

• Championship winning RS1 team takes it to 11 with another win in Silver
• Chouest Povoledo becomes eighth different winner in Pro-Am
• Nolasport holds on for Pro-Am championship
• Auto Technic BMW scores their second Am win of the season
• Provisional Results

Indianapolis, Indiana - Drama was served cold and often in Race 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the Pirelli GT4 America field took to the track for its final race of the 2022 season. While the Silver championship was decided for RS1 on Friday, and Am was claimed by BimmerWorld at Sebring, the Pro-Am championship was still brutally close between Nolasport and Premier Racing. However, after a two-driver sprint race-turned-war of attrition—mainly caused by repeated drama in Turn 1—it would be Nolasport who’d survive flying BMWs, Aston Martins, Porsche, and Toyotas and make it across the finish line—Premier Racing wasn’t so lucky.

Silver

After massive drama in Turn 1, Lap 1, Eric Filgueiras (#18 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) jumped ahead with season-long rival Gavin Sanders  (#34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4) not too far behind. It would only be a short matter of time before the two were in a fantastic scrap.

After the driver change, McAleer took over for Filgueiras and never looked back. His spot was lightly contended by Michai Stephens (#34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4) in the end, but otherwise he had a pretty clean run to the checkers.

Further down the running order, Ryan Dexter (#112 Dexter Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4) was handed a drive-through penalty for contact made with #50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 (Ross Chouest/Aaron Povoledo) taking him out of fifth in class and clearing the way for Kevin Conway (#68 Smooge Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4) and Matt Forbush (#33 Forbush Performance Toyota GR Supra GT4) mixed in with some Am traffic.

Across the line it was McAleer, Stephens, and Conway. RS1 earned the CrowdStrike Fastest Lap by setting a 1:31.295.

“This is a massive deal for us,” McAleer said. “The chemistry between Eric and I from the get-go—we had a great opening round at Sonoma and never looked back. I think every team has some rocky races, which we did, but credit to the RS1 team and thanks for the opportunity.”

Pro-Am

Elias Sabo (#8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) and Elliot Skeer (#120 Premier Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) made contact in Turn 1, Lap 1, resulting in the Premier car taking on damage and being put out of the race, thus ending their championship bid.  Premier Racing can reflect on a strong year that included three wins including a sweep at NOLA.  

The opening move of the race, weaving through the spinning cars at turn 1 was from the #52 Auto Technic Racing BMW of John Capestro-Dubets (#52 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4) who picked up over a dozen positions.

After the driver change, Tom Capizzi, taking over for Capestro-Dubets, held off James Walker Jr. (#82 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4) for P1 in class, but had to reel it in for a yellow flag brought on by contact between Nick Shanny (#20 Carrus Callas Raceteam Toyota GR Supra GT4) and Gray Newell (#24 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4).

After the restart, drama in T1 punted off the #82 BMW of Walker Jr., opening the door for Ross Chouest (#50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) and Toby Grahovic (#10 Fast Track Racing BMW M4 GT4) who took over from Tim Horrell. Chouest and Grahovic made it to P1 and P2, which stuck across the line.  This was the second win of the day for Chouest who had already won in the GT America race.  This was also the first career podium for Tim Horrell.  Horrell races with hand controls developed by the Fast Track Racing team.

“I can’t think of a better place to have such a great weekend—three wins and seal the championship in GT America,” Chouest said. “As a kid we used to come to the 500 every year. I literally can’t think of a better place to win this.”

With Premier knocked out, the #47 Nolasport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport (Scott Noble/Jason Hart) cruised to a fifth place finish becoming the 2022 Pirelli GT4 America Pro-Am champions. 

Am

While the battle was on in Pro-Am and Silver, there was still the rest of the championship podium to fill out in Am.

With BimmerWorld already locked in the Am championship with Nolaport driver Alain Stad in second, third place was still up for grabs between RS1, Carrus Callas, and Auto Technic.

In the final moments of the race, mixed in with both Silver and Pro-Am runners, Alex Filsinger (#53 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4) made a sturdy move on Charlie Postins (#36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4), grabbing the lead. Ramana Lagemann (#38 STR38 Motorsports BMW M4 GT4) wasn’t far behind.

Two corners later it was Filsinger across the line first, followed by Postins and Lagemann.

“I just did everything I could,” Filsinger said. “I went as deep as I could possibly go, gave as much as I could and got lucky. Charlie made a mistake at the last second that gave me a hole so I ran with it.”

The Am championship top five was as follows:

1. James Clay & Charlie Postins (BimmerWorld BMW)  262 points 
2. Alain Staid (Nolasport Porsche) 158 points
3. Alex Filsinger and Rob Walker (Auto Technic BMW) 127 points
4. Nelson Calle & Juan Martinez (RS1 Porsche) 113 points
5. Terry Borcheller & Nick Shanny (Carrus Callas Toyota) 110 points

Porsche earned the GT4 manufacturers championship over Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, Toyota, BMW, and McLaren. 

Replay the  action on the GTWorld YouTube Channel, follow Pirelli GT4 America on Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, and Twitter.

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Colin Garrett, Kevin Boehm and Devin Anderson Win at Indianapolis; Ruud and Wagner Claim Titles in Thrilling Season Finale

• Colin Garrett, Rooster Hall BMW, claims last TCX win of the season
• Kevin Boehm, CrowdStrike Racing by Skip Barber Racing Honda sweeps the weekend
• Devin Anderson, TechSport Racing Subaru, celebrates first win of the season at Indy
• Ruud, Boehm and Wagner are your 2022 Champions
• Provisional Results

Indianapolis, Indiana - Spirits were high for the last round of the TC America powered by Skip Barber. Indianapolis Motor Speedway was center stage for a nail-biter finale, as two championships were decided after 40 minutes of incredible action on track. 

Words can barely describe the intensity of the racing that went on this Sunday morning. Kevin Boehm, driver of the #9 CrowdStrike Racing by Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Type-R, was already crowned TC Champion at Sebring thanks to a perfect season where he ultimately claimed 14 podium finishes, and 10 wins from 14 races. 

Championships remained wide open in the TCX and TCA classes, as Race 13 at the Brickyard was nothing short of dramatic. Jacob Ruud was able to prevail in his #1 Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup) machine, though Colin Garrett (#44 Rooster Hall Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup)) finished the season a mere 2 points behind. 

The same scenario was repeated in the TCA class, as Gresham Wagner (#21 TechSport Racing Subaru BRZ) won by only 10 points over the #16 Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Si of Carter Fartuch. 

TCX

Tensions were running high now more than ever in the TCX class, as championship leader Jacob Ruud started from the back of the class. His main rival, Colin Garrett, having gained 21 points on Friday, started in fifth place, with Brett Scroggin lead the field in his #51 Homewrecker Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup). Ruud lost no time making up spots, while Garrett Adams in his #54 Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup) made a move on Scroggin for the lead. 

Later on, Colin Garrett made a pass for first place, with Ruud glued to his rear bumper. Ruud remained in Garrett’s rear view mirror all race long, knowing that any wrong move could potentially lose him the championship. Ruud couldn’t catch a break as the three drivers behind, Scroggin, Adams and Chris Walsh (#38 STR38 Motorsports BMW M2 CS (Cup) were in a tight train. The race ended in that order, with Garrett taking home the last win of the season, Ruud finishing second and Scroggin rounding up the Top 3.

Rudd started the season with seven wins from the first ten races, building a healthy points lead until the final four races when Garrett was on a roll winning four in a row.  When the points were tallied, it was Rudd over Garrett by a slim two point margin.

“It is what it is, I did everything I could,” stated race winner Colin Garrett on Victory Lane. “I knew it was a long shot, and I’ve never raced on road courses before this year, so it was pretty cool to do what we did.”

“At the end of the day, it's a long season and we definitely had our ups and downs,” said 2022 TCX Champion Jacob Ruud after the race. “After the last three races, I was upset but you have to move on. We did exactly what we needed to do today, it was just an amazing team effort, and I want to say thank you to everybody that made this year possible. Everyone at Fast Track Racing, my parents and all my partners. They all made this year possible. I'm honestly extremely happy right now and I'm at a loss for words. It's been a great year and I'm looking forward to next season if we can make it happen.”

TC

The TC Championship was already decided at Sebring, but the action on track didn’t reflect that. Runner up Clay Williams (#60 Team MINI JCW Pro TC) left leader Kevin Boehm with no room for error. Jeff Ricca (#78 Genracer / Ricca Autosport Hyundai Veloster N DCT TC) made an appearance in the Top 3, followed by Matthew Ibrahim in his #6 DRS & Garagistic BMW M240iR. 

With 15 minutes remaining on the clock, Williams made a push for the lead, but eventually had to yield as his MINI seemed to have trouble down the front stretch. 

“I just want to try to replicate this performance in the future,” said Kevin Boehm, who has not missed out one podium this season. “This has been a year that I will never forget. I can't thank Skip Barber Racing School enough for prepping the car all year. We've been on the podium every race because of the reliability of the car first and foremost. I am really happy to have put CrowdStrike and AWS on the top step both days at Indianapolis in front of our guests. I want to thank everybody that put us together and gave us a chance to come out here and be successful. The future for me is just trying to do this again.” 

Ken Fukuda claimed his first podium of the year with a season best second place in his #42 Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Type-R.

Honda won the TC manufacturers championship

TCA

As we have seen many times this year the TCA class saw the most action.  Drama was expected with championship leader Gresham Wagner starting from the last spot on the grid in his #21 TechSport Racing Subaru BRZ. Carter Fartuch, just seven points behind Wagner, started from the first place in class, which meant it was about to be an intense climb to the front of the pack for Wagner. 

Sally McNulty made her way to the Top 3 in the #780 VGRT Honda Civic Si, but eventually had contact with Canadian racer PJ Groenke in the #62 JCW Team MINI, which brought out the only full course caution of the race. 

Fartuch was holding onto the lead, but ran wide, allowing Wagner to move up the field. It became a TechSport showdown as Devin Anderson was leading the TCA field in his #22 Subaru BRZ, closely followed by his teammate. Carter Fartuch rounded out the top 3 and missed the championship by 10 points.  Overall Fartuch had scored 11 podium finishes including three wins. 

“It's so special to win here,” explained Devin Anderson after the race. “I can't wait to kiss the bricks! Last year we didn't finish either race, so to come back and be able to win this one is amazing. This also means that we will be first and third in the driver's Championship, and Champions in the Teams Championship. As a team, we have never won the driver's Championship. I want to thank TechSport Racing, my amazing crew and my partners.” 

“Well first of all TechSport, K1 and Redline have been great partners all year,” noted TCA Champion Gresham Wagner. “They gave me a fast car to win seven races and be on the podium at a couple more. All year was a build-up to this moment. I knew what I had to do and I knew Devin (Anderson) would be there to help with managing the point situation so once I saw him behind me and knew he had the speed to win, I just had to mirror what Carter (Fartuch) was doing. At the end I saw that I had a good pace so I figured why not make it a one-two if I can!”

Honda is successful in the TCA class as well, clinched the Manufacturer's title. 

TC America will start its 2023 season at NOLA Motorsports Park next February.

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Kurtz Drives to 10th Overall Win, Chouest Claims the GT4 Championship With a Sweep at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

• George Kurtz, CrowdStrike Mercedes-AMG wins SRO3 —his fourth weekend sweep
• Ross Chouest, Chouest-Povoledo Aston Martin drives home to a picture-perfect sweep and GT4 championship
• Provisional Results

Indianapolis, Indiana - The GT America powered by AWS field headed out onto the tarmac for the final time in 2022. Like Race 1, massive change-ups in positions in the yard of bricks went down and the battles never stopped. Most notably, the battles in the top five positions of GT4 never let up, and with clear skies and no yellow flags in sight, nothing was guaranteed until the final moments. SRO3 saw its own share of drama, too.

SRO3

With the championship already decided this would simply be a race to finish the year on a high note.  Would Kurtz score his tenth win?  Who might score a season best finish?

When the racers took to Indy’s tarmac, George Kurtz (#04 CrowdStrike Racing by Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3) sat in P1, followed by Jeff Burton (#191 TR3 Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3), Mirco Schultis (#70 Mishumotors Callaway Corvette C7.R), and Kyle Washington (#32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.ii)).

Early on, everyone settled into a reasonably chill rhythm to let their tires and brakes come up to temperature against the chilly Midwestern ambient temperatures. Jason Daskalos (#27 Daskalos Racing Audi R8 LMS) and Andy Pilgrim (#56 SKI Autosports Ferrari 458 Italia GT3) had their own battle for position. Once Pilgrim got past, he laid down several fast laps to move closer to the front of the pack, recording the CrowdStrike Fastest Lap with a 1:25.229.

With 18 minutes to go, Washington and Daskalos dropped back, Burton experienced issues that dropped him back to P4, and Pilgrim found his way up to Schultis’ bumper, contending for a P2 finish. If he were to get past, he’d still have a solid seven second gap to get up to Kurtz in P1.

Pilgrim got past Schultis, but not for long—a wise move by Schultis into T1 in the final moments of the race got him back to P2, and with a little help from GT4 traffic, he held a strong defense to the checkers. Schultis and Pilgrim got up to within two seconds of Kurtz, too, which could’ve made things extra interesting if the field had just one more lap.

In the end, it was Kurtz, then Schultis and Pilgrim across the line.  It was a season best for Schultis after a string of third-place finishes. 

“It was certainly a great year,” Kurtz said. “CrowdStrike with Riley gave me a great car all season, we did really well here, and we showcased our talents and team efforts. It was a breakout season.”

While Kurtz clinched the season title at Sebring, Daskalos, having scored two early season wins, was able to hold steady in second place with Schultis in third. 

Mercedes-AMG won the manufacturers championship over Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche.

GT4

Three drivers entered the race with a championship in their sights.  Jason Bell held a slim lead over Ross Chouest with Adam Adelson still optimistic.  Making the math a little more complicated was the “points drop” where their worst weekend would be dropped.  Adelson's mission was simple - go for the win and not worry about the competition.  Bell and Chouest needed to think about points and positions.

Within a few laps it was Adam Adelson (#120 Premier Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) at the front after starting in P22, followed by Gray Newell (#25 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) and Ross Chouest (#50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) close in tow. The three were out for blood, and championship leader Jason Bell (#2 GMG Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) had his hands full two positions away with Custodio Toledo (#35 Conquest Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4).

Bell made a skillful, smooth pass on Toledo, but still had a five second gap to make up against the top three. Further up the running order, if Chouest could move up to P2 or better, the championship would be his. 

To throw a massive wrench in Bell’s hopes, if a very nearby Seth Lucas (#016 Hattori Motorsport Toyota GR Supra GT4) were to get past him, it’d extinguish Bell’s hopes at a repeat championship. Lucas eventually made his way past, then later on to P3 at the finish line.

At various times during the race, the championship could have been as close as a single point between Bell, Chouest, and Adelson.  Each position change could have altered the outcome. 

In the final laps, an incident between Adelson and Chouest gave Adelson a punctured radiator and killed any hopes at a podium spot. Still, his noble efforts in 2022, including two race wins, earned him a third spot on the championship podium. 

Then, just a few corners before the checkered flag, Newell slowed—presumably due to running out of gas—resulting in Chouest claiming the weekend sweep and championship.

Across the finish line it was Chouest, Lucas, and Bell.

“It was a lot to take in,” Chouest said. “I came into the day hopeful, but knew it’d take a strong try from me and a lot of luck. I got both, and I couldn’t be happier. It was a bit of a rollercoaster of a season, and to have it end this way is just amazing.”

The GT4 class provided amazing depth of field with ten different race winners from 16 races.  Only Robb Holland (#99 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) managed more than two wins.  Aston Martin won the manufacturers championship followed by Porsche, Toyota, Mercedes-AMG, and BMW.

In GT2, CJ Moses (#58 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2) finished eighth overall, splitting P1 and P2 in GT4.

Check out the race recap for free on YouTube at GT World. 

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Mercedes-AMG Wins the Indianapolis 8-Hour in Thrilling Fashion, Racers Edge Motorsports Claims Pro-Am Title, BimmerWorld Battle to the Line for Pro-Am Win

• Mercedes-AMG wins the Indianapolis 8-Hour
• Turner Motorsport BMW wins Pro class
• BimmerWorld takes the Pro-Am race win while Racers Edge Acura claims the Pro-Am championship in a nail-biter race
• ST Racing and Zelus Motorsports take Silver and Am wins 
• Lamborghini wins manufacturers championship
• Provisional Results
• Mid-Race Report | Second-Half Report | IGTC Report

Indianapolis, Indiana - ​​The 2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season came to a dramatic end this Saturday evening, as the Indianapolis 8-Hour concluded at 8 PM ET sharp. GT World Challenge America was joined by the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), who disputed their penultimate round within the Indianapolis 8-Hour race.  This was the 13th round of a championship where the previous 12 races had been 90 minutes each. 

Temperatures were chilly, but that didn’t stop the 25 cars from putting on a show for the thousands of spectators in attendance. Although the Pro Championship was already decided, with the #1 K-PAX Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 clinching the title earlier in the season, the on-track action continued to roll on. Crowds were treated to a nail-biting battle in the Pro-Am class that saw the #93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura of Ashton Harrison and Mario Farnbacher claim a sensational first title. The regular duo was joined by Christina Nielsen for the 8-hour endurance race. 

Although the GT World Challenge America series had only one race this weekend, the drivers accumulated double the points at the checkered flag, making things all the more interesting or heartbreaking, depending on the desired outcome. 

IGTC contestant Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing won the race, effectively skyrocketing Daniel Juncadella to the top of the IGTC Championship standings. Raffaele Marciello and Daniel Morad joined their teammate on the top step of the podium, as the #71 AF Corse - Francorchamps Ferrari 488 GT3 IGTC entry came in second. The podium was not decided until the very end as these two cars were battling it out hard around the Brickyard. 

“Raffaelle Marciello pissed us off by making the end of the race too intense,” joked Juncadella. “We knew our car was very strong. It was a pity to not be able to qualify. Daniel and Dani did an amazing job putting the car in front. It was a nice battle with Antonio," added Marciello. 

In addition to claiming this thrilling win, Marciello set the CrowdStrike Fastest Lap late in the race with a lap time of 1:22.439. 

Third in the Pro and overall podium was seasoned Fanatec GT World Challenge America team Turner Motorsport in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 co-driven by Robby Foley, John Edwards, and Michael Dinan. 

“The last stint was hard work,” said Robby Foley after climbing down from the podium. “We were basically trying to keep the #33 behind. They are a great team with three great drivers, so it was not an easy task. It’s a great day for BMW and Turner Motorsports. I am proud to give these guys a big podium after a long and hard season. Great way to end the season and we will take the momentum into 2023.” 

Finishing just outside of the Top 3 was the #33 Team Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of regulars Russell Ward and Phillip Ellis, who were also joined by Mercedes-AMG factory driver Jules Gounon. The American-German lineup was left in an unfortunate position after an untimely full-course caution that came out as they exited pit lane. This situation put them nearly a full lap down, although Gounon was able to stay in the Top 5 for the remainder of the race. AF Corse - Francorchamps’s second Ferrari rounded up the Top 5, as drama erupted between the Scuderia’s two teammates when they made contact near the halfway point. 

Bill Auberlen—one of America’s winningest touring and gt racers, ever—added to his tally as he ended the 8-hour race on a high note. Though the #94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3 co-driven by Chandler Hull and Richard Heistand finished second in team points, they walked away with an iconic win under the stars. 

“This is as good as we could have done,” said Auberlen. “Thank you to BimmerWorld for everything they have done, and to James Clay and my guys. This victory is unbelievable, that was more stress than I could handle! He was right behind me and this BMW M4 GT3 ran flawlessly all day long and the crew was perfect. That’s what it takes to win at this place.” 

It wasn’t a total clean sweep for the BimmerWorld outfit, as IGTC’s #75 SunEnergy 1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 machine was determined to put up a good fight for the win. Rounding out the podium was the newly crowned Pro-Am Champions, Ashton Harrison and Mario Farnbacher in the #93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3, joined by Danish driver Christina Nielsen. Harrison becomes the first female racer to win a GT World Challenge America championship. 

“Wow, I’ve grown so much throughout the year,” noted Ashton Harrison after the race. “Racers Edge has been so good to me, graduating from the academy and jumping into a full season of GT3 with my coach Mario. We worked really hard with the team, and we just kept our heads down. It was a roller-coaster season, it wasn’t easy. We won by 5 points and that’s enough!” 

“I think the sweep at Road America resulted in a big change in the  championship and the win at Sebring as well,” added Mario Farnbacher. “I am very happy for Honda HPD and for Ashton.” 

Racers Edge team owner Jon Mirachi was all smiles remarking "It's just fantastic to win. And to do it with one of our driver academy students on top of it. It's just incredible. Really special."

The Indy 8-Hour was a defining moment for the Pro-Am team, as Farnbacher was handed a drive-through penalty in the early stages of the race. However, the German driver put his head down and clocked in purple sector after purple sector, flying down the Racing Capital of the World with monumental speed. The trio finished the race in third place, after a thrilling event. 

Luck was on Racers Edge’s side as their main opponents, Wright Motorsports and CrowdStrike with Riley Motorsports, were delayed with mechanical issues that brought both cars behind the wall for extensive repairs. Wright’s #45 Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.ii) needed to make up one more position in order to clinch the Pro-Am title, but failed to do so as the next Pro-Am car was 12 laps away. 

IGTC’s Pro-Am Championship leaders #75 SunEnergy 1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 finished second, ahead of the Racers Edge Motorsports machine. 

The #88 Zelus Motorsports Lamborghini HuracanGT3 of Jason Harward, Seth Lucas and Jason Daskalos is leaving Indianapolis with some hardware as the team claimed first place in the Am class, leading ahead of the #08 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. 

One performance that must be noted was the lone entry in the Silver Cup class. Although ST Racing’s outfit went unchallenged for a class win, they fought brilliantly for the overall honors! Samantha Tan, Nick Wittmer and Harry Gottsacker put their #38 BMW M4 GT3 machine near the front of the field for almost the entire event, claiming an overall 9th place finish. 

K-Pax Racing had a rough end to the season with a fourth place finish for their #3 Lamborghini Huracan, and a DNF for the championship winning #1 of Andrea Caldarelli.  Caldarelli won the drivers championship, while K-PAX secured the Pro teams championship.  Caldarelli noted, “It was a tough year, obviously for some it looked like we had a smooth year, but it wasn’t. To give the team this title means a lot. I would like to thank the team and Lamborghini Squadra Corse for their endless support and I am really happy to have clinched my sixth SRO series title.”

The Fanatec GT World Challenge America manufacturers championship was won by Lamborghini, followed by Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Acura, Porsche, and Ferrari.

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SRO Motorsports Group – The global leader in GT racing

With three decades’ experience at the forefront of a continuously evolving industry, SRO Motorsports Group is the established global leader in GT racing. A busy 2022 season will see events staged under the SRO banner on five continents, highlighted by the prestigious TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa. 

The company's expanding portfolio of series includes Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS categories in America, Asia, Australia and Europe. Each retains its unique identity, while also allowing competing manufacturers to dispute a global title through their continental representatives. 

Staged since 2016, the flagship Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli sees world-leading automotive brands tackle marquee events across the globe. Considerable emphasis is placed on amateur competitors thanks to a range of series combining a relaxed environment with highly professional standards, while SRO also works with the FIA to organise and promote the FIA Motorsport Games, a multi-disciplinary event in which drivers compete in the colours of their national flag. 

A wide variety of international and domestic categories catering for GT2, GT3, GT4 and touring car machinery add further strength to the extensive on-track programme, while the burgeoning sim racing scene has taken on considerable importance in recent years. This includes the ground-breaking Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series, where professional drivers compete virtually to score points towards the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS teams' championship, as well as online competitions for leading sim racers. 

In addition to promotion and organisation, the company operates the SRO Race Centre by MMC service facility at Circuit Paul Ricard, and provides the ultimate driving opportunities at world-renowned venues through Curbstone Track Events. Combining a passion for performance with industry-leading experience, SRO continues to play a key role in shaping the future of global GT racing.

CRAFT-BAMBOO WINS INDIANAPOLIS 8 HOUR PRESENTED BY AWS TO SEAL INTERCONTINENTAL GT CHALLENGE POWERED BY PIRELLI MANUFACTURERS’ CROWN FOR MERCEDES-AMG

> Juncadella/Marciello/Morad beat AF Corse’s #71 Ferrari at the Brickyard
> Habul and Konrad win Pro-Am Challenge title
> IGTC drivers’ title fight rolls on to Gulf 12 Hours season finale
> Result: Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS

Mercedes-AMG has clinched the 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli manufacturers’ title, as well as its fourth-straight IGTC victory, by winning the Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS at the Brickyard this evening.

Craft-Bamboo Racing’s Dani Juncadella, Daniel Morad and Raffaele Marciello picked their way through from 15th on the grid to beat AF Corse - Francorchamps’ #71 Ferrari shared by Antonio Fuoco, Ulysse De Pauw and Daniel Serra – who lined up three places further back – by just 0.8s seconds following a grandstand finish.

Mercedes-AMG also finished fourth on the road but third of the IGTC competitors after Winward Racing’s pole-winning entry lost almost one lap during the second of two Safety Car periods. Philip Ellis, Jules Gounon and Russell Ward ultimately came home more than a minute behind Craft-Bamboo and 11 seconds shy of the final overall podium place, which went the way of Turner Motorsport’s BMW.

The result ensures this year’s drivers’ championship won’t be resolved until IGTC stages its season finale at the Gulf 12 Hours on December 11.

MARCIELLO AS GOOD AS HIS WORD

The circumstances that prevented Craft-Bamboo and both AF Corse entries from contesting Friday’s top-10 Pole Shootout prompted Marciello to promise he’d make amends on Saturday. And the Italian delivered – just – despite his team starting 15th.

The race ultimately boiled down to a scrap between Marciello and his compatriot Fuoco who traded the lead over the final two stints before going wheel-to-wheel for victory on the last lap.

Strategies converged with two hours remaining when a Full Course Yellow prompted the leading contenders to make their final pitstops. But while Marciello, Fuoco and Turner’s BMW driven by Robby Foley emerged ahead of the subsequent Safety Car, Winward’s chances evaporated when Gounon was trapped behind. The top-three duly joined the back of the queue to gain almost a lap on the #33 Mercedes-AMG.

Racing hadn’t long resumed when Fuoco relieved Marciello of the lead in traffic. However, he was unable to pull clear and fell back behind the Theodore Racing-liveried Mercedes-AMG with 90 minutes remaining.

Marciello appeared to have the Ferrari covered at the start of the final stint and initially moved four seconds ahead. Fuoco wasn’t finished, though, and steadily chipped away at a lead that stood at less than two seconds with 15 minutes left.

Traffic undoubtedly played its part but the Ferrari also appeared to be the faster car as a golden sunset gave way to darkness over IMS – this being the first time ever that the fabled venue had staged racing at night. Fuoco certainly began the final lap with a chance but few would have imaged the grandstand finish that played out as the Italians went side-by-side into the final chicane. Fuoco was briefly alongside but ran out of road as Marciello slammed the door shut.

Victory maintained Mercedes-AMG’s incredible IGTC run this calendar year, which began with 2021’s season finale at Kyalami in February. Further victories at Bathurst and then Spa followed before this evening’s triumph matched Audi’s record of four-straight wins.

Craft-Bamboo’s first IGTC win was built on Morad’s opening triple stint, the first of which saw the car rise from 15th to fourth. Juncadella took the wheel in second and inherited the lead when De Pauw picked up a drive-through penalty for spinning AF Corse’s other Ferrari around at Turn 1. 

The subsequent Safety Car brought the two leading contenders back together, but it was Juncadella who pitted just ahead of Serra whose early contribution brought #71 into contention. The Brazilian was simply unstoppable during an opening hour in which the Ferrari carved its way through from 18th to second.

K-Pax Racing’s #1 Lamborghini ended the first hour out front but dropped back and ultimately out of contention when Marco Mapelli crashed on the front straight, triggering the initial Safety Car.

Instead, it was Winward’s Mercedes-AMG that looked set to join the lead battle until the second Safety Car’s timing scuppered Gounon’s chances of winning the IGTC drivers’ title with a race to spare. 

Instead, Turner’s BMW shared by Foley, Michael Dinan and John Edwards completed the overall podium after a fast, trouble-free run.

AF Corse’s other Ferrari couldn’t match the early progress of its sister car and ultimately finished two laps down due to a combination of factors. However, #51 still scored fourth place IGTC points for the Prancing Horse in fifth overall.

Another non-IGTC BMW – Bimmerworld’s example shared by Chandler Hull, Richard Heistand and Bill Auberlen – completed the overall top-six and withstood late-race pressure from SunEnergy1 to scoop Pro-Am honours.

Meanwhile, Kenny Habul and Martin Konrad doubled Mercedes-AMG’s IGTC championship tally by clinching the Pro-Am Challenge title.

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IMAGE CREDITS

Flying Lizard, RS1, and Carrus Callas Win Race 1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Kurtz Drives to Overall Win, Chouest Claims First Win in GT4 and 10th Winner of the Season

• George Kurtz, CrowdStrike Mercedes-AMG wins SRO3 yet again
• Ross Chouest, Chouest-Povoledo Aston Martin drives home to a picture-perfect win in GT4
• GT4 Championship still a three-way battle between Jason Bell, Ross Chouest, and Adam Adelson
• CJ Moses, GMG Audi GT2 finishes fourth overall
• Provisional Results

Indianapolis, Indiana - The GT America powered by AWS field took to the yard of bricks Friday afternoon for the second-to-last race of the year.  With bright skies and crisp Autumn temperatures ensuring optimum engines, tires, and brakes performance, a great 40-minute sprint race was expected. The race included massive change-ups in positions, as well as a handful of truly brilliant battles. This field always delivers, and after Race 2 on Sunday it will be a long off-season.

SRO3

Before racers took to the Indy’s tarmac, a technical infraction put George Kurtz (#04 CrowdStrike Racing by Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3) at the back of the SRO3 field. Jeff Burton (#191 TR3 Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3) led the field across the starting line, followed closely by Kyle Washington (#32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.ii)).

Early on, Washington experienced a mechanical problem which brought out a brief yellow flag and unfortunately ended his race. Burton drove on, but now the main scuffle in SRO3 was between Mirco Schultis (#70 Mishumotors Callaway Corvette C7.R) and Jason Daskalos (#27 Daskalos Racing Audi R8 LMS) for second overall. Once Schultis found the opportunity, with Kurtz not far behind, he made the jump and grabbed P2—Daskalos unfortunately retired not too long after due to a mechanical issue.

In less than half the race’s duration, Kurtz was able to blitz ahead of everyone up to P2, and while wheeling along with all the gusto in the world, got up to Burton’s bumper within six laps. Burton ran out of brakes into Turn 1, Kurtz made the jump, and the rest was history, scoring his ninth win of the season.

Kurtz crossed the line first, followed by Burton and Schultis—who claimed yet another podium, its most repeated guest after Kurtz. He now has a firm shot at second place in the championship after Jason Harward (#88 Zelus Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT2) retired due to a mechanical issue.

Kurtz claimed the CrowdStrike Fastest Lap of 1:24.874, as well.

“It’s a little easier at the front,“ Kurtz said. “We had a lot of fun, the pressure wasn’t on after winning the championship. I just wanted to have fun, clear the traffic, and those are some good laps you remember over time.”

GT4

Heading into this race, five drivers were still in contention for the championship.  Jason Bell and Adam Adelson were leading, with Moisey Uretsky, Ross Chouest, and Rob Holland all within striking distance. Making it a little more complex, each driver would be dropping their worst weekends of the eight weekend championship.

After earning pole in qualifying, Ross Chouest (#50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) took off with Adam Adelson (#120 Premier Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) and Elias Sabo (#8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) giving chase.  Chouest had been Mr. Consistency this season with three runner-up finishes, but had yet to spray the champagne from the top step. 

Not long after, Sabo experienced a brake issue, making impact with Adelson into Turn 1, bringing both drivers’ race to an end. The impact happened just enough off track and out of the way that the race remained green.    

This opened up the opportunity for Seth Lucas (#16 Hattori Motorsport Toyota GR Supra) and Jason Bell (#2 GMG Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) to come through, but not before Bell’s battle with fellow Aston driver Gray Newell (#25 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4).

Scott Noble (#47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) joined in the fun with Robb Holland (#99 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) in a brawl of their own until Noble experienced a power cut. The order eventually turned into Chouest and Lucas battling hard for the win, with Bell comfortably hangin’ in third, likely with his mind set on championship points.

In the end, Chouest grabbed the win after a hearty, lap-after-lap battle with the Toyota GR Supra GT4-wheeling rookie, with Bell crossing in third. Lucas and Chouest demonstrated great sportsmanship in their driving, but gave their rival space, which is a testament to how great the field is in GT America.

Bell’s third place moved him into a slim points lead over Chouest who jumped from fourth to second in the championship. It’s now a three-way battle, as Adelson is still in the fight. Premier Racing will no doubt work to repair the #120 in time for Race #2 Sunday morning. The title could be claimed by any of the three.

“It feels good to be back in the winner’s circle,” Chouest said. “Aaron Povoledo did great, the guys did great—it feels amazing and the talent of all the drivers is amazing.”

GT2

Despite the drama on track, CJ Moses (#58 Audi R8 LMS GT2) ran a clean race reaching a fourth place finish overall.

“It’s a blast,” Moses said about his GT2 Audi steed. “GMG set up a perfect car for this track. I was able to go out and basically run the entire race in qualifying mode. Just qualifying lap after qualifying lap, it was great.”

Race 2 will go down on Sunday at 9 AM Eastern.

The weekend schedule, live timing and scoring, and session reports are available at gtamerica.us. 

Check out race live streams for free on YouTube at GT World. 

Finally, get up-to-the minute info on the GT America powered by AWS social channels on Facebook at @srogtamerica, Instagram at @gt_america and Twitter at @gt_america_.

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Follow all the action at gtamerica.us and across social channels
Facebook: @srogtamerica
Instagram: @gt_america
Twitter: @gt_america_

Official Series Hashtag: #GTAmerica

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over - Sprint Racers Ready for the Brickyard

• GT4 championship is a four-way battle that will go down to the final race
• George Kurtz, CrowdStrike Mercedes-AMG locked up SRO3 championship
• The rest of the SRO3 podium is up for grabs
• Entry List | Schedule | Tickets

Indianapolis, Indiana - After a short two-week rest, the GT America powered by AWS field will take to Indy’s famed Grand Prix configuration for the final two races of the 2022 season. It’s been one wild ride, with several weekend sweeps, up-close and hard-fought action, amazing race craft, and nine different winners in the GT4 class. The points chase is incredibly close here, which is a true testament to the level of competition and talent in the GT America field.

At the series last go-around at Sebring, the field was all-green all-race-long across two exciting 40-minute sprint races, and we look forward to doing it all over again at Indy, especially with its historic banking thrown into the mix.

SRO3

With eight race wins and 283 points so far this year George Kurtz (#04 CrowdStrike with Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3) locked up the championship with his Sebring sweep, but the rest of the championship podium is up for grabs. 

Jason Daskalos (#27 Daskalos Racing Audi R8 LMS), Jason Harward (#88 Zelus Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3), and Mirco Schultis (#70 Mishumotors Callaway Corvette Z06R), are all still firmly in the running, with 160, 147, and 139 provisional points each, respectively. That’s just 21 points separating them, and 50 points are up for grabs at Indy. Get ready for an intense battle on Indy’s tarmac.

Daskalos has experienced headache and heartache over his R8 LMS Ultra, but a strong showing at Indy could make up for all. Daskalos has two wins this season, but both were in the early season.

Harward won at Sonoma and battled Kurtz closely at Sebring, scoring two more runner-up finishes and should be very strong at Indy. It would not be a surprise to see a Mercedes-AMG and Lamborghini battle at Indy and if the raging bull is ahead, second place in the championship could be in the bag.

The Schultis Callaway Corvette has performed increasingly well as the season has progressed, and his current streak of five back-to-back third-place finishes prove this. A Calloway win at Indy would be hugely popular with fans. 

GT4

The top five drivers in the GT4 championship are locked in one of the tightest points spreads we’ve ever seen, and nobody’s final spot on the board is guaranteed until the checkered flag waves on Sunday, and the Excel files are double-checked as there is a weekend points drop to be factored in.

Jason Bell (#2 GMG Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) narrowly returned to the top spot in the championship with a strong drive to second in Race 2 at Sebring. Bell-who scored a win and a second at Indy in 2021-is excited about the weekend, noting that;  “As Indy closes in, I go back to 2021 and realize what a special place this is. The history and all the mysticism of this circuit is amazing. And the difference in the pressure between the two years. In 2021 I was still chasing and on a winning streak. And the pressure was not as great as it is now. 2022 has been a battle, tense, pressure filled year with multiple podiums being taken away by other drivers late in the races with crashes which would have put me with a 30-plus point lead, but that is racing. I go into Indy charged, determined, and ready to repeat as the GT America powered by AWS GT4 Champion. I have one goal and that is to win both races and cap off an amazing season to repeat as champion. I am focused and determined to come out on top.” 

Adam Adelson (#120 Premier Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) has the strongest momentum having been on the podium on all four of the most recent races, including a win at Road America.

Moisey Uretsky (#55 Accelerating Performance Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) isn’t far off from them, especially after his picture-perfect win in Race 1 at Sebring.  

Ross Chouest (#50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) sits fourth in points based upon consistent points finishes including a three-race runner-up streak. 

Robb Holland (#99 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) had a solid three-race sweep between Nashville and Race 1 at Road America, before bad luck hit the team in Sebring. 

Bell has 152 provisional points, the following four have 150, 135, 134, and 127, respectively. But, the GT4 points will be adjusted with the worst weekend being dropped. Heading into Indy, the adjusted points are Bell (146), Adelson (146), Uretsky (135), Chouest (132), and Holland (127) meaning just 19 points between first and fifth.

Beyond the five championship contenders, others likely to run up front include Seth Lucas (#016 Hattori Motorsports Toyota GR Supra) who swept the Watkins Glen weekend, and Elias Sabo (#8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR) who became the ninth different winner this season when he won at Sebring.

Between the narrow points spread and the fact that several drivers will also have their hands full also racing in Pirelli GT4 America, Indy will be the ultimate championship round. Chouest, Adelson, Sabo, Uretsky, and more will be dueling in four separate races and two qualifying sessions—plus practice—over just three days. It’s safe to say that if Adelson, Uretsky, or Chouest grab the championship, and finish well in Pirelli GT4 America, it will feel especially well-earned—some rest and relaxation will be well deserved in the off-season.

Those near Indy, join us at the Brickyard for an unforgettable experience like no other with access to the cars and stars of GT racing. Tickets are available here. 

The weekend schedule, live timing and scoring, and session reports are available at gtamerica.us. Check out race live streams for free on YouTube at GT World. 

Finally, get up-to-the minute info on the GT America powered by AWS social channels on Facebook at @srogtamerica, Instagram at @gt_america and Twitter at @gt_america_.

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Follow all the action at gtamerica.us and across social channels
Facebook: @srogtamerica
Instagram: @gt_america
Twitter: @gt_america_

Official Series Hashtag: #GTAmerica

The Racing Capital of the World Will be the Host of Thrilling Battles this Weekend!

• RS1 needs to finish 8th or higher to claim the Silver title
• Four teams still in tight Pro-Am championship battle  
• BimmerWorld claimed the Am Championship, who will be runner up?
• Entry List | Timetable | Event Tickets

Indianapolis, Indiana - As the season is coming to an end, the Pirelli GT4 America field has presented some of the greatest racing we’ve seen all year. With top-tier drivers in all categories, watching them battle it out on America’s best race tracks has been a real treat. The season will conclude at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The drivers across the Silver, Pro-Am and Am classes will have two opportunities to claim one of the most prestigious wins of the season. 

Silver

It’s no secret that the #18 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Eric Filgueiras and Stevan McAleer has been dominating the field. However, they have not been crowned champions just yet! They only need to finish 8th or higher in one of the two races in order to clinch the title. It’s a small feat, but the duo will continue to aim high and push to claim their 10th and 11th wins of the season at the Brickyard. 

Although the #34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Michai Stephens and Canadian Gavin Sanders has shown strong pace all season, the duo will most likely finish runner-up, but they won’t go down without a fight. They will be battling hard for the two last wins of the season. After grabbing an unexpected win at Sebring, Conquest Racing is heading to Indianapolis with two victories under their belts. 

They will be challenged by season-long competitors #68 Smooge Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 (Kevin Conway and John Geesbreght) who previously won Race 2 at Road America.  

Also looking for a win is the #51 Auto Technic BMW M4 of Austin Smith and Zack Anderson who have managed eight podium finishes. 

Pro-Am

The battle for the title in the Pro-Am class is closer than ever, reflecting the action on the track. Four teams could potentially claim the title, as they are all within 41 points of each other. With two wins, and consistently strong performances, the #47 Nolasport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Jason Hart and Scott Noble is leading the class with 169 points. 

The #120 Premier Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer are a mere 10 points behind the leaders, thanks to their three wins this season. Adelson is also challenging for the GT America GT4 class championship and noted that, “"Being able to finish our 2022 racing season at the Brickyard is really special. I love the road course here, especially considering the past successes we've had at Indy. I want to continue to build with some race wins and, hopefully, some championships, which would definitely warrant kissing of the bricks!  We just have to keep our heads down and stay focused, just as we've done all season. The rest will come.”  

If either of these two teams falter, two others are ready to pounce. With seven podium finishes the #8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 of Andy Lee and Elias Sabo is sitting in third place in the championship standings, 33 points behind the first place. Also within striking distance, with two wins this season, the #52 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 of John Capestro-Dubets and Tom Capizzi is just 8 points away from third place. 

The Pro-Am class has presented spectacular racing across the board, celebrating six winners this season! After their victory at Sebring International Raceway, the #55 Accelerating Performance Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 co-driven by Moisey Uretsky and Justin Piscitell has been the latest team added to the winner's circle. 

Due damage from Hurricane Ian, the #15 BSPort Aston Martin team of Bryan Putt and Kenton has been forced to withdraw from Indy. The team had recorded three wins this season. 

Am

The #36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 had a lot to celebrate at Sebring last week, as James Clay and Charlie Postins claimed the title after their Saturday afternoon win. With seven victories this season, the duo was the team to beat. They are heading to the Brickyard with one goal in mind; kiss the famed start/finish line made up of the infamous bricks. 

Alain Stad (#19 Nolasport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport) is in a good position to claim the runner-up title, as he is 42 points ahead of the #83 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Juan Martinez and Nelson Calle. 

That third position in the championship is still up for grabs with both the #53 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 of Alex Filsinger and Rob Walker as well the #72 KRUGSPEED Toyota GR Supra of Anthony Geraci and Jaden Lander right behind.

The Am class has been nothing short of thrilling this season, with seven different winners in 12 races. The #98 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Al Carter and Paul Sparta was the latest addition to the tally of winners this season. 

Those near Indy, join us at the Brickyard for an unforgettable experience like no other with access to the cars and stars of GT racing. Tickets are available here. 

Can’t join us at the track? Be sure to watch the live stream action on the GT World YouTube Channel, visit the TC America website, and follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for live results throughout the race weekend.

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Follow all the action at gt4-america.com and across social channels
Facebook & Instagram: @gt4america
Twitter: @gt4america
 
Official Series Hashtag: #GT4America

A Heated Finale is Awaiting TC America Powered by Skip Barber at Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

• Jacob Ruud is looking at a second straight TCX title at the Brickyard
• Kevin Boehm is the TC Champion, but Clay Williams wants the win
• It’s a Carter Fartuch vs Gresham Wagner showdown in TCA
• Entry List | Timetable | Event Tickets

Indianapolis, Indiana - The TC America Powered by Skip Barber season will be coming to a close at the prestigious Indianapolis Motors Speedway. Know to race fans everywhere as the Brickyard, it is every driver's dream to kiss the start/finish line made of the old bricks that once constituted the pavement. 

Although the Drivers Championship has been decided in the TC Class, thanks to Kevin Boehm’s (#9 CrowdStrike Racing by Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Type-R) weekend sweep at Sebring, the TCA and TCX classes have yet to crown their champions. Thirty-one cars will take to the track for the last rounds of the 2022 season, taking place on Friday, October 7th and Sunday, October 9th.

TCX

Jacob Ruud is in good shape to claim the title at Indianapolis, as the #1 Fast Track Racing driver has a 30-point lead over Colin Garrett (#44 Rooster Hall Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup)). However, Ruud can’t afford another bad weekend like the one he had at Sebring. He finished third and eight while Colin Garrett swept both wins, gaining 29 points on Ruud.  Ruud swept the 2021 Indy races, so he’ll be looking to close the championship in style.

Although Lucas Catania (#26 Rigid Speed BMW M2 CS (Cup) and Stephen Cugliari (#57 Accelerating Performance BMW M2 CS (Cup) can’t win the title, both will be looking for a win after a season of consistent podium finishes.

TC

While some drivers in other classes will be focused on points and watching their mirrors, it will be a battle for Indy glory as both the first and second positions are locked after Sebring.  Series champion Kevin Boehm (#9 CrowdStrike Racing by Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Type-R) will be seeking wins number nine and ten. Runner-up Clay Williams (#60 Team MINI JCW Pro TC) has an impressive four wins under his belt this season and will want to add to his tally at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  His championship bid was hindered by two DNFs.  Williams likes the Indy track, having scored both of the 2021 TCA class wins at the Brickyard.

Third place in the TC championship is still open.  It will be the last time of the season Jeff Ricca can push for a win. The #78 Genracer / Ricca Autosport Hyundai Veloster N DCT TC driver has yet to reach the top spot, despite being the strongest Hyundai in the field and closely challenging the frontrunners all season. Will the upcoming rounds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway finally be his time to shine?  

Three points behind Ricca is Matthew Ibrahim in the #06 DRS & Garagistic BMW M240iR.  Ibrahim scored a career best second place finish at Sebring and would love to close out the season with a win.  Another wildcard in the front of the pack will be the return of Mat Pombo in the #37 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Type-R.  Pombo was a consistent podium finisher in the first half of the season but the team missed Road America and Sebring.

TCA

The TCA class has presented some of the most intense battles all season, and it’s showing no signs of stopping for the last two races with two racers tied for the points lead.  The pressure is on! 

Gresham Wagner (#21 TechSport Racing Subaru BRZ) and Carter Fartuch (#16 Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Si) are tied with 195 points. Wagner is currently sitting in first place as he has six wins, as opposed to Fartuch, who has three. Consistency has been the key to Fartuch’s success this season, as Wagner has had some more drastic highs and lows.

A similar battle is set for third in the championship. Cristian Perocarpi (#61 Team MINI JCW) has scored three wins so far, including a Road America sweep.  Sitting fourth, just one point behind is Devin Anderson (#22 Techsport Subaru BRZ) who has eight podium finishes but still seeking his first win.

Other podium finishers looking for that first TCA win of 2022 are Spencer Bucknum (#5 LA Honda World Honda Civic SI), Branyon Tiner (#98 Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian), and PJ Groenke (#62 Team MINI JCW)

Those near Indy, join us at the Brickyard for an unforgettable experience like no other with access to the cars and stars of GT racing. Tickets are available here. 

Can’t join us at the track? Be sure to watch the live stream action on the GT World YouTube Channel, visit the TC America website, and follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for live results throughout the race weekend.

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Follow all the action at tcamerica.us and across social channels
Facebook & Instagram: @touringcaramerica
Twitter: @tc_america
 
Official Series Hashtag: #TCAmerica

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Stage Set for Season Finale Thriller at the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS

• International grid of 25 GT3 machines make up the third running of the Indy 8 Hour 
• Pro-Am Title up-for-grabs for Wright, CrowdStrike, and Racers Edge
• Entry List | Timetable | Event Tickets

Indianapolis, Indiana - The 2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season finale is set to go down on Saturday, October 8th at Racing Capital of the World - Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS will be a true test of skill as all 25 entrants - consisting of three drivers each - battle it out on Indy’s 14-turn, 2.44-mile Grand Prix Road Course, consisting of the track’s famous oval and extensive infield. 

New for 2022, the 8 hour endurance race will start at noon, racing into the dark for the first-ever GT night race at the Brickyard that will make for great excitement and stunning visuals. The expanded grid features International and Domestic based teams with top tier drivers joining the season finale and the 3rd round of the globe-trotting Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli.  

After a dozen races we’ve seen how the field performs with a two-driver lineup, single pit-stop, 90-minute race duration. Now, faced with an endurance racing format, beyond just raw speed, it will be a true test of grit and determination with a third driver and multiple pit-stops to manage.

Win, lose, or draw during the season, every team wants to finish out the year with a great result.  That final event happens to be the biggest SRO Motorsports America weekend of the year, so we can expect strong efforts across the paddock. 

When all of the combined SRO global events are summed up, Indianapolis will be race number 45 of an amazing 49 race series, where manufacturers points are gathered across the greatest racetracks of Europe, America, Australia, and Asia. In the Global Manufacturers points standings, Mercedes-AMG leads Audi, Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, and BMW.  

Top GT Racers Set for Pro Showdown

K-PAX Racing saw a return to the winners circle at Sebring’s high-speed circuit. Michele Beretta and Andrea Caldarelli swept the Florida weekend at the helm of the #1 Lamborghini Huracan GT3, guaranteeing both the 2022 team championship as well as the drivers championship for Caldarelli. The sister #3 car (Misha Goikhberg/Jordan Pepper) earned second and third place finishes, good enough for a season championship runner-up ending. Joining the K-PAX Racing team in Indy will be Lamborghini Squadra Corsa factory pilots Marco Mapelli in the #1 with Franck Perera joining the #3 squad.

The Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 (Michael Dinan/Robby Foley) has had great results mixed with bad luck. They won at Watkins Glen and claimed runner-up finishes at both VIR and Sebring, but have been caught up in on-track incidents elsewhere. For Indy, their lineup is fortified with American BMW Motorsport racer John Edwards in the mix.

US RaceTronics’ #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Steven Aghakhani/Loris Spinelli) started the season strong with four podium finishes in the first seven races. The team is set to return to the field after crash damage at Road America caused them to miss Sebring. Tristian Vautier is set to join the team at Indy.

Winward Racing’s #33 Mercedes-AMG GT of Phillip Ellis and Russell Ward should be well prepared for the fight. The team had a three race win streak that started at Watkins Glen and continued with a sweep at Road America. Jules Gounon, coming off his TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa win, joins the squad. A strong finish could leapfrog them past Turner for the final spot on the championship standings.

There will be no shortage of AMG V8 power in the Pro grid, as DXDT Racing’s #63 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be shared by German Patrick Assenheimer, Bryan Sellers, and Dirk Muller. This is a change up to the regular DXDT driver pairs as the team is switching from a pair of Pro-Am entries to one car in Pro and one car in Am. 

The Craft-Bamboo Racing Team is a strong contender bringing two of the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa overall winners into their #77 Mercedes-AMG GT3, Raffaele Marciello and Daniel Juncadella. They’ll be joined by World Challenge frontrunner Daniel Morad who makes his return to the series. 

Ferrari returns with AF Corse Francorchamps, looking for redemption on its misfortunes a year ago while leading the race. A pair of Ferrari 488 GT3’s which will see the #51 with Pierre Ragues, Davide Rigon, and Miguel Molina behind the wheel while the #71 driving duties will be shared by Ulysse De Pauw, Antonio Fuoco, and Daniel Serra.  

Every race at Indy should have an Andretti involved. The #218 Andretti Autosport x Vital Speed Ferrari 488 GT3 will be shared by Jarett Andretti, Jeff Westphal, and Ryan Briscoe. 

Conquest Racing returns after a second place finish in Race 2 at Sebring with their #34 Ferrari 488 GT3. This time around, Cedric Sbirrazzuoli, Daniel Mancinelli, and Alessandro Balzan will be at the helm.

Diverse Grid Ready for Action in Pro-Am, Silver, and Am

The Pro-Am field has not only been the most populous class of the 2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge America season, but it’s also seen the closest competition. Nowhere is that more apparent than the points chase between the top three teams in the championship so far. There are five different makes in the top five. This is a Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, Acura, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin fight.

The #45 Wright Motorsport Porsche of Jan Heylen and Charlie Luck has scored three wins this season and just retook the points lead at the second Sebring race. Heylen and Luck have 191 points. Joining them at Indy will be Elia Erhart, who currently competes in SRO’s Fanatec GT2 European Series.  

The highest placed Mercedes-AMG is the #45 CrowdStrike w/ Riley Motorsports entry for George Kurtz and Colin Braun. Kurtz and Braun led the mid-season points battle having scored three wins at three different tracks before misfortune hit them at Road America. They are currently second in the drivers' chase with 177 points. The team will be joined by Ben Keating as they seek both a championship and another Indy 8 Hour win. 

The #93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 of Ashton Harrison and Mario Farnbacher leads the pack with four race wins, but also encountered problems at three other races. They are just one point behind CrowdStrike at 176. They will be joined by two-time sports car champion Christina Nielsen. 

The Pro-Am championship won’t be determined until the checkered flies at Indy, and whether an endurance racing war of attrition becomes a factor will be interesting to see. With double points being awarded any one of the top three could become champions. Making their task more difficult will be those entries who are not thinking about points, just the race win.

The only other team to land in victory circle this year is the #13 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT3 of Ryan Dalziel and Justin Wetherill. The duo won race #1 at VIR, and landed on the podium this past Sunday at Sebring. They are a threat to win at Indy being joined by 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge America Am Champion Conrad Grunewald.   

The #23 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT3 driven by Onofrio Triarsi and Charlie Scardina has already clinched the Am championship winning ten of the past twelve races. Scardina in particular put on some impressive driving in both Sebring races. For Indy, they have added Alessio Rovera to the lineup and will compete in the Pro-Am class.

Acura’s second entrant for the Indy 8 Hour includes RealTime Racing. Erin Vogel and Michael Cooper will be behind the wheel of their #43 Acura NSX GT3 with their third yet to be named. They suffered some unfortunate luck in Race 1 at Sebring that ended their weekend early—we look forward to them being back on the grid at Indy.

BMW is represented in the Pro-Am grid with BimmerWorld brings the #94 BMW M4 GT3 of Chandler Hull and Bill Auberlen. They’ve had a season of being so close to the win, but not having luck completely fall their way. Still, being on the podium eight times out of 12 races is an excellent season-long effort. Richard Heistand joins the team in Indy.

The #38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 of Samantha Tan, Nick Wittmer, and added co-driver Harry Gottsacker will make a popular return to the grid after an earlier season incident left them without the parts to repair. After running the season in Pro-Am, they’ll compete at Indy in the Silver class.

Lamborghini finds two teams vying for the Pro-Am win. TR3 Racing’s Jeff Burton and Corey Lewis are fresh off of the Central Florida tarmac, and ready to do battle in their #91 Lamborghini Huracan GT3, for which they’ve enlisted the help of racer Jon Branam to help with driver duty. The team just missed podium finishes at Sonoma and Sebring.

Likewise, Zelus Motorsports’ #88 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 will be back in action with Jason Harward being joined by Seth Lucas, a stand-out in GT America powered by AWS and a to be named driver as their third. 

Joining CrowdStrike Racing in Mercedes-AMG machinery are two additional teams in Pro-Am. Stephen Cameron Racing returns to Fanatec GT World Challenge, this time running their new #39 Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Chris Cagnazzi, Guy Cosmo, and Shane Lewis, all of whom are no strangers to the SRO field. 

The #75 Sun Energy 1 racing by AKKODIS ASP Mercedes-AMG GT3 returns to the Indy 8 Hour, led by Kenny Habul and Austrians Martin Konrad and Dominik Baumann. The team won overall for the first round of the IGTC season during the LiquiMoly Bathurst 12 hour. 

Porsche will also be represented by GMG Racing. Running their #32 Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.ii), the team will feature Kyle Washington, James Sofronas, and Klaus Bachler of Austria. This will be the second SRO weekend for the team. They ran well at Road America reminding us that they’re a force to be reckoned with.

Last but not least, DXDT Racing will be making their debut in the Am class. The #08 Mercedes-AMG piloted by David Askew, Scott Smithson, with Valentin Pierburg of Germany being the guest. Both Askew and Smithson have been able to wheel the mighty star-emblazoned sports car to podium finishes so far this season. While Pierburg claimed class victory at the famed TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa just a few months ago. 

One Final Fight 

The Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS is guaranteed to offer top-tier GT endurance racing. This International field is stacked with talent, and a good number of them are familiar with racing on Indy’s legendary tarmac. For those near Indy, join us at the Brickyard for an unforgettable experience like no other with access to the cars and stars of GT racing. Tickets available here. 

Follow all the action including live timing and scoring, and session reports will be available at Gt-World-Challenge-America.com. Tune-in to Qualifying, Pole Shootout, and the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS online for free on YouTube at GT World and Twitch at SROMotorsports. 

Get up-to-the-minute info on the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS social channels on Facebook at @gtworldchallengeamerica, Instagram at @gtworldchallengeamerica, and Twitter at @gtworldcham.

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Follow all the action at gt-world-challenge-america.com and across social channels
Facebook & Instagram: @gtworldchallengeamerica
Twitter: @gtworldcham
 
Official Series Hashtag: #GTWorldChAm

SRO Motorsports America announces an adjustment to the 2023 race schedule. The tracks and sequence remain unchanged, but two dates were altered slightly. The return to the Circuit of the Americas has shifted to May 19-21 while the annual race weekend at Road America will now be August 18-20.

“After input from key partners and teams, we have adjusted our schedule slightly to better meet the scheduling needs of our racers. I can’t thank the teams at Road America and COTA enough for working with us to make these adjustments”, noted Greg Gill, CEO and President, SRO Motorsports America. 

The Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS will headline seven race weekends at the top circuits in the Country. In conjunction with its trio of GT and TC series - GT America powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America, and TC America powered by Skip Barber - and newly announced Toyota GR Cup North America, SRO race weekends will provide high-octane motorsports experiences with non-stop racing action.  

SRO Motorsports America sees continued momentum for 2023 with their core series:

• The Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, SRO America’s headlining series, showcases GT3 machinery on double-header weekends with 90-minute races that feature full-service pit stops and driver changes, culminating in its only endurance round - the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.
• GT America powered by AWS is enjoying an excellent sophomore season catering to GT3, GT2 and GT4 machinery. The single-driver sprint format for bronze level participants has offered an exciting platform to showcase multi-class GT racing that has been the hallmark of SRO in America.
• Pirelli GT4 America, like its European counterpart, has attracted impressive grids featuring a wide variety of machinery. Its 60-min feature races offer non-stop action with a driver change at the halfway mark to shake up the running order. 
• The multi-class TC America Series powered by Skip Barber series continues to thrive with a plethora of touring cars going wheel-to-wheel in 40-minute contests. The TCX category continues to gain momentum with continuity being the name of the game in TC and TCA.