Blackdog Racing Takes Aim at Sonoma to Start Pirelli GT4 Campaign

Blackdog Racing Takes Aim at Sonoma to Start Pirelli GT4 Campaign

Another season racing is around the corner for Blackdog Racing with the team set to start its second season in Pirelli GT4 America this weekend at Sonoma Raceway.

Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples are back together for the second straight season in GT4 America’s Pro-Am class but for the first time in the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4. The team tested the car for the first time two weeks ago at Autobahn Country Club just outside Chicago with positive results.

It’s an encouraging start to the second stint for Blackdog Racing with McLaren after the team campaigned the previous-gen McLaren GT4 for two years in a Sprint format. This time Cooper and Gaples are together with the goal of being regular contenders for race wins and a championship.

A total of 31 cars make up the Pirelli GT4 America field – 13 of them Pro-Am cars to make the category the largest in the series this year with six manufacturers present. There are two testing sessions Thursday followed by a pair of practices Friday, qualifying and Race One on Saturday then Race Two on Sunday.

Blackdog Racing has more GT4 championships (five) and race wins (43) than any entrant in SRO America/World Challenge GT4 competition. Seven of those have come at Sonoma, nestled in northern California wine country. Among the tally are five for Cooper in Blackdog machinery (he has three additional Sonoma wins) and a 2017 win for Gaples, who also has eight additional top-five finishes including an overall runner-up GT finish in 2005.

Blackdog Racing and the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4 will race in the first of two Pirelli GT4 America races at Sonoma at 5:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s second race at 11:35 a.m. PT. Live coverage of both races plus timing & scoring will be available at gt4-america.com and SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.

MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 33 BLACKDOG PERFORMANCE McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “I’m looking forward to the start of the Pirelli GT4 America season for a number of reasons. I get to race with Tony and Blackdog Racing crew again, which is always fun. I was excited to hear about the results of the team’s first test with the McLaren Artura GT4. It reinforces my previous experience with the car. Sonoma is a challenging place, but it is a place we know well. That familiarity will serve us well when we hit the ground and get ready for our first two races of the season.”

TONY GAPLES, NO. 33 BLACKDOG PERFORMANCE McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “The first test with the McLaren at Autobahn was very positive and encouraging. I was really impressed with how much of a pleasure the car is to drive. Some of it was familiar to the previous McLarens that Michael and I ran a few years ago, but it’s definitely refined in many ways. That gives us a lot of confidence going into our first event.”

RAY SORENSON, TEAM MANAGER, BLACKDOG RACING: “We came away from the first test with the McLaren pretty happy. The car was good right off the truck and seemed pretty responsive to any changes we wanted to make. The crew learned a lot and we’re anxious to learn more to get it where we need in order to contend this weekend.” 

About Blackdog Racing
Ever dreamed of piloting a real SRO GT race car? Blackdog offers rental and “arrive and drive” racing in addition to purpose-built cars. Email sales@blackdogspeedshop.com to discuss the best way to put you in the driver’s seat!
 
About Blackdog Performance Cars
At Blackdog Performance Cars, luxury and performance converge in an exclusive collection of high-end vehicles, each designed to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. Our curated inventory is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and innovation, while our GT4 America McLaren Artura race team subtly underscores our passion for precision engineering on the track. Discover the ultimate blend of sophistication and speed at www.blackdogperformancecars.com.