After a long summer break, Blackdog Racing returns to the track with its McLaren Artura GT4 at Virginia International Raceway this weekend for the sixth and seventh rounds of the Pirelli GT4 America championship.
Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples will each climb aboard the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren for the pair of 60-minute races around the 3.4-mile, 17-turn Full Course layout at VIR. The pairing stands third in the Pro-Am Drivers Championship standings on the strength of a season-opening victory at Sonoma Raceway.
While the victory was an ideal start to the season, the consistency of the Blackdog team has been the key to its points position. Cooper and Gaples have three additional podiums – including two at the last Pirelli GT4 America event at Sebring – have more podium finishes (four) than any another Pro-Am pairing in the championship.
Historically, Blackdog Racing has felt at home at the friendly confines of VIR. Cooper is a four-time winner at the circuit with three coming in Blackdog machinery (2019 and two in 2020) plus a GT World Challenge Pro-Am win in 2021.
Gaples has traditionally had good luck at VIR as well. He was third in GT America’s GT4 class in 2023, and he was fifth a year ago in the second of two GT4 America races with Cooper. Gaples also secured his first career podium in racing at VIR in 2001.
Blackdog Racing and the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4 will race in the first of two Pirelli GT4 America races at VIR beginning at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s second race at 11:25 a.m. ET. 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 getting back with our team and in the Blackdog McLaren. The VIR event is an important one for the championship. It’s such a fun track to race when your car is right, so the team is very focused on having the setup dialed in just right so we can fine-tune things right out of the box. I love this place and have had a lot of success there. Two more good races will go a long way toward us staying in championship contention.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 33 BLACKDOG PERFORMANCE McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “It’s good to get back to racing, especially to a track like VIR. The team and I have a good history there in a lot different types of cars. Hopefully we can stay on the same run as before the break. I can’t remember a season where we’ve been this consistent with our results through this point of the year. We need to keep doing what we’ve been doing and score as many points as possible this weekend.”
RAY SORENSON, TEAM MANAGER, BLACKDOG RACING: “It will be good for everyone on the team to get back to the track. We took time since Sebring not just to rest up and recharge but also go top to bottom through the McLaren to make sure we are ready for the run of races coming up. As a team, I think we are operating consistently well and the points bear that out. Our goal is to do everything we can to give Michael and Tony a chance to contend and maximize the results throughout the 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.