Blackdog Racing’s Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples will chase another victory and the Pirelli GT4 America Pro-Am championship this weekend at a familiar place.
Historic Road America plays host to the SRO Motorsports America collection of series, including two races in GT4 America. The No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4 is one of 27 entries in the championship with 10 in the highly competitive Pro-Am class.
Cooper and Gaples stand third in points going into the first of two rounds at Road America. They are 15 points out of second and 24 points from the lead; there are 25 points available per race.
The No. 33 McLaren has a victory and finished on the podium five times this year – tied for most in the class. That bodes well going into 4.048-mile, 14-turn Road America considering the team’s past record there the last five years. Cooper won four times in five races during the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Blackdog McLaren GT4 machinery. In addition, Gaples set the fastest race lap and claimed pole position in GT America’s GT4 class in 2023.
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. CT on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s second race at 11:25 a.m. CT. 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: “Road America always provides exciting racing, It’s a track that I really enjoy going to no matter what series or car. It’s hard to know exactly where we will stand competitively this coming weekend with the long straights. We’ll do our best to stay on top of things and hopefully come away with some good points and positive results for all the Blackdog fans at the track.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 33 BLACKDOG PERFORMANCE McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “Without a doubt, this event at Road America is the highlight of our season. I really enjoy the circuit, the area and the whole experience of being at our home track. We’ve come a long way with the McLaren this year, and I hope we can give our fans and supporters a lot to cheer for this weekend.”
RAY SORENSON, TEAM MANAGER, BLACKDOG RACING: “Just about everyone on the team has had this event circled this year. Racing at Road America is something special for a number of reasons. Yes, it’s our home track and we want to race hard and get good results for everyone cheering for us. There’s also a long history at Road America that everyone on our team understands. It makes us want to contend for wins and podiums that much more.”
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.