Blackdog Racing is geared up for what has turned into maybe the most critical weekend of its Pirelli GT4 America season at Barber Motorsports Park.
Already a regular part of the schedule, the 17-turn, 2.336-mile track takes added importance with a trio of races, one of which is a make-up round from the previous round at Road America.
That’s what gives Blackdog Racing and drivers Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples an opportunity to cement itself in the Pro-Am championship discussion heading into next month’s finale at Indianapolis. A total of 75 championship points are available with Cooper and Gaples third in the standings and only 12 points from the lead.
The Blackdog team recorded a top-five finish last year at Barber in the weekend’s opening race before a DNF to close the event. Cooper and Gaples will look for more this year in their No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4.
Things have worked out well so far this year in the team’s first year with the McLaren. Cooper and Gaples won the first race of the year at Sonoma, and the pairing has six total podiums in eight races – more than any other Pro-Am entry this year. They are riding a streak of two consecutive runner-up finishes entering the Barber tripleheader.
Blackdog Racing and the No. 33 Blackdog Performance McLaren Artura GT4 will race in the first of three Pirelli GT4 America races at Barber Motorsports Park beginning at 3:35 p.m. CT on Friday, followed by Saturday’s second race at 4:50 p.m. CT and the weekend finale at 11:10 a.m. CT on Sunday. Live coverage of all three 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:
“The Barber event was always going to be an important one this late in the season. With three races and a lot of points at stake, this might be our biggest weekend of the season. The Barber layout will hopefully suit us fairly well as the McLaren has been fairly strong on more technical circuits. We’ve been executing really well all year and have taken advantage of opportunities that have come our way. Let’s hope we can keep that up this weekend.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 33 BLACKDOG PERFORMANCE McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “Definitely a big weekend coming up for the team. We are where we had hoped to be at this point in the season and in contention for the championship. We will need to be up to speed right away from the first session. Track position is going to be important so the more we can be up front the better.”
RAY SORENSON, TEAM MANAGER, BLACKDOG RACING: “It’s very rare to have this many races on a weekend, especially this late in the season. Everyone on the team knows how critical it is to be on our game from when we roll off the truck. We’ve been really good this year with maximizing our results when things may not have been going our way. Hopefully we can keep doing that and get that much closer to the championship.”
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.