SEBRING, Fla. – Rounds three and four of the 2024 Pirelli GT4 America championship showcased the speed of the Nissan Z NISMO, with the four Nissan teams scoring pole positions, fast laps and the first class win for the car.
On Sunday afternoon, in the second of the two weekend races, the #9 Blackdog Speed Shop Nissan Z NISMO GT4 scored the ProAm class win with Tony Gaples and Max Root at the wheel.
This was the first win for the Nissan Z NISMO GT4 in America. The car debuted in the 2023 season with a two-car team from TechSport Racing. Sensing the performance potential, the Blackdog Speed Shop and Flying Lizard Motorsports teams ordered their own Nissan GT4 cars to double the Nissan presence for 2024.
“When you are a veteran racer it feels good to do a first,” said Gaples. “We’re proud to do this for Nissan and Blackdog, and really proud to have Max part of it.”
“This is really special to be the first winner for Nissan in the series. To do it with Tony and Blackdog is super special,” said Root, who was filling in for regular Blackdog driver Michael Cooper. “Sebring is a bumpy place and Tony did a phenomenal job bringing it home for us.”
“This first win is for all of the Nissan employees, dealers and fans who support our passion for performance and cheered us on,” said Mike Carcamo, program director, Sports Cars, NISMO Cars and Motorsports, Nissan Motor Corporation. “To have the first Nissan Z GT4 win be at Sebring, with so much Nissan history, makes it sweet. We can’t wait for the rest of the season.”
Race No. 1 highlights
Starting from the outside of the front row, Johnathan Neudorf (#23 TechSport Racing Nissan Z NISMO GT4) took the lead into turn one, set the fastest race lap and maintained a solid three- to four-second lead before handing off to Michai Stephens. Stephens maintained the lead to cross the finish line 3.673 seconds ahead. Unfortunately, in the post-race technical inspection the car was found to be underweight and was disqualified.
The #9 Blackdog Speed Shop Nissan Z NISMO GT4 scored a podium finish in the ProAm class with Gaples and Root at the wheel.
The #5 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4 driven by Damir Hot and Stefan Rzadzinski earned valuable ProAm points with a fifth-place class finish.
Colin Harrison and Eric Powell (#23 TechSport Racing Nissan Z NISMO GT4) were seventh in the ProAm class after an on-track incident that drew a drive-through penalty.
Race No. 2 highlights
Staring from the pole position, Root took the #9 Blackdog Speed Shop Nissan Z NISMO GT4 to an immediate lead, setting the fastest race lap before handing off to Gaples. A full course caution with a safety car eliminated the team advantage, but Gaples maintained the ProAm lead for the class win.
Stephens and Neudorf (#23 TechSport Racing Nissan Z NISMO GT4) had an eventful race with Stephens recovering from a minor off early in the race. After the driver change, Neudorf continued the charge through to take third in the Silver class.
Powell and Harrison (#23 TechSport Racing Nissan Z NISMO GT4) were fifth in the ProAm class, trailed closely by the #5 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4, driven by Rzadzinski and Hot, in sixth.
Upcoming races
The 2024 Pirelli GT4 America championship consists of seven double-header weekends at some of the most challenging racetracks in North America. After Sebring the series goes on to:
Circuit of the Americas (Austin, TX) – May 17-19
Virginia International Raceway (Alton, VA) – July 19-21
Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI) – August 16-18
Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham, AL) – September 6-8
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, IN) – October 4-6
The Pirelli GT4 America championship is for privateer teams racing with homologated race cars. There are no factory teams.
All Pirelli GT4 America races are broadcast live and archived on the SRO Motorsports GTWorld YouTube channel.Opens in a new tab.
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