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Pirelli GT4 America Sprint Series to battle in St. Petersburg

Pirelli GT4 America sprint teams will make the trek from Austin, Texas to the sunshine state in preparation for Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2020 championships. Drivers will compete March 13-15 on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit as part of the 16th annual St. Petersburg Grand Prix weekend.

In the Pro division, Drew Staveley and Michael Cooper scored wins at COTA and come into the weekend tied atop the Driver's Championship standings. Staveley, the 2019 GT4 America Sprint Am champion, comes into the weekend full of confidence in his No.12 Ian Lacy Racing G3 Racing Ford Mustang GT4. Three-time Driver's Champion Cooper will pilot the No.10 Blackdog Speed Shop McLaren 570S GT4 - he'll look for redemption in St. Petersburg after a tough 2019 debut weekend for his Blackdog McLaren at the temporary circuit in 2019. Cooper finished fourth and 13th last year.

Spencer Pumpelly, who finished second and fourth at COTA, looks to get back on top in St. Pete in his No.66 TRG Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. Pumpelly has had success finishing second and fourth in Florida last season. He's also previously won at St. Petersburg.

Jarett Andretti and the No.18 Andretti Autosport McLaren 570S enter after finishing sixth and second in Rounds 1 and 2 in Texas. Andretti finished eighth overall at St. Pete last season while categorized as an Am driver. Rounding out the Pro division field is Missouri-native James Pesek and the No.40 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4.

In the Am division, Tampa Bay native Jason Bell enters the No.2 GMG Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 after finishing fifth and sixth in class at COTA. Tony Gaples, who finished with a pair of thirds at Circuit of The Americas, looks to continue his championship charge in the No.11 Blackdog Speed Shop McLaren 570S GT4. A second Ian Lacy Racing G3 Racing Ford Mustang GT4 entry will be driven by Frank Gannett, who finished eighth in Round 1 at COTA last weekend in the No.24 entry.

Mark Klenin, who switched from McLaren to SIN machinery for this season, enters the No.62 KPR SIN R1 GT4. Klenin has had success in St. Petersburg, finishing sixth and fourth at the circuit in 2019. 2018 Sprint Am Champion Jeff Courtney brings his No.99 RecStuff Racing Mercedes AMG GT4 to the streets of St. Pete. Courtney, who previously raced with Maserati machinery, finished with a pair of sevenths last weekend. Canadian Fred Roberts enters the second RecStuff Racing car with the No.89 Aston Martin Vantage GT4. Like Courtney, Roberts previously raced with Maserati before switching to Aston Martin for the 2020 season. Roberts finished ninth and eighth at COTA.

Tom Collingwood, another Canadian makes his season debut in St. Petersburg with the No.69 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. Collingwood took two fifth place finishes in Florida in 2019. Rounding out the grid is Marko Radisic who will drive the No.22 Precision Driving Tech BMW M4 GT4.

Action for the Pirelli GT4 America series starts Friday at 10am Eastern for the first practice session of the weekend. Round 3 of the championships is scheduled for a green flag start of 4:15 local time on Saturday.

Follow all the action at www.gt4-america.com and across social channels

03/11/20

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