- Kyle Washington Looks for Second GT America Powered by AWS Win of the Season at COTA in His No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R: Co-Drives Sister No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche in GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS with Tom Sargent
- John Capestro-Dubets and Debuting Co-Driver Andre Solano Seek Repeat Overall McLaren Trophy America Race Win in The No. 4 GMG Racing McLaren Trophy Evo
- James Sofronas Determined to Avenge Narrow Season-Opening Am-Class Loss in The No. 14 GMG Racing McLaren Trophy Evo
With a pair of 2025 milestone race wins already in the record books, GMG Racing has arrived at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) looking for more early-season success in the second full-series event on this year's SRO America calendar this weekend at the 3.426-mile Lone Star road course. Running four cars across three different SRO America series, GMG Racing won both a GT America powered by AWS Sunday sprint and the series debut race for the all-new McLaren Trophy America championship on Saturday last month in the season-opening weekend of SRO America competition at Sonoma Raceway.
The Sunday Sonoma victory was a big one for veteran GMG Racing driver Kyle Washington who broke through for his first career SRO GT America powered by AWS race win in his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R. Washington didn't put a wheel wrong despite driving through a race-long deluge that derailed the day for many of his competitors.
Starting on the outside front row in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, Washington took a lead he would hold to the finish on the first green flag lap after polesitter and former GT America Champion George Kurtz was among the half dozen competitors to go off course in the rainy conditions. A full course yellow was shown just minutes later, but Washington held steady up front straight to the checkered flag.
Washington's win followed another team milestone victory on Saturday at Sonoma in the first-ever McLaren Trophy America race where a pair of GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy teams turned in a double-pole and race-winning performance. John Capestro-Dubets - aka "JCD" - and debuting co-driver Andrew Chinnici drove the No. 4 GMG Racing McLaren Trophy Evo to a convincing overall and Pro-Am-class victory from the pole. They were joined on the overall victory lane podium by GMG Racing driver and team founder and principal James Sofronas, who finished second from the pole in the Am division and fifth overall in the No. 14 GMG Racing McLaren Trophy Evo.
"Our Circuit of The Americas lineup looks similar to the Sonoma Raceway opener," Sofronas said. "We are running two Porsches for Kyle in SRO GT World Challenge and GT America and then we're running two McLarens again in the McLaren Trophy America series. So, it will be nearly similar lineups at Sonoma as we continue to build on the McLaren program. It is new to us, but hopefully we find more success just like we did at Sonoma."
Kevin King, car owner and the main "Am" driver of the No. 4, will miss his second McLaren Trophy race as he continues to focus on a personal matter, but JCD's teammate this weekend is a friend and co-driver King knows well.
"Kevin has been the driving force in bringing our McLaren program to life," Sofronas said. "We will miss him again for the second race in a row, but we are excited to welcome his co-driver Andre Solano. Kevin and Andre compete together in Porsches and McLarens in Central America, and we can't wait to give him a start in the No. 4 at McLaren. Andrew is one of our top driver coaches and colleagues with our extensive on-track programs at The Thermal Club, and we want to thank him for doing such a great job at Sonoma in his professional race debut. We have no doubt JCD and Andre will once again keep the No. 4 McLaren in top contention at COTA."
Sofronas nearly scored a victory from the pole of his own at Sonoma in the No. 14 McLaren, and he gets another shot at COTA competing in the Am class. A pit timing issue cost Sofronas what looked like a certain win at Sonoma, but he still arrives in COTA second in the McLaren Trophy Am-class standings. Sofronas trails the championship leader by just three points, 15 - 12.
Meanwhile, Washington looks for more success in GT America and a similar performance in GT World Challenge America with co-driver Tom Sargent. Washington wheels his white No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R entry in GT America while his GT World Challenge No. 32 Porsche carries a new black livery for 2025.
"Circuit of The Americas, as far as the permanent road courses, is definitely my favorite," Washington said. "It's got everything: big ups and downs, fast sweeping turns and lots of speed is needed. It's just an amazing track and I always can't wait to get there."
Washington has been on a roll all season in sprint race competition. He followed the Sonoma win with a pair of second place finishes in each day's 40-minute SRO GT America races in the No. 32 two weeks ago at the 50th Grand Prix of Long Beach. The run of three-straight GT America podiums has Washington second in the early season GT America championship standings, just nine points out of first, 78 - 69.
"I'm certainly excited to see Kyle get back behind the wheel and continue to build on his success from the first two GT America weekends of the season," Sofronas said. "My expectations keep going up with Kyle and he keeps meeting them. He has had a great start to the season, and we look forward to keeping it going at COTA."
Washington also scored a Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West Masters class win last month at Sonoma Raceway and a Bronze-class victory in an IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge sprint race last January at Daytona International Speedway in the GT R Porsche.
"Sonoma wasn't ideal for us because a red flag in qualifying really made it a tough weekend," Sargent said. "We should be a little bit more fortunate in qualifying at COTA and start where we should be, which will make it a whole lot easier. It's a track that is more familiar to me and it is a good place for us as a team. Kyle always does well at COTA."
Unofficial testing today will be followed by a day of official practice sessions Friday. Qualifying Saturday morning for all series rolls right into the opening races of the weekend with the first GT America 40-minute sprint kicking things off at 11:20 a.m. CDT. The first 90-minute GT World Challenge America race is next up at 1:05 p.m. CDT on Saturday and will be followed by the opening 50-minute McLaren Trophy America race at 2:50 p.m. CDT.
Sunday's second and final races begin with the GT America final at 10:05 a.m. CDT. The McLaren Trophy wraps up with its second 50-minute sprint at 11:05 a.m. CDT, and the final GT World Challenge America race bringing the curtain down on the weekend at 2:15 p.m. CDT.
All of the weekend's race can be viewed live on MAVTV and the GTWorld YouTube channel at youtube.com/GTWorld.
About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility relocated last year to The Thermal Club and a 28,000 sq. ft. trackside motorsports facility. The staff, attention to detail and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped the company support its customers to the highest level possible. We have since won several Championships, not only with Porsche, but with Audi, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona, Spa, Montreal, COTA and The Thermal Club, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.