2024 Season Launch
International GT kicked off the 2024 season at Sebring International Raceway. The weekend was filled with good friends, fantastic weather and great racing. The series was reintroduced to DARIUS TRINKA #131, who we haven’t seen in several years, and watched him dominate the weekend taking the overall win in all three races in his GT4.I car.
In the sprint races, it was the GT4.R cars that followed Trinka to the checkered. TOM PANK #42 Ultra Performance won the category in sprint race 1 and the enduro and was second in sprint race 2. Winning sprint race 2 and second in sprint race 1 was TADAS KARLINSKAS #313 who we all discovered this weekend is not only Darius Trinka’s teammate but also his cousin. New to International GT but certainly a well-known name in many forms of motorsports MIKE FLYNN #195 Irish Mike’s Racing took a pair of third place finishes in the very close sprint races.
Always consistently at the front of the field, DAVID TUATY #52 TLM Racing, with a new race car, was second in all three races in the 4.I category. David didn’t have time to wrap the new car before Sebring so it sported a very non-Tuaty subtle white and what was dubbed “spinach dip green” livery. David promises an updated and more Tuaty’esque livery coming. Also sporting a new race car, 2023 Mission Foods GT3 Cup champion SCOTT BLIND #45 Ruckus Racing was challenged by a few teething issues with the new car but finished third in sprint race 1. MARK HUPFER #84 901 Shop also had a strong weekend finishing out the podium, taking a pair of third place finishes in sprint race 2 and the enduro.
We saw many newcomers to International GT at Sebring including AARON WEISS #72 in his Ferrari 488. Aaron swept the weekend winning all three races in Maranello Cup. His teammate, ALEXANDRE LIMA #177 had a bit of a rollercoaster weekend. Originally entered in a Lamborghini in the Exhibition category, Lima had an off early in the weekend, switching to his Ferrari. After a second place finish in sprint race 1, Lima struggled with mechanical issues. This left the Exhibition category wide open to TOM CAPIZZI #46 in his Lamborghini Super Trofeo.
Stuttgart Cup had a strong field at Sebring. Returning for a second IGT season opener, JF FORMELA #11 came out with his 4 liter Cayman and swept the category, teaming up with PATRICK GALLAGER to win the enduro. Most of the competitors were in the 3.8 category where ANTHONY YEKEK #374 AutoQuest Motorsports had an outstanding debut with International GT finishing second in sprint race 1, winning sprint race 2 and teaming with AIDEN KENNY to win the enduro. Sprint race 1 was won by another AutoQuest car, DERICK COOPER #144, however in the second sprint Cooper had an incident which left his car sidelined. However, in a move of comradery that is notorious in the International GT paddock, ZOE BARRY #321 offered to share her car with Derick for the enduro and the pair landed on the podium finishing second. Zoe also took another second in sprint race 2 and rounding out a weekend of podium finishes, was third in sprint race 1. New to International GT competition ROSS POOLE #85 Goldcrest Motorsports finished third in the enduro. Rounding out the Stuttgart Cup category, father/son duo MIKE and COLLIN SCHMITZ #497 shared the 3.4. liter Cayman with Mike racing sprint 1 and Collin driving sprint 2.
The largest entry was in the Mission Foods GT3 Cup 4 liter category and the competition was fierce. LUKAS PANK #40 Ultra Performance moved up to the 4 liter category in his dad’s (Tom) backup car. Lukas got acquainted with the new car quickly winning sprint race 2 and taking a couple third place finishes in sprint 1 and the enduro. Also in a new race car was MARK SANDRIDGE #58 Team Salad moving into the 4 liter competition. Mark also got suited to the new car without issue, winning sprint race 1 and the enduro while finishing third in sprint race 2. Also on the podium in the category was SCOTT VANACORE #59 TLM Racing who finished in second in the first sprint race and joined with co-driver PIPPA MANN to finish runner-up in the enduro. JAMES HAMMAN #176 a TLM Racing teammate, completed the sprint race 2 podium finishing second to Pank.
As we’ve come to expect, the competition in the Mission Foods GT3.8 category was as great as always. JOHN DeANGELIS #32 AutoQuest Motorsports returned to International GT competition and had a great weekend winning both sprint races and teaming up with friend, CHRIS LEE for a second in the enduro. Also having a fantastic run on the weekend, TOMMY BALLESTER #188 TLM Racing won the enduro and took a pair of second place finishes in the sprint races. Also returning to International GT after a year off was JEFFREY FREEMAN #116 901 Shop who finished up third in both sprint races. New to the series, however with a very familiar last name to IGT, JORDAN SANDRIDGE #49 Team Salad (Mark’s son) shared the co-driving duties in the enduro with JOE VARDE finishing third.
Back to International GT after sitting out most of 2023 was NICK KARANGLEN #76 who came out to Sebring and swept the wins in the 3.6 liter category.
Other newcomers at Sebring we’d like to welcome to International GT were MARC JULIEN #87, TODD TREFFERT #141 901 Shop, SPENCER PROPPER #30 ZOTZ Racing.
Thanks to SVRA we had the opportunity to shot some very cool car-to-car photography at Sebring which you will see more of throughout the year. Here is one shot representing the three International GT categories – left to right SPENCER PROPPER in the Stuttgart Cup Cayman 3.8, CHRIS CAREY for the Maranello Cup and the unmistakable 2023 Mission Foods GT3 Cup Champion SCOTT BLIND.
That’s a wrap from Sebring, Round 2 of the championship will race at Road Atlanta, March 21-24. Race registration is now open.
In case you missed it... Streaming Returned at Sebring
The Sebring event marked the return of live streaming for the International GT races. For our season opener, Sprit race 2 on Saturday afternoon was the featured streamed race. If you missed it, link to the “Coming Up” photo and either watch all the Saturday coverage including racing with Trans Am and several SVRA groups or advance to about the 4:12 mark to see the IGT race.
Road Atlanta Registration and Event Schedule March 21-24
Road Atlanta is next up for International GT. This event is very popular and will have a limited entry due to space capacity.
Registration is now open! Click on the podium photo from Road Atlanta 2023 of Marcos Vento (and his familiar Puerto Rico flag) Nathan Byrd and Tommy Ballester to link to registration. To download the event schedule click on the schedule image. If you have any questions please contact Julie@InternationalGT.net or call (770)380-7770.
Chris Green Photography
Chris Green is the official series photographer for International GT.
Click on the Lime Rock photo to link to Chris’s site.
Contact Chris directly to order photography for 2023 and throughout the 2024 race season.
Pirelli Tire Orders
We are proud to partner with Pirelli Tires as the exclusive provider to all International GT events. All Pirelli tire orders for IGT events must be placed with Frisby Tires. Frisby is at track at all IGT events to service our participants.
Click on the tire photo to link to the Frisby site for IGT orders or call (800)373-7390.
2024 Schedule
