2022 SRO America, Sonoma: Friday Paddock Notes

No more rain, and no more wet socks on the second day of SRO Motorsports America series action at Sonoma!

This is a bit more like what was expected last week when the entry lists were released: Cool temperatures, and beautiful skies – perfect weather for a day at the track.

All series will each have two practice sessions today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Our coverage today will largely be centred around GT World Challenge America and GT4 America.

First, catching up on a couple things from GT World Challenge America.

Here’s a tight shot of AF Corse’s #61 Ferrari 488 GT3, their primary car.

Their all-red backup car was running in yesterday’s tests, but is now on the trailer with a bent-up nose after Jean-Claude Saada had a spin at turn two in the afternoon tests, right into the path of Colin Braun who made contact with the Ferrari at the treacherous, blind uphill corner.

Speaking with his team mate Conrad Grunewald, the primary car had a misfiring issue, and underwent an engine change overnight.

The duo of Saada and Grunewald will battle Triarsi Competizione’s Onofrio Triarsi and Charlie Scardina for Am Cup honours.

Racers Edge Motorsports have the second Acura NSX GT3 in the field this weekend. Mario Farnbacher was quickest in the Pro-Am class during yesterday’s tests.

Farnbacher and HPD Academy graduate Ashton Harrison, who won last season’s three-hour race at Indianapolis with Compass Racing, are the only changes for a team that has retained the rest of their essential staff – and are confident of competing for the Pro-Am title!

Their car is chassis #005, a three-year-old model that won the 2019 Pro-Am Cup with Martin Barkey and Kyle Marcelli.

It’ll be impossible to miss the Jason Harward-driven Zelus Motorsports Lamborghinis on track this year!

The co-owner of the Zelus squad will race in GT America, where Harward was fastest in the morning practice session…

… And in GT World Challenge America, where Harward once again partners with Madison Snow for his second season.

The fresh designs of both of Harward’s cars keep an identical theme from last season, incorporating ‘every single paint colour available’ for the road-going Huracan.

Here’s something you don’t see in GT4 competition every day: The Saleen S1 GT4, competing in GT4 America as an Invitational Class entry in a 41-car field.

The man himself, Steve “Gas” Saleen, will share the car with two-time IMSA premier class champion Eric Curran.

Have to say though – there’s a charm about the backup car in its “Rothmanesque” livery, this photo taken yesterday!

GTWCA Practice 1 begins at 10:55 AM PDT, followed by GT4A Practice 1 at 12:10 PM PDT.

After that, GTWCA Practice 2 begins at 3:55 PM PDT, then GT4A Practice 1 at 5:10 PM PDT.

More to come later today…