Pirelli gains title sponsor role for GT4 America series

ARLINGTON, Neb. — The Pirelli World Challenge road-racing series is morphing into the Blancpain GT World Challenge next year, but Pirelli Tire North America will continue as the series tire supplier and key sponsor. The tire maker also will be the main sponsor for a new series running together with the Blancpain series.

The name change is the initiative of the series organizer SRO Motorsports to bring the North American series more in line with similar series it runs in Europe and Asia.

Pirelli — the designated tire supplier of the North American series since 2011 — carries that same distinction with 11 other race series organized by SRO, which recently has been renewed its contract with Pirelli until 2023.

While Pirelli loses title sponsorship of what was known as the Pirelli World Challenge for the past seven years, it picks up title sponsorship for the Pirelli GT4 America series, which features both domestic and import sports cars.

Among the cars eligible to race in the GT4 category are: BMW M4 GT4; Chevy Camaro GT4.R; Audi R8 LMS GT4; Ford Mustang GT4; Mercedes-AMG GT4; Porsche Cayman GT4 CS MR; McLaren 570S GT4; Panoz Avezzano GT4; etc. In all, 36 models have been approved for competition.

The GT4 class will run two types of races — Sprint for single drivers and a 50-minute format and SprintX for two-driver teams and a 60-minute format. Both formats will run eight races, including six together at the same venue and on the same weekends as Blancpain World Challenge GT and/or Indycar races.

SRO claims the GT4 America format offers reduced costs, technical fairness, dynamic races featuring professional and amateur racers, convenient locations and a friendly paddock atmosphere.

SRO and Pirelli also have created two regional series running under SprintX Championship rules, one for the western U.S. and one for the eastern U.S. and Canada running five race weekends each.

Pirelli Car Racing Manager Mario Isola said Pirelli "shares SRO Motorsports America's vision to grow the series internationally as part of our long-term partnership and joint strategy.

Being able to extend its relationship "enhances the constantly expanding reach of all the different championships" promoted by SRO and consolidates Pirelli's leadership in premium GT racing worldwide, he added.