Pirelli World Challenge Sonoma Raceway 2016

Pirelli World Challenge Sonoma Raceway 2016 Photos and Stories.

09-16-2016 - 2016-09-18 Sonoma, California, US

Photos provided by Keig Cunningham Contact Photographer for Information.

Pirelli World Challenge Sonoma Raceway 2016 Gallery 1

Pirelli World Challenge Sonoma Raceway 2016 Gallery 2

Pirelli World Challenge Sonoma Raceway 2016

Pirelli World Challenge GT Race #1 on Saturday was a show to remember. The starting pack ran into Turn 2 with the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3 losing it right away. Hard racing all over the track for the full race period.

The big action was at the front. Austin Cindric in a K-PAX Racing McLaren 650SGT3 had the lead in the later laps with Johnny O'Connell in a Cadillac ATS-V.R. GT3 continually hounding him. The MacLaren appeared to have the power and pulled away out of the turns. UNTIL the last lap when the Cadillac out braked the McLaren in Turn 7 where the Cadillac easily drives away to the Checkered Flag. Michael Cooper in his Cadillac ATS-V.R. GT3 also challenged Austin Cindric at Turn 7 but was not successful finishing 3rd.

Sunday
Pirelli World Challenge GT Race #2 in the morning started of with a good show. Right off a car near the front went into the dirt after the standing start, although he restarted the yellow was out and the tow-truck was dispatched making a restart. Hot action was the show until a VSA Lotus GT4 cut inside of Turn 9 sending him into Car #4. Car 44 stopped on the track just after Turn 9A, but was hidden by the dust as car 99, Jeff Courtney in a Maserati Gran Turismo MC Trofeo drove out of the cloud and found #44 in front of him removing the rear right corner off the 44 and folding the left front wheel of the Maserati under it.

Final GT-GTA-GT Cup Race

Early laps #99 McLarlen 650S GT3 John Fogarty losses it at the bottom of the carousel and some how avoids contact as the pack rushes by. #8 Cadillac ATS-V.R. GT3 Michael Cooper gets into a fray and is first to pit with a missing left front bumper.

Next on Lap 3 the 07 Ferrari 458 GT3 2016 Martin Fuentes is into the pits where the engine cover comes off- never to return to battle.

Patrick Long chased the #33 Nissan GT-R GT3 of JD Davison until he managed the pass in Turn 1. Then he started the long chase to the next on the #05 Nissan GT-R GT3 of Bryan Heitkotter whom he passed on lap 22.

For the best TV shot, #98 Porsche 911 GT3R with Michael Lewis driving, cut into a left hander nailing the curbing just right lunching the Porsche into the air for a good 2 foot clear view under the car.

Great race great show.

Finishing order: GT-GTA
1. #3 Johnny O'Connell in a Cadillac ATS-V.R. GT3
2. #9 Alvaro Parente McLaren 650S GT3
3. #6 McLaren 650S GT3 Austin Cindric
4. #58 Patrick Long, Porsche 911 GT3R

Finishing order: GT Cup
1.#17 Alec Udell Porsche 911 GT3R
2. #20 Sloan Urry Porsche 911 GT3R
3. #35 Mike Hedlund Porsche 911 GT3R

Acura TLX-GT Ryan Eversley

Acura TLX-GT Ryan Eversley

Acura TLX-GT Ryan Eversley

Astin Martin Vantage GT4 George Kurtz

Astin Martin Vantage GT4 George Kurtz

Astin Martin Vantage GT4 Jason Alexandridis

Astin Martin Vantage GT4 Jason Alexandridis

Astin Martin Vantage GT4 Jason Alexandridis

Astin Martin Vantage GT4 Jason Alexandridis

Audi R8 LMS GT3 Kylle Marcelli

Audi R8 LMS GT3 Kylle Marcelli

Audi R8 LMS GT3 Kylle Marcelli

Bentlley Continental GT3 Adderly Fong

Bentlley Continental GT3 Andrew Kim

Bentlley Continental GT3 Andrew Kim

Cadillac ATS-VR GT3 Johnny O'Connell

Cadillac ATS-VR GT3 Johnny O'Connell

Cadillac ATS-VR GT3 Michael Cooper

Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Lawson Aschenbach

Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Lawson Aschenbach

Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Tony Gaples

Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Tony Gaples

Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Tony Gaples

Ferrari 458 GT3 2016 Martin Fuentes

Ferrari 458 GT3 2016 Martin Fuentes

Ferrari 458 GT3 2016 Martin Fuentes

Ford Boss 302 Nate Stacy

Ford Boss 302 Nate Stacy

Ginetta GT4 Harry Gottsacker

Ginetta GT4 Parker Chase

Ginetta GT4 Parker Chase

KTM XBow GT4 Bill Ziegler

KTM XBow GT4 Bill Ziegler

KTM XBow GT4 Bill Ziegler

KTM XBow GT4 Bill Ziegler

KTM XBow GT4 Brett Sandberg

KTM XBow GT4 Brett Sandberg

KTM XBow GT4 Hugh Plumb

KTM XBow GT4 Hugh Plumb

KTM XBow GT4 Hugh Plumb

KTM XBow GT4 Hugh Plumb