Flying Lizard Motorsports Begins New SRO America Season on Home Turf, Sonoma Raceway
SONOMA, Calif., (April 12, 2022) — It is once again home race week for Flying Lizard Motorsport at Sonoma Raceway. The Lizards have a packed race week ahead as the GT America powered by AWS and Pirelli GT4 America series get underway, in addition to rounds five and six of the Porsche Sprint Challenge America. The Sonoma Raceway-based team will have two Aston Martin Vantage GT4 cars and four Porsches on track over Easter weekend.
“We’re excited to finally get the new season started,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “It feels strange to start the season so late into the year, but it has given us time to get some more testing done and make the final preparations on our program. After dominating the 2020 GT4 America championships, we’re feeling really good about this program. This is such a competitive class so it will be beneficial to be racing again with Aston Martin. We know the car, we know the manufacturer and we have good data. “
Elias Sabo is a new addition to Flying Lizard, joining the team for the GT America and GT4 America championships, racing the No. 8 Aston Martin Vantage GT4. Created solely for bronze-rated drivers, the GT America championship provides an arena for amateur-ranked drivers to race and develop in a competitive environment amongst their peers. The series is comprised of GT2, GT3, and GT4 machinery, all competing in the same 40-minute race. Each weekend event will have two GT America races, and Sabo will be the sole driver of the No. 8 Aston Martin in these events, competing in the GT4 category.
In GT4 America, Sabo will be joined by Andy Lee, and the two will share the No. 8 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the weekend’s two 60-minute races. The pairing will compete in the Pro/Am class, which is currently slated to have 23 entries in the 41-car field.
With four shops located at Sonoma Raceway, the team utilizes their home track often for their various driver development and customer racing programs. Though Sabo has racing experience with Porsche and Audi, the Aston Martin will be a new venture for him. Taking advantage of the Lizards home-track location, he has been able to in the off-season, getting more comfortable with the new machinery in preparation for the championship battles ahead.
After two days of testing and practice sessions, the Lizards will have four races under the SRO America umbrella, all airing live on Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17 on the GT World YouTube page.
SCHEDULE | All Times U.S. Pacific
Thursday, April 14
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM GT America Test Session 1
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM GT4 America Test Session 1
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM GT America Test Session 2
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM GT4 America Test Session 2
Friday, April 15
8:55 AM – 9:25 AM SRO Bronze Test
9:25 AM – 9:55 AM GT America Practice 1
12:10 PM – 12:55 PM GT4 America Practice 1
2:25 PM – 2:55 PM GT America Practice 2
5:10 PM – 5:55 PM GT4 America Practice 2
Saturday, April 16
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM GT America Qualifying
10:50 AM – 11:05 AM GT4 America Qualify Driver 1
11:10 AM – 11:25 AM GT4 America Qualify Driver 2
12:15 PM – 12:55 PM GT America Race 1
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM Support Series Autograph Session
4:55 PM – 5:55 PM GT4 America Race 1
Sunday, April 17
9:30 AM – 10:10 AM GT America Race 2
11:25 AM – 12:25 PM GT4 America Race 2
DRIVER QUOTES
Elias Sabo
We are looking forward to the kickoff of the season in Sonoma. Andy and I have been working with the Flying Lizard team in the off-season and their approach and professionalism is first-rate. It is very confidence-inspiring.
Andy Lee
Sonoma Raceway is my all-time favorite track! It’s also the closest Elias and I get to a home track advantage since the Lizards are based there and most of our testing is done there. I love the challenges Sonoma presents and I can’t wait to start the season.
Porsche Sprint Challenge by Yokohama
In addition to the team’s SRO America programs, the Lizards will have four Porsches on-site racing in the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama. Chris Bellomo (992 class), Paul Nemschoff (991), Paul Bonderson (Cayman), and Mike Gaulke (Cayman) will also participate in two races over the weekend, each running for 40 minutes, on Saturday, April 16, and Sunday, April 17. All races will stream live on www.porschesprint.com.
SCHEDULE | All Times U.S. Pacific
Friday, April 15
8:10 AM – 8:45 AM Porsche Sprint Challenge
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM Porsche Sprint Challenge Practice 2
Saturday, April 16
8:15 AM – 8:50 AM Porsche Sprint Challenge Qualifying
1:10 PM – 1:50 PM Porsche Sprint Challenge Race 1
Sunday, April 17
8:30 AM – 9:10 AM Porsche Sprint Challenge Race 2
2022 GT4 America Schedule
Sonoma Raceway
Rounds 1 & 2 | April 15-17
Ozarks International Raceway
Rounds 3 & 4 | May 20-22
VIRginia International Raceway
Rounds 5 & 6 | June 17-19
Watkins Glen International
Rounds 7 & 8 | July 22-24
Road America
Rounds 9 & 10 | August 19-21
Sebring International Raceway
Rounds 11 & 12 | September 23-25
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Rounds 13 & 14 | October 7-9
2022 GT America Schedule
St. Petersburg
Rounds 1 & 2 | February 24-26
Sonoma Raceway
Rounds 3 & 4 | April 15-17
Ozarks International Raceway
Rounds 5 & 6 | May 20-22
VIRginia International Raceway
Rounds 7 & 8 | June 17-19
Watkins Glen International
Rounds 9 & 10 | July 22-24
Road America
Rounds 11 & 12 | August 19-21
Sebring International Raceway
Rounds 13 & 14 | September 23-25
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Rounds 15 & 16 | October 7-9
