What Is 2019 GT World Challenge America

Overview

The 2019 GT World Challenge America was a premier grand tourer racing series organized by the SRO Motorsports Group, continuing the legacy of the Pirelli World Challenge. It featured high-performance GT3 and GT4-spec vehicles competing across North America in a season-long championship. The series emphasized driver skill, team coordination, and manufacturer representation in endurance and sprint formats.

With support from Pirelli as the official tire supplier, the 2019 season emphasized safety, competitive balance, and fan engagement through live broadcasts and trackside events. The championship was divided into multiple classes—Pro, Pro-Am, Am, and Silver—to ensure fair competition across experience levels and professional tiers.

• 10 rounds were held in 2019, beginning at Circuit of the Americas on April 5 and concluding at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on October 13
• Each event weekend included at least two 90-minute races, often with mandatory driver changes and pit stops to simulate endurance conditions
• GT3-spec cars from 10 different manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, and Porsche, competed, showcasing cutting-edge aerodynamics and performance engineering
• The Pro class was won by Andrew Davis and Robin Liddell driving the #88 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, securing 4 class victories
• Points were awarded based on finishing position, with 35 points for a win and additional points for fastest lap and class leadership

How It Works

The GT World Challenge America operates under SRO’s global GT3 regulations, ensuring parity and safety while promoting close racing. Each race format blends sprint and endurance elements, with driver lineups often combining professionals and amateurs.

• Class Structure: The series is divided into Pro, Pro-Am, Am, and Silver classes based on driver FIA ratings, ensuring fair competition across skill levels and experience
• Qualifying Format: Each weekend uses a knockout qualifying session to determine starting grids, with separate sessions for each class
• Race Duration: Most races last 90 minutes, requiring mandatory pit stops and driver changes, testing team strategy and car reliability
• Balance of Performance (BoP): SRO applies BoP adjustments monthly to equalize performance across different GT3 manufacturers and models
• Scoring System: Points are awarded down to 20th place, with 35-26-24-22-20 for the top five, plus 1 point for fastest lap
• Manufacturer Involvement: Brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Acura field factory-supported teams, enhancing technical development and marketing exposure

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of key performance metrics across top teams and manufacturers in the 2019 season:

The table highlights how Mercedes-AMG and Lamborghini dominated the Pro and Pro-Am classes, while Porsche remained competitive in the Am category. Teams like Change Racing excelled in class-specific strategy, winning half of the Pro-Am rounds. Manufacturer diversity and team adaptability were key to success across the 10-round season.

Why It Matters

The 2019 GT World Challenge America played a critical role in advancing GT racing in North America, bridging professional motorsport with manufacturer innovation and fan accessibility. It served as a proving ground for drivers aiming for international SRO events and provided real-world testing for high-performance road car development.

• Global Alignment: The series is part of the SRO’s global GT World Challenge, linking American teams to European and Asian championships
• Driver Development: Emerging talents used the series as a stepping stone to WEC and IMSA programs, enhancing career pathways
• Manufacturer R&D: Automakers leveraged race data to improve cooling systems, aerodynamics, and tire wear in consumer models
• Fan Engagement: Events featured live timing, driver meetups, and broadcasts on SRO’s YouTube channel, increasing accessibility
• Safety Standards: The series implemented FIA Grade 2 safety protocols, including HANS devices and roll cage inspections
• Economic Impact: Each race weekend generated over $1.2 million in local revenue through tourism and vendor activity

By combining elite competition with technological innovation, the 2019 season reinforced GT World Challenge America’s status as a cornerstone of North American sports car racing.