Adversity for Thompson and McIntosh at SRO GT4 America Opener

Adversity for Thompson and McIntosh at SRO GT4 America Opener

SONOMA, CA  –  Parker Thompson and teammate Anthony McIntosh showed strong pace and serious potential in their debut weekend with Ghost Rider Squad Racing / JTR Motorsports Engineering in the Pirelli GT4 America championship. But despite standout moments—including leading the overall field in Race 2—the pairing left Sonoma without the results they deserved.

The No. 69 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2, competing in the Pro-Am class, qualified strongly on both days. McIntosh set the 10th-fastest overall time in the Driver 1 session (P3 in Pro-Am), while Thompson secured third overall (P2 in class) in the Driver 2 session.

In Race 1, McIntosh executed a clean and assertive opening stint, navigating early incidents and advancing to fifth overall before the mandatory driver change. A drive-through penalty for a pit lane infraction during the stop, however, dropped the team to the back of the field. Thompson completed the race, recovering positions to finish 18th overall and 10th in class.

Race 2 began under wet conditions, and Thompson wasted no time pushing to the front—taking the overall race lead and holding the top Pro-Am position throughout his stint. During the mid-race pit stop and driver change, however, the crew discovered a leaking valve stem on the right-front tire. McIntosh returned to the track and attempted to nurse the car to the finish, but the tire failed in the final minutes, forcing an unscheduled stop. The team crossed the line 22nd overall and 10th in class.

“We didn’t get the results we wanted, but we showed real pace this weekend,” said Thompson. “We made smart moves on track, and Tony did an awesome job managing the car when the tire issue came up in Race 2. We were in the fight, and that’s something to build on. I was proud to take the overall lead in GT4 America, and it was great to see Tony come away with a win and a second-place finish in GT America. Now it’s about converting that speed into results for both programs when we visit COTA next month.”

The next round of Pirelli GT4 America takes place at Circuit of the Americas (April 25–27) and will feature a special three-hour endurance race. The Ghost Rider Squad and JTR Motorsports Engineering team will look to bounce back with a double effort across both GT4 and GT America competitions.

2025 Pirelli GT4 America Schedule

March 28–30       Sonoma Raceway
April 25–27          Circuit of the Americas (3-HR Enduro)
May 16–18           Sebring International Raceway
July 18–21           Virginia International Raceway
August 15–17        Road America
September 5–7     Barber Motorsports Park
October 16–19      Indianapolis Motor Speedway

All races will be streamed live on YouTube via @GTWorld.
For full schedule details, livestream links, and more, visit parkerthompsonracing.com/live

Thompson and McIntosh Unite To Take on 2025 Pirelli GT4 America

Thompson and McIntosh Unite To Take on 2025 Pirelli GT4 America

While Parker Thompson continues to chase the GTD championship in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA, he’s also adding a new challenge to his 2025 calendar. This weekend at Sonoma Raceway, Thompson will kick off a full-season campaign in the Pirelli GT4 America series, teaming up with Anthony [Tony] McIntosh in the Pro-Am class in the No. 69 Ghost Rider Squad Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2, operated by JTR Motorsports Engineering.

Known for its highly competitive fields, the Pirelli GT4 America series features six double-header race weekends with a special three-hour endurance round at Circuit of the Americas. The standard weekend consists of two 60-minute races featuring mandatory pit stops and driver changes. The 2025 season kicks off at Sonoma Raceway with a 30-car grid spread across three classes (Am, Silver, and Pro-Am). The Pro-Am class where Thompson and McIntosh are featured, looks to be the most competitive, with thirteen entries at the opening round and some notable new driver pairings set to make their series debut.

For Thompson, the Pirelli GT4 America series is familiar ground. Across two previous seasons in the Silver class, he earned 6 pole positions, 6 podiums, and 2 race wins in 21 starts, all in Toyota’s flagship GR Supra GT4. Thompson’s achievements with the platform are world-class. In 2023, he added another milestone—claiming the GR Supra GT4’s first-ever victory in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition. He has also played a central role in the development of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s new GR Supra GT4 EVO2, making its competition debut this season.

“I’m excited to return to Pirelli GT4 America, driving the No. 69 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO2 with Tony and Ghost Rider Squad Racing,” said Thompson. “Our group brings a lot of personality to the paddock. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun out there. Don’t be fooled though, we’re fully focused on performance. Tony is an extremely talented Bronze driver. I expect big things!”

Teammate Anthony McIntosh enters the season with a remarkable list of accomplishments from 2024, where he claimed four championship wins including: (1) Lambo Super Trofeo Worlds Pro-Am, (2) Lambo Super Trofeo North America Am, (3) Porsche Endurance Championship, (4) Italian GT3 Am Championship .

Thompson and McIntosh already have a winning record together, having earned recent victories in both the Porsche Endurance Challenge at COTA and Asian Le Mans Series Race 1 in Dubai. For 2025, the duo joins Pirelli GT4 America looking to further hone their race craft while pushing for Pro-Am honors.

2025 Pirelli GT4 America Schedule

March 28–30       Sonoma Raceway
April 25–27          Circuit of the Americas (3-HR Enduro)
May 16–18           Sebring International Raceway
July 18–21           Virginia International Raceway
August 15–17        Road America
September 5–7     Barber Motorsports Park
October 16–19      Indianapolis Motor Speedway

All races will be streamed live on YouTube via @GTWorld.
For full schedule details, livestream links, and more, visit parkerthompsonracing.com/live

Parker Thompson rejoins Hanley Motorsports for 2024 Pirelli GT4 America campaign

Parker Thompson rejoins Hanley Motorsports for 2024 Pirelli GT4 America campaign

DENVER, CO After a strong debut in Pirelli GT4 America last season, Parker Thompson will return to the series with Hanley Motorsports in 2024. The team will reunite Thompson with co-driver Daniel Hanley and #999 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 EVO Silver-class entry. Returning with an unchanged lineup, Hanley Motorsports looks to build on a 2023 season where they lead sixty-three race laps, earning one overall victory, two class wins, and three class podiums in twelve races. For the new year, they have set their sights on the Silver-class season championship. Team owner Robert Hanley shared confidence in the team and their targets for the new season. “In 2023, we made a late decision to form a team and join Pirelli GT4 America. Despite having minimal preparation, our group performed exceptionally out of the gate. By the end of the season, we felt like we were among the best in the field. I’m excited that we are returning this year with a team that is virtually unchanged. From our drivers to our crew, having key individuals return gives us the best chance to build on the progress we made in our first year. It also demonstrates each individual’s belief that our team can find the next level. I expect we will challenge the best in this Pirelli GT4 America series and fight for the championship title.” Parker Thompson was a big part of the team’s success in its rookie year, bringing experience to the group and exceptional performance on track. In 2023 with Hanley Motorsports, the Canadian earned two pole positions and three Crowdstrike Fast Lap awards. Thompson’s talent behind the wheel has been broadly recognized. In January, he earned pole position in class at the Daytona 24 Hour with Vasser Sullivan and Lexus Racing USA. Thompson is excited to return to Hanley Motorsports and Pirelli GT4 America, highlighting the competitive environment and advantages of GT4 machinery.
“Pirelli GT4 American continues to be one of the most competitive sports car championships on the continent. We saw some great competition at the front of the field last year and fully expect that to continue in 2024. It was rewarding to work closely with Daniel and see him grow in his first year of racing. We’ve continued to work together through the off-season and gotten to the point where I can challenge him, and he can challenge me right back. The Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO has been a riot to drive. It’s a very well-rounded race car. That makes it a great platform for driver development, and it puts us in the mix at every track we visit. Altogether, we’re in a promising position in the Silver-class.” After starting 2023 with virtually zero experience, Daniel Hanley begins his sophomore season confidently. The twenty-year-old showed poise and pace under pressure throughout his rookie year, closing races at Sebring and Circuit of the Americas in the lead position. Daniel shared hopes for further growth individually and as a team. “I think every member of Hanley Motorsports is entering the year with a new outlook. We’ve learned a lot about the Pirelli GT4 America format, and in turn, we feel like we understand better what it will take to win a championship. Our lineup look’s the same; our car look’s the same, but expect a better Hanley Motorsports team this season.” The team is gearing up for a 2024 season that will feature thirteen races at seven American tracks, starting with Sonoma Raceway, where Parker and Daniel will launch their championship effort with a doubleheader weekend April 5-8.
2024 PIRELLI GT4 AMERICA SEASON SCHEDULE

April 5-7, 2024 – Sonoma Raceway, Rounds 1 & 2
May 3-5, 2024 – Sebring International Raceway, Rounds 3 & 4
May 17-19, 2024 – Circuit of the Americas, Round 5
July 19-21, 2024 – Virginia International Raceway, Rounds 6 & 7
August 16-18, 2024 – Road America, Rounds 8 & 9
September 6-8, 2024 – Barber Motorsports Park, Rounds 10 & 11
October 4-6, 2024 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Rounds 12 & 13

More info at https://gt4-america.com and https://hanleymotorsports.com

Thompson and Hanley Motorsports Deliver Win, Pole and Fastest Lap at Sebring

Thompson and Hanley Motorsports Deliver Win, Pole and Fastest Lap at Sebring

SEBRING, FL

Hanley Motorsports showed exceptional performance in a tightly fought #GTSebring battle that saw three different manufacturers win in three races. Parker Thompson, teammate Daniel Hanley, and the Hanley Motorsports No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO clenched victory in the weekend’s opening race, earned a podium in the second, and started from pole position in the third. With their result, Hanley Motorsports and the GR Supra GT4 EVO continue to represent a premier force in the Pirelli GT4 America series.

The weekend began with a victory as Thompson started on the front row in Friday afternoon’s NOLA makeup race. The Canadian driver took the lead early on, clocked the fastest lap, and established a comfortable margin for the No. 999 through the first half of the contest. Daniel Hanley took over at the halfway mark and cleanly drove to the checkered flag.

Qualifying for two official Sebring races took place on Saturday morning, where the team earned its best overall starting positions to date. Daniel posted the 6th best time overall in Qualifying 1 (5th in Silver class), while Thompson took the outright pole position in Race 2.

Rookie Daniel Hanley had a strong start in Saturday’s Race, impressively challenging the competitors ahead of him while preserving his car and position. Thompson continued the effort in the latter half of the contest, momentarily taking the race lead and ultimately finishing third place overall.

On Sunday morning, Thompson lined up on the pole versus a thirty-three-car GT4 field. The twenty-five-year-old was challenged early on when the No. 51 entry of Kenton Koch stole the lead in the opening corner. Thompson battled Koch for eight laps before recapturing first position. Daniel took the wheel and maintained the lead for several laps before the pressures of close battle and Florida heat took a toll on his tires, dropping him into the grips of the lead pack. Ultimately, the team was assessed a drive-thru penalty for a pit-lane speed infraction. The violation dropped the No. 999 to 8th overall and 6th in Silver.

Thompson was ecstatic about the team’s performance. “Our first overall win, our third and fourth podiums, and a pole position make this the best weekend ever for Hanley Motorsports and our GR Supra GT4 EVO. From start to finish, we were right at the front in each race. That says a lot about the progress of my teammate, Daniel Hanley. He’s less than 12 months into his racing career, but there is no doubt that he fits in at the front of this Pirelli GT4 America field. Despite our strong performance, when we review our performance this weekend, I know we’ll find some things we could have done even better. I expect our Toyota to be in an even stronger position in two weeks when the series visits my home track, Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

The 2023 Pirelli GT4 America season closes October 6-8 with two races on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Thompson and Hanley will look for maximum impact, expanding their growing collection of trophies in the series.

Images credit Bob Chapman / Autosport Image

Thompson Powers Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO to Pole, Podium and Fastest Lap at Road America

Thompson Powers Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO to Pole, Podium and Fastest Lap at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, WI

Parker Thompson’s prowess was on full display this weekend at Road America in the SRO Pirelli GT4 America series. The Canadian standout earned Hanley Motorsports and the No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO a pole position start for Race 2 and the Crowdstrike Fastest Lap award as the team achieved a Silver-class podium finish.

The action-packed weekend saw Thompson and teammate Daniel Hanley skillfully navigate a contentious thirty-four-car GT4 field. Despite numerous on-track incidents and limited green flag action, Thompson’s skill and the impressive pace of the Hanley Motorsports GR Supra shone through. Thompson quickly adapted to the recently re-paved, 4.0-mile Road America circuit. In Practice 2, he clocked the session’s fastest lap. When Driver 2 Qualifying results were abandoned due to a red flag, the twenty-five-year-old’s best practice lap earned Hanley Motorsports the pole position for Race 2.

In Race 1 on Saturday afternoon, Thompson’s stint was again impacted by incidents on track. Teammate Daniel Hanley started from the 15th position and made significant progress early in the race. Thompson took the wheel at the halfway point but only saw one lap of green flag action. He drove the No. 999 to the checkered flag under yellow, 10th overall and fifth in class.

On Sunday morning, Thompson showcased his pace when Race 2 began. Starting first on the grid, he accomplished an exceptional start, pulling a gap on former Carrera Cup North America rival Kay Van Berlo in the second position. Thompson dominated the field through the contest’s first half, clocking the race’s fastest lap and establishing a 7-second margin over second place. An unfortunate pit stop mishap during the driver change led to a fierce fight at the front for Daniel Hanley and the No. 999. Ultimately, the team secured a fourth-place finish overall and third in the Silver class.

Thompson’s performance was pleased with his performance and the team’s effort. “The Hanley Motorsports GR Supra GT4 EVO consistently proves its potential in this Pirelli GT4 America series. Road America is a special track for me, and I’m happy to secure the fastest lap and help earn the team another podium finish. Daniel’s progress through his rookie year is impressive. Not only is he showing improved pace with each consecutive weekend, but he’s also looking fierce and calculated during race action. I’m excited about our potential as the end of the 2023 season approaches.”

The Pirelli GT4 America series will resume action at Sebring International Raceway (September 22-24), featuring a three-race schedule that includes a make-up race after a cancellation due to weather at NOLA Motorsports Park. The season ends at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, October 5-8.