This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (September 2021) |
James Sofronas (born September 9, 1968) is an American racing driver and the founder of Global Motorsports Group.
| James Sofronas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 9, 1968 Westchester County, New York, United States |
| GT America Series career | |
| Debut season | 2021 |
| Current team | GMG Racing |
| Racing licence |  FIA Bronze |
| Car number | 14 |
| Starts | 6 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Podiums | 4 |
| Poles | 3 |
| Fastest laps | 2 |
| Previous series | |
| 2020 2019 2019 2016, 2019 2014, 2021 2009, 2011–12 2009–12 2004–06, 2008, 2017–18 1994–2020 | GT Sports Club America GT Sports Club GT4 America Series Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America IMSA SportsCar Championship Rolex Sports Car Series American Le Mans Series Michelin Pilot Challenge Pirelli World Challenge |
| Championship titles | |
| 2018 2018 2017 2017 | Pirelli World Challenge SprintX – GTS Pirelli World Challenge – GTS Pirelli World Challenge – GTA Pirelli World Challenge SprintX – GT Pro/Am |
Motorsports career
editSofronas began his racing career in the early 1990s, purchasing a Nissan NX 2000 which was eligible for the SCCA SSB category. In order to make enough money to race it, Sofronas worked as a salesman at Pitney Bowes, using the street-legal car on sales calls despite the fact it had no air conditioning unit.[1] In 1994, he acquired an SCCA Pro Racing license and took part in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge, driving an Oldsmobile Achieva in the Super Production class, which he rented from Chuck Hemingson for $1,800.[2] In his lone outing that season at Road America, Sofronas finished 9th in class.[3]
Sofronas began racing under the GMG Racing banner in the early 2000s; the team is used to advertise his auto tuning service he operates out of Southern California. He scored his first victory in the then-Speed World Challenge in 2008 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, en route to a fourth-placed finish in the championship. He would finish runner-up in the GT class the following season, scoring two wins and four podiums.[4] That same season, Sofronas began competing in the American Le Mans Series, beginning with a one-off appearance at Laguna Seca with co-driver Bret Curtis, where the duo finished fifth in class. Sofronas and GMG Racing would continue to run a partial schedule in the series until 2012.
In 2017, Sofronas claimed a pair of titles in the Pirelli World Challenge, claiming the overall GTA title and the SprintX GT Pro/Am title. Partnering with Porsche factory drivers Laurens Vanthoor and Mathieu Jaminet, Sofronas took the SprintX title by just 13 points over Jan Heylen and Michael Schein. He scored 11 class victories in 19 starts between the two championships that season.[5] He followed his championship haul in 2017 with two more in 2018, this time competing in GT4 machinery. Sofronas and co-driver Alex Welch claimed the SprintX GTS title, while Sofronas alone won the GTS class title overall.[6]
In 2023, Sofronas began his 30th season of competition under the World Challenge/SRO America umbrella, fielding the first Audi R8 LMS Evo II on American soil.[7] During the GT America Series event at Circuit of the Americas, Sofronas tallied his 350th World Challenge/SRO event appearance.[2]
GMG Racing
edit
Sofronas and business partner Fabrice Kutyba founded Global Motorsports Group (GMG) in 2001, an aftermarket tuning service with a particular focus on European luxury marques.[3] The two opened a shop in 2006, before upgrading to a 16,000 square-foot facility two years later.[3] In August 2021, GMG opened temporary 8,000 square-foot shop at the Thermal Club, with plans to have a 23,000 square-foot facility completed at the site by summer 2023.[8]
The company services Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW models, among others.[3] Services include standard maintenance such as oil changes, as well as performance tuning.[1] The group also operates a customer racing program in the SRO America umbrella of series, including the GT America Series, GT4 America Series, and GT World Challenge America.[9] Their racing endeavors are closely intertwined with their tuning operations, with a series of World Challenge-based performance products being released in 2008.[3] The team has won a number of titles in the Pirelli World Challenge, including a 2017 GTSA class victory for George Kurtz accompanying Sofronas' titles.[4] In 2021, the team added a title in the inaugural season of the GT America Series with customer driver Jason Bell.[10]
The team also works closely with Audi Sport, debuting and competing with the marque's racing cars. In 2012, GMG Racing became the first American providers of the new Audi R8 LMS GT3.[11] In September 2019, Sofronas took part in the global debut of the Audi R8 LMS GT2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.[12] At the SRO GT Anniversary, Sofronas fielded an Audi R8 LMS ultra, one of just two in the field.[13] Ahead of the 2023 season, the team acquired an Audi R8 LMS Evo II, and were awaiting delivery of a Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 R.[14]
In 2021, the team expanded their relationship with Italian manufacturer Lamborghini, acquiring a Huracán GT3 Evo as part of a partnership with FFF Racing Team.[15]
Racing record
editCareer summary
edit| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - Super Production | National Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 17 | 32nd |
| 1995 | SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - Super Production | Greek Brothers Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | ? | 0 | 131 | 14th |
| 1996 | SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - T2 | Greek Brothers Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | ? | 0 | 42 | 18th |
| SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - T1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ? | 0 | 17 | 36th | ||
| 1997 | SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - T2 | Greek Brothers Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 27th |
| 1998 | SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - T2 | Greek Brothers Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 31st |
| 1999 | SpeedVision World Challenge - Touring Car | Peppa Seed Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | ? | 0 | 20 | 34th |
| 2000 | SpeedVision World Challenge - Touring Car | Peppa Seed Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | ? | 0 | 11 | 45th |
| SpeedVision World Challenge - GT | SSF / GMG Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | ? | 0 | ? | ? | |
| 2001 | SpeedVision World Challenge - GT | SSF Parts / TC Kline | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 14th |
| 2002 | Speed World Challenge - Touring Car | SSF Imported Parts / GMG Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 24th |
| 2003 | Speed World Challenge - Touring Car | Tecmark Autosport / Lectric Air | 9 | 0 | 0 | ? | 0 | 42 | 27th |
| 2004 | Speed World Challenge - Touring Car | Tecmark Corp / GMG Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | ? | 2 | 196 | 4th |
| Grand-Am Cup - GS | Anchor Racing | 6 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 75 | 41st | |
| Grand-Am Cup - ST | DF Motorsports | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
| 2005 | Speed World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 15th |
| Grand-Am Cup - GS | Anchor Racing | 7 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 78 | 52nd | |
| 2006 | Speed World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 8th |
| Grand-Am Cup - GS | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 18 | 86th | ||
| 2007 | Speed World Challenge - TC | Tecmark Autosport / GMG | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 205 | 7th |
| Speed World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 11th | |
| 2008 | Speed World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 750 | 4th |
| Speed World Challenge - TC | Tecmark Corporation / GMG Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 219 | 17th | |
| Grand-Am KONI Challenge - GS | BGB Motorsports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 73rd | |
| 2009 | Speed World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 931 | 2nd |
| American Le Mans Series - Challenge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7th | ||
| Rolex Sports Car Series - GT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 62nd | ||
| 2010 | SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1052 | 3rd |
| American Le Mans Series - GTC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 60 | 10th | ||
| 2011 | Pirelli World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1112 | 4th |
| American Le Mans Series - GTC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 15th | ||
| Rolex Sports Car Series - GT | TRG / BSR / GMG Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 57th | |
| 2012 | Pirelli World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 723 | 9th |
| American Le Mans Series - GTC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 9th | ||
| Rolex Sports Car Series - GT | Orbit / GMG Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 64th | |
| 2013 | Pirelli World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 1444 | 2nd |
| 2014 | Pirelli World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1062 | 6th |
| United SportsCar Championship - GTD | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 79th | ||
| 2015 | Pirelli World Challenge - GT | GMG Racing | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 600 | 20th |
| 2016 | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America - Pro-Am | GMG Racing | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 8th |
| Pirelli World Challenge - GT | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 263 | 17th | ||
| Pirelli World Challenge - GTS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 39th | ||
| 2017 | Pirelli World Challenge - GTA | GMG Racing | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 211 | 1st |
| Pirelli World Challenge SprintX - GT Pro-Am | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 227 | 1st | ||
| Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge - GS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 36th | ||
| 2018 | Pirelli World Challenge - GTS | GMG Racing | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 162 | 1st |
| Pirelli World Challenge SprintX - GTS | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 176 | 1st | ||
| Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge - GS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 71st | ||
| 2019 | GT4 America Series SprintX - Am | GMG Racing | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 98 | 3rd |
| Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America - Am | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 31 | 5th | ||
| GT World Challenge America - Pro/Am | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 9th | ||
| GT World Challenge America - Am | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 9th | ||
| GT4 America Series Sprint | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 20th | ||
| GT Sports Club | Audi Sport Team WRT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 15th | |
| 2020 | GT World Challenge America - Pro/Am | GMG Racing | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 8th |
| GT Sports Club America - Titanium | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | ||
| 2021 | GT America Series - SRO3 | GMG Racing | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 111 | 5th |
| Intercontinental GT Challenge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20th | ||
| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 66th | ||
| 2022 | Michelin Pilot Challenge - GS | GMG Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 50th |
| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 323 | 52nd | ||
| GT World Challenge America - Pro/Am | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 13th | ||
| GT World Challenge America - Am | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 5th | ||
| Intercontinental GT Challenge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 19th | ||
| SRO GT Anniversary | |||||||||
| 2023 | GT America Series - GT3 | GMG Racing | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 48 | 11th |
| GT World Challenge America - Pro/Am | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19th | ||
| GT4 America Series - Am | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||
| Porsche Carrera Cup North America | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 51 | 12th | ||
| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | GMG Racing by Car Collection Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |
| Intercontinental GT Challenge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | ||
| 2024 | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | GMG Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 22nd |
* Season still in progress.
Complete American Le Mans Series results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | GMG Racing | Challenge | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 | MIL | LIM | MDO | ELK DNS |
LGA 5 |
7th | 13 | |||||
| 2010 | GMG Racing | GTC | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Porsche 3.8L Flat-6 | SEB 7 |
LBH 2 |
LGA 10 |
MIL 7 |
LIM 4 |
MDO 2 |
ELK 8 |
MOS | PET | 10th | 60 | |
| 2011 | GMG Racing | GTC | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Porsche 4.0L Flat-6 | SEB 8 |
LBH | LIM 5 |
MOS | MDO | ELK 4 |
BAL | LGA 5 |
PET | 15th | 36 | |
| 2012 | GMG Racing | GTC | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Porsche 4.0L Flat-6 | SEB 7 |
LBH 4 |
LGA 2 |
LIM 3 |
MOS | MDO | ELK 5 |
BAL | VIR | PET | 9th | 49 |
Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | GMG Racing | GTD | Audi R8 LMS ultra | Audi 5.2 L V10 | DAY 28 |
SEB 11 |
LGA |
DET |
WGL |
MOS |
IND |
ELK |
VIR |
COA |
COA |
79th | 22 | |
| 2021 | GMG Racing | GTD | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | DAY |
SEB |
MDO |
DET |
WGL |
WGL |
LIM |
ELK |
LGA |
LBH 15 |
VIR |
PET |
72nd | 176 |
| 2022 | GMG Racing | GTD | Porsche 911 GT3 R | Porsche MA1.76/MDG.G 4.0 L Flat-6 | DAY 22 |
SEB | LBH 10 |
LGA 11 |
MDO |
DET |
WGL |
MOS |
LIM |
ELK |
VIR |
PET |
52nd | 323 |
* Season still in progress.
Complete GT World Challenge Europe results
editGT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
edit| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | GMG Racing by Car Collection Motorsport | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) | Pro-Am | MNZ |
LEC |
SPA 6H Ret |
SPA 12H Ret |
SPA 24H Ret |
NÜR |
CAT |
NC | 0 |
*Season still in progress.
References
edit- ^ a b "Racers in Isolation: James Sofronas". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. April 23, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Sportscar365 Staff (May 18, 2023). "Sofronas Embarking on 350th World Challenge/SRO Event". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e "There's No Holding Back James Sofronas". theautochannel.com. September 16, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "Sofronas, weekend warrior". racer.com. November 10, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
We were second in '09, second in '13, so to win it here in the Pro-Am class was gratifying, because this year I did very little testing.
- ^ "Pirelli World Challenge 2017 GT Classes Finale". archive.world-challenge.com. September 20, 2017. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Second title for Audi R8 LMS GT4". audi-mediacenter.com. September 3, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Dagys, John (February 25, 2023). "GMG's Sofronas to Debut Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II in St. Pete". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Road America Friday Notebook". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
GMG Racing has opened up a temporary 8,000 square-foot shop at The Thermal Club ahead of plans for a dedicated 25,000 square-foot motorsports facility coming in summer 2023 according to team principal James Sofronas.
- ^ "James Sofronas is driven to succeed on, off track". presstelegram.com. April 15, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
Besides Sofronas, GMG Racing services cars for three "arrive and drive" racers in the series, including William Ziegler, who finished eighth at Sebring, and Dino Crescentini, who was 17th.
- ^ "Iribe Sweeps Weekend; Bell Wins GT4 Title in Indy Finale". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ "Europhiles: A Tour Of GMG Racing". speedhunters.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
As mentioned earlier, GMG Racing was the first provider of the Audi Sport R8 LMS GT3.
- ^ "GMG'S James Sofronas To Debut Audi R8 LMS GT2 In Barcelona". audiclubna.org. September 26, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (July 25, 2022). "28-Car Entry for SRO's GT Anniversary Races at Spa". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Dagys, John (December 14, 2022). "GMG Racing Acquires New Audi, Porsche GT3 Cars for 2023". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "Sofronas Debuts Ex-FFF Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. April 30, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.