2015 Pirelli World Challenge
The 2015 Pirelli World Challenge season was the 26th running of the Sports Car Club of America 's World Challenge series. It introduced a new all-Porsche "GT Cup" race group. Johnny O'Connell was the defending champion in the highest class, the GT class.
Schedule
The season comprises 12 rounds, with several rounds in support of the IndyCar Series and the United SportsCar Championship , as well as supporting the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series .[ 1]
Round
Date
Event
Circuit
Location
Classes
Supporting
1
March 6–8
Nissan Grand Prix of Texas
Circuit of the Americas
Austin, Texas
GT/GTA/GT Cup (x2) GTS (x2) TC/TCA/TCB (x3)
Headline
2
March 27–29
Cadillac Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Streets of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
GT/GTA/GT Cup (x2) GTS (x2)
IndyCar Series
3
April 17–19
Roar By The Shore presented by Replay XD
Streets of Long Beach
Long Beach, California
GT/GTA/GT Cup†
IndyCar Series /United SportsCar Championship
4
April 24–26
MOMO Grand Prix at Barber
Barber Motorsports Park
Birmingham, Alabama
GT/GTA/GT Cup† (x2) GTS (x2)
IndyCar Series
5
May 15–17
Remo Ferri Group Canadian Grand Prix
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Bowmanville, Ontario
GT/GTA/GT Cup (x2) GTS (x2) TC/TCA/TCB (x3)
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
6[ 2]
May 29–31
Cadillac V-Series Challenge
The Raceway on Belle Isle
Detroit, Michigan
GT/GTA (x2)
IndyCar Series /United SportsCar Championship
7
June 26–28
DeVilbiss Grand Prix at Road America
Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
GT/GTA/GT Cup (x2) GTS (x2) TC/TCA/TCB (x3)
Headline
8
July 31 – August 2
StopTech Grand Prix presented by MOMO
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Lexington, Ohio
GT/GTA/GT Cup (x2) GTS (x2)
IndyCar Series
9[ 3]
August 14–16
OPTIMA Grand Prix presented by MOMO
TC/TCA/TCB (x3)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
10
August 21–23
Ford Grand Prix at Miller by VP Fuels
Miller Motorsports Park
Tooele, Utah
GT/GTA/GT Cup (x2) GTS (x2) TC/TCA/TCB (x3)
Headline
11
August 28–30
Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Kia
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, California
GT/GTA/GT Cup (x2) GTS (x2)
IndyCar Series
12
September 11–13
Mazda Raceway Grand Prix by Cadillac
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Monterey, California
GT/GTA/GT Cup GTS TC/TCA/TCB (x3)
Headline
Source: [ 4]
†The round at Long Beach was capped to 40 cars, with only 10 GT-Cup cars guaranteed a place. Any GT-Cup entries that were not able to contest the Long Beach round were eligible for double points at Barber Motorsports Park.[ 5]
News
The second race at Belle Isle on May 31 was cancelled on safety grounds due to inclement weather, which caused reduced track visibility. An additional race was held at Road America to replace the round at Detroit.[ 6]
Entry list
GT/GTA
Constructor
Team
Car
Driver
Rounds
Acura
RealTime R&L
TLX-GT
42
Peter Cunningham
All
43
Ryan Eversley
All
Aston Martin
De La Torre Racing
V12 Vantage GT3
4
Jorge De La Torre
1, 4, 7–8, 10, 12
TRG -AMR
7
Christina Nielsen (R)
1–6, 8, 10–12
09
Mark McKenzie
1
LG Motorsports
28
Lou Gigliotti
1, 3, 8
Audi
CRP Racing
R8 LMS ultra
2
Mike Skeen
All
Global Motorsports Group
14
James Sofronas
1–4, 7–8, 10, 12
21
Madison Snow
1
David Welch
3, 6, 8
44
Brent Holden
2–3, 8, 10
76
Alex Welch
1, 7, 12
Stephen Cameron Racing
19
Drew Regitz
All
M1 Racing
23
Guy Cosmo
1
Walt Bowlin
2, 4, 7
JCR Motorsports
99
Jeff Courtney
1–5, 7–8
Bentley
Bentley Team Dyson Racing
Continental GT3
16
Chris Dyson
All
20
Butch Leitzinger
1–8
Guy Smith
10–12
BMW
Turner Motorsport
Z4 GT3
32
Bret Curtis
1–6, 8, 10–12
95
Bill Ziegler
1–8, 10–11
Dane Cameron
12
Cadillac
Cadillac Racing
ATS-V.R GT3
3
Johnny O'Connell
All
8
Andy Pilgrim
All
Dodge
Black Swan Racing
Viper GT3-R
54
Tim Pappas
3–8, 12
Lone Star Racing
80
Dan Knox
1–8
Ferrari
Scuderia Corsa
458 Italia GT3
07
Martin Fuentes
All
64
Duncan Ende
All
65
Mike Hedlund
1–3, 5, 8, 11–12
NGT Motorsport
29
Eduardo Cisneros (R)
7–8, 10–11
Alessandro Balzan
12
30
Henrique Cisneros
1–8, 10–11
Alessandro Pier Guidi
12
R. Ferri Motorsports
61
Olivier Beretta
All
Risi Competizione
62
Ricardo Pérez (R)
1
Marc Muzzo
5
Lamborghini
Blancpain Racing
Gallardo R-EX
0
Marcelo Hahn
2
Gallardo GT3 FL2
25
Nick Catsburg
1–2, 4, 6, 10
Tomáš Enge
7
Gallardo R-EX
Austin Cindric
8
Nick Catsburg
12
Gallardo GT3 FL2
37
Maximilian Vöelker
1–2
Gallardo R-EX
55
Henry Hassid
10
McLaren
K-PAX Racing
650S GT3
6
Robert Thorne
All
9
Kévin Estre
All
Mercedes-Benz
DragonSpeed
SLS AMG GT3
08
Eric Lux
All
10
Henrik Hedman
1–5, 8, 11–12
66
Frankie Montecalvo
All
Black Swan Racing
54
Tim Pappas
1–2
Nissan
AE Replay XD Nissan GT Academy
GT-R GT3
05
Bryan Heitkotter
1–8
Bryan Heitkotter
10–12
33
J. D. Davison
All
Porsche
EFFORT Racing
911 GT3 R
31
Ryan Dalziel
1–5, 7–8, 10, 12
Renger van der Zande
6, 11
41
Michael Lewis (R)
1–3
Michael Lewis (R)
4–8, 10–12
Autometrics Motorsports
90
Joseph Toussaint (R)
1, 4, 8
GT Cup
Every driver participates in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup .
Team
Driver
Rounds
TruSpeed Autosport
02
Sloan Urry
All
18
Phil Fogg Jr.
1–5, 10–12
Brett Sandberg
7–8
Porsche of Bucks County
11
Colin Thompson
All
ANSA Motorsports
13
Lorenzo Trefethen (R)
All
Global Motorsports Group
17
Alec Udell
1–2, 4, 7–8, 10–12
NGT Motorsport
29
Eduardo Cisneros (R)
1–5
Wright Motorsports
60
Santiago Creel (R)
1
Phoenix American Motorsports
77
Preston Calvert (R)
All
DragonSpeed
81
Victor Gomez (R)
All
Landry Racing
97
Mitch Landry
All
GTS
Constructor
Team
Car
Driver
Rounds
Aston Martin
TRG -AMR
Vantage GT4
06
Jeff Huber
11–12
07
Kris Wilson
1–2, 4, 8, 11–12
Max Riddle
5
09
Derek DeBoer
1–2, 4, 11
13
Peter Ludwig
11
75
Jason Alexandridis
11
LG Motorsports
28
Lou Gigliotti
1–2, 4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
29
Bryan Leonard
4, 10
Stephen Cameron Racing
34
Nick Esayian
5, 7–8, 10–12
Klenin Performance Racing
62
Mark Klenin
All
Audi
Compass360 Racing
TT-RS
78
Paul Holton
11–12
Chevrolet
Blackdog Speed Shop
Camaro Z28
1
Lawson Aschenbach
4
10
Michael Cooper
All
11
Tony Gaples
1–2, 5, 7–8, 10–12
BestIT Racing
Camaro
20
Andy Lee
All
40
Geoff Reeves
1
Camaro Z28
2, 4, 11–12
Ford
Phoenix American Motorsports
Mustang Boss 302
32
Andrew Aquilante
All
35
Preston Calvert (R)
All
37
Kurt Rezzetano
All
Rehagen Racing
14
Nathan Stacy
8, 10–12
33
Dan Martinson (R)
1–2, 4–5, 7–8
50
Dean Martin
All
Stephen Cameron Racing
34
Nick Esayian
1–2, 4
3R Racing
51
Nathan Stacy
4, 7
Ray Mason
8
Roush Road Racing
60
Jack Roush Jr.
1–2, 4–5, 7–8, 10, 12
68
Joey Atterbury
7
Brandon Gdovic
8
DWW Motorsports
87
Spencer Pumpelly
2, 4
Hyundai
GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing
Genesis Coupe
99
Jeff Harrison
11
Jon Fogarty
12
Kia
Kia Racing /Kinetic Motorsports
Optima
36
Ben Clucas
All
38
Mark Wilkins
All
Lotus
VSA Motorsports
Evora GT4
44
Kevin Marshall
11–12
Maserati
Maserati
GranTurismo MC
21
Vafa Kordestani
12
24
Patrick Byrne
12
26
Freddie Hunt
12
27
Derek Hill
12
46
Nick Mancuso
7
47
Gianmarco Raimondo
7
66
Jeff Courtney
12
Nissan
Skullcandy Team Nissan
370Z
23
Vesko Kozarov
1, 10, 12
Nick Hammann
11
Porsche
Racing for Children's
911 Carrera
4
Clint Guthrie
4 (Race 1)
Brandon Davis
4 (Race 2)
Bilt Racing Service
Cayman S
16
John Allen (R)
4, 7, 10–11
GTSport Racing
72
Buz McCall
All
73
Jack Baldwin
All
TC/TCA/TCB
Constructor
Team
Car
Driver
Rounds
BMW
Classic BMW Motorsports
Z4
24
Toby Grahovec
7, 9
Chevrolet
Hack Racing
Sonic
2
Van Svenson (R)
All
Tech Sport Racing
25
Johan Schwartz
All
Ford
Steadfast Motorsports
Fiesta
27
Marc Sherrin (R)
All
Phoenix American Motorsports
Mustang V6
32
Andrew Aquilante
1
Ian Lacy Racing
43
Ian Lacy
1
Steve Burns (R)
7, 10, 12
GSpeed
Fiesta
63
Jeremy Rohan (R)
1
Steadfast Motorsports
Matt Travis
12
Honda
Mincey Racing
Fit
4
Timothy Mincey Sr. (R)
1
Civic Si
Timothy Mincey Sr. (R)
5
NDP Motorsports
5
Neal de Paz (R)
1 (Race 1)
Felipe Merjech
1 (Race 2), 5 (Races 1 and 3)
Juan Carlos Casadiego
1 (Race 3), 5 (Race 2)
Drive4Diabetes/Garrett Racing
11
Chase Pelletier
7, 9 (Race 3), 10, 12
Jon Miller
9 (Races 1 and 2)
Fit
12
Steve Kohli
7
Tech Sport Racing
23
Yiannis Tsiounis
9
Team Ost Racing
Civic Si
39
Patrick Seguin
9–10, 12
Branden Peterson Racing
49
1, 5, 7
Racing.ca
Fit
58
Glenn Nixon
7, 9–10, 12
Shea Racing
66
Jay Salinsky
1, 9, 12
Randy Smith
5, 7
Ted Hough
10
Civic Si
67
Shea Holbrook
1, 5
Steve Kohli
9–10
Andrew Rains (R)
12
CNC Racing
S2000
68
Tommy Chen
12
Compass360 Racing
Civic Si
71
Paul Holton
1 (Races 1 and 2), 5, 12
Karl Thomson
1 (Race 3)
Ron Yarab
7, 9–10
72
Emilee Tominovich (R)
All
Honda Performance Development
70
Paul Whiting
10, 12
Fit
90
Kevin Boehm
9 (Race 1)
Andrew Salzano
9 (Race 2)
Jeff Barrow
9 (Race 3)
Honda Motorsports Alabama
Accord
93
Paul Street (R)
1, 7, 9, 12
TOMO Racing
Fit
94
Tom O'Gorman (R)
9, 12
Hyundai
GenRacer
Genesis Coupe
78
Jeff Ricca
7, 9
Kia
Kinetic Motorsports
Forte Koup
34
Kris Wright (R)
All
36
Jason Wolfe
All
38
Samantha Tan (R)
All
Mazda
Jeff Andretti Motorsports
Demio
02
Cameron Parsons
12
Breathless Performance
9
Chris Holter
1
MX-5
98
Ernie Francis Jr.
All
Hale Motorsports
17
Randy Hale
1, 5, 7, 12
Tech Sport Racing
RX-8
22
Kevin Anderson
1, 5, 7, 9 (Race 3), 10, 12
23
Robby Foley (R)
1
Elivan Goulart
5
Gino Carini
7, 12
Yiannis Tsiounis
9 (Race 1)
Kevin Anderson
9 (Race 2)
Jason Saini
10
Eastex Motorsports
MX-5
33
Adam Poland
All
Corksport
Demio
47
Joey Jordan
10, 12
BERG Racing
MX-5
50
Dinah Weisberg (R)
1, 5, 7
John Weisberg
9–10, 12
Steve Bottom Racing
52
Steve Bottom
12
Black Armor Helmets
Demio
55
James Wilson
1, 7, 12
95
Steve Taake
1, 12
Snader Racing
MX-5
64
Austin Snader
All
Outlier Racing
RX-8
99
Brian Lift (R)
12
Mini
Breathless Performance
Cooper
7
Jason Fichter
All
P. J. Groenke Racing
8
P. J. Groenke
All
Indian Summer Racing
30
Travis W. Washay (R)
5, 7
51
Mac Korince (R)
5
Shea Racing
48
Tom Noble
1, 5, 7, 10, 12
Nick Lougee
9
Racing.ca
57
Andrei Kisel
All
58
Glenn Nixon
1, 5
59
Wei Lu (R)
1, 5, 9–10
Nic Duynstee
7, 12
Nissan
Skullcandy Team Nissan
Altima
3
Vesko Kozarov
1, 7, 9–10, 12
13
Jason Cherry
1, 5
Nissan GT Academy
370Z
35
Nick Hammann
9, 12
Lara Tallman
10
Pontiac
Go 4 It Racing
Solstice GXP
41
Michael Pettiford
1
Porsche
Motorsports Promotions
Cayman
00
Corey Fergus (R)
All
Autometrics Motorsports
03
Cory Friedman
1, 5
David Baum
9
04
Cody Ellsworth
1, 5
Cory Friedman
9
BERG Racing
40
John Weisberg
1, 5, 7
Dinah Weisberg (R)
10
Outlier Racing
88
Kevin Krauss
7, 12
Scion
Brass Monkey Racing
FR-S
86
Tony Rivera
1, 7, 9–10, 12
Volkswagen
HPA Motorsports
Jetta GLI
15
Jeff Altenburg
All
16
Alex Welch
All
Rains Racing
26
Mikey Taylor (R)
5, 7
Golf GTI
44
Andrew Rains (R)
5, 7, 10
Emich Racing
Jetta GLI
87
Fred Emich
7, 9, 12
Volvo
3R Racing
C30
14
Nathan Stacy
1, 5
Race results
Notes
^ The first GT/GTA/GT Cup race at Road America was a replacement for the cancelled second GT/GTA race at Detroit. Because the GT Cup cars did not participate at Detroit, they also did not participate in the replacement race at Road America.
Championship standings
Drivers' Championships
Championship points were awarded to drivers based on qualifying and finishing positions. The driver had to complete at least 50% of the class winner's number of laps to receive points. The Pole position winner received 7 points. In addition, 1 bonus point was awarded to a driver leading a lap during a race, and 3 bonus points were awarded to the driver leading the most laps. The driver who set the fastest lap of the race received 1 bonus point.[ 7]
Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Race
140
110
95
85
80
76
72
68
64
60
57
54
51
48
45
43
41
39
37
35
33
31
29
27
25
23
21
19
17
15
13
11
9
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
GT
Color
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
4th & 5th place
Light Blue
6th–10th place
Dark Blue
Finished (Outside Top 10)
Purple
Did not finish
Red
Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown
Withdrawn (Wth)
Black
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Blank
Did not participate
. – GTA class
Bold – Pole position
Italics – Fastest Lap
Asterisk * – Most laps led
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
GTA
Michael Lewis ran in the GTA class during the first three events of the championship, but ran in the GT class from Barber on. Bryan Heitkotter ran in the GTA class during the first eight events of the championship, but ran in the GT class from Miller on. Those who finished behind Lewis and Heitkotter in the GTA class in the first eight events did not get more points despite the fact that Lewis and Heitkotter have been removed from the GTA standings.
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
GT Cup
Every driver competes in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup .
Pos
Driver
AUS
STP
LBH
BAR
MOS
ELK
MDO
MIL
SON
LAG
Points
1
Colin Thompson
1 *
1 *
7 †
1
1 *
1
1 *
1 *
2 *
1 *
1 *
2
1 *
2 *
1 *
3 *
1 *
1
2
Sloan Urry
2
2
6†
2*
5
3
3
2
4
2
8
3
4
3
3
2
3
2
3
Lorenzo Trefethen (R)
5
5
2
3
6
4
4
3
1
5
4
4
5
6
4
6
4
4
4
Alec Udell
3
3
8†
DNS
2*
2
3
2
1*
2
1
2
1
2
3*
1484
5
Preston Calvert (R)
9
7
5
4
4
6
6
8
7
4
7
8
8
7
6
7
7
5
1339
6
Mitch Landry
8
6
3
7†
2
8
7
5
5
6
6
5
6
4
7
4
6
7
7
Victor Gomez (R)
10
9
4
5
3
9
9
7
6
7
5
7
7
8†
8
5
5
6
1260
8
Phil Fogg Jr.
4
4
1*
6†
7
5
5
4
3
5
5
8†
DNS
Wth
9
Eduardo Cisneros (R)
6
10
Wth
Wth
DNS
7
8
6
8
10
Brett Sandberg
8
3
6
3
334
11
Santiago Creel (R)
7
8
140
Pos
Driver
AUS
STP
LBH
BAR
MOS
ELK
MDO
MIL
SON
LAG
Points
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
GTS
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
TC
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
TCA
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
1 – Kris Wright was put in last place of the TCA class for an issue in post tech after Race 1 at Austin.
TCB
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
1 – Andrei Kisel was put in last place of the TCB class for driving conduct after Race 1 at Austin.
Manufacturers' Championships
Only those manufacturers who are SCCA Pro Racing corporate members were eligible to receive points toward the Manufacturers' Championship. Championship points were awarded to manufacturers based on qualifying and finishing positions. Only the highest finishing car of each eligible manufacturer earned points for its finishing position. The Pole position winner received 1 bonus point.[ 7]
Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
Race
9
7
5
3
2
1
GT
Color
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
4th-6th place
Dark Blue
Finished (Outside points)
Purple
Did not finish
Red
Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown
Withdrawn (Wth)
Black
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Blank
Did not participate
Bold – Pole position
Italics – Fastest Lap
Asterisk * – Most laps led
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
GTS
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
TC
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
TCA
Notes
Results denoted by † did not complete sufficient laps in order to score points.
References
^ "WC Vision Announces Additional 2015 Pirelli World Challenge Race Weekend. Series' GT and GTA Classes Will Compete at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix" . Sports Car Club of America . Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014 .
^ Dagys, John (3 November 2014). "Detroit Added to Pirelli WC Schedule" . Sportscar365.com . Retrieved November 14, 2014 .
^ "2015 Schedule" (PDF) . Pirelli World Challenge . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-26. Retrieved February 1, 2015 .
^ "Pirelli World Challenge Announces 2015 Schedule" . Pirelli World Challenge . WC Vision, LLC. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-07-01. Retrieved June 28, 2015 .
^ Dagys, John (17 October 2014). "Final 2015 Pirelli World Challenge Schedule Revealed" . Sportscar365.com . Retrieved November 14, 2014 .
^ "GT/GTA Race 2 at Detroit canceled" . Racer . Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. May 31, 2015. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015 .
^ a b "2015 SCCA Pro Racing Regulations" (PDF) . Sports Car Club of America . January 22, 2015. pp. 105 and 106. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2015 .