Mark Mathys 1961-2023
Sadly, Saturday we said goodbye to our great friend, excellent competitor, true sportsman and loving family man, Mark Mathys. We are all #77! Rest in peace friend, you will be greatly missed!
Many have asked about services and the plans are in the works, more details to follow.
Season Finale - COTA Official Schedule - Double Points Sprint Race
For the first time International GT will end our season at Circuit of the Americas next week at the world renowned track. The track sessions are a bit different from our usual schedule, however on track time is the same. Due to the slightly different schedule configuration, the one International GT sprint race will be allocated double points.
For registration or to download the event schedule click on the photo.
New Year, New Race Gear
Stand 21 will be on site at the COTA race for anyone needing to be professionally sized or wanting to place an order for race gear. Look for their display at the International GT headquarters.
Daytona Race Tribute to Mark Mathys
At the request of Mark Mathys’s family International GT continued to race on Sunday at Daytona, dedicating the day’s races to Mark. Sprint race 1 was won in a very close battle by STEPHEN HAMMAN #72, TLM USA over team boss DAVID TUATY #68. Stephen and David chose to stand in second and third on the podium dedicating the winning position and trophy to Mark!
In the enduro Tuaty would best the younger Hamman taking the win in a even closer battle.
JON MANSHIP #203 Wright Motorsports finished fourth in the sprint however he joined forces with longtime co-driver PETER TOOMBS to capture third in the enduro. CRIAG CONWAY #79 Goldcrest Motorsports joined us for the sprint race and finished third.
In the GT4.R category JUAN GONZALEZ Car Amigo/Mission Foods swept the weekend in his beautiful red and white #81.
Mission Foods GT3 Cup championship points leader SCOTT BLIND #45 Rukus Racing/Archangel won the first sprint race but a puncture in this radiator ended his enduro race very early.
Meanwhile in the GT4.0 category SCOTT VANACORE #59 TLM USA won his first International GT race in the enduro. Partnered with co-driver Pippa Mann in the enduro, Scott raced the sprint solo and took second.
JARED ODRICK #01 Autometrics was runner up in the enduro and third in the sprint.
As has been the case all year, one of the best battles in the field was with the GT3.8 cars. MARCOS VENTO #18 won both races Sunday with the sprint coming down to mere inches over NATHAN BYRD #88. Nathan would encounter mechanical issues in the enduro taking him out of the lead battle. The battle will continue for the final time in the 2023 season at Circuit of the Americas later this week. This duo of 23-year-olds have very bright futures in motorsports!!
JOHN BLEAZARD #33 Quirt Racing stepped in to keep the pressure on Vento and finished second in the enduro. Third in the sprint went to TOMMY BALLESTER #188 TLM USA with he and Vento proudly hoisting the Puerto Rican flag on the podium. In the enduro longtime IGT competitor ROBERT WISEN #27 Ultra Performance took a break from the Ohio cold to join us in Florida and take a third place finish.
In Stuttgart Cup competition TOM KOPCZYNSKI #52 RS1 took his Community Beer Works Cayman to win both races on Sunday. For the enduro he shared the ride with his usual co-driver ERIC FILGUEIRAS. In the sprint race, newcomer to International GT MICHAEL COBB #56 finish second followed by BRYAN SIRCELY #34 out of the Quirt Racing camp.
It was a big weekend for MARIA MEJIA #11 also from Quirt Racing who not only finished second in the enduro with co-driver ZAC ANDERSON, but also took over the championship points lead in Stuttgart Cup with only one race remaining in the season. Third in the enduro went to another IGT newcomer FABIO de ANDRADE #12. A great way to start with International GT finishing on the podium.
Some of the photos from the team work behind the scenes at Daytona!
A Final Word From Daytona Marcel Fayen
Many of you have asked about MARCEL FAYEN – the other driver involved in Saturday’s incident. Marcel has a long, long road to recovery however every day he’s making small progress – for his family it’s infinitely too small, but it is progress.
We assure you the Fayen family covets your thoughts, prayers and well wishes – keep it up!
As announced by Watkins Glen International the 2024 date has changed for International GT. We wanted to get out the new date as soon as possible to help with planning. We will be a bit earlier next year, August 21-25.
Chris Green Photography
Chris Green is the official series photographer for International GT.
Click on the COTA photo to link to Chris’s site.
Chris was not able to be at the California races however if you contact him, he can assist in getting photography for those two events.
Market Place
Do you have something to sell, looking for something to purchase? Use our Marketplace to promote your race car, transporter or equipment. It’s free to International GT participants.
Pirelli Tire Orders
We are proud to partner with Pirelli Tires as the exclusive provider to all International GT events. All Pirelli tire orders for IGT events must be placed with Frisby Tires. Frisby is at track at all IGT events to service our participants.
Click on the tire photo to link to the Frisby site for IGT orders or call (800)373-7390.
2023 Schedule
