Hanley Motorsports Triumphant to Open Sebring Triple Header Weekend

Sebring, FL

Hanley Motorsports won when SRO Motorsports America’s #GTSebring weekend opened Friday afternoon with a Pirelli GT4 America makeup race. Parker Thompson and the white, red, orange, and yellow No. 999 GR Supra GT4 EVO started second on the grid and captured the race lead early on. Daniel Hanley took command at the halfway point and held a comfortable margin to the checkered flag for the team’s first overall race victory.

The result marks an emphatic opening to the #GTSebring weekend for Hanley Motorsports, who posted top-three times in the official practice sessions that preceded the makeup race. Thompson earned his front-row race starting position in Qualifying at NOLA in May, where Race 2 was canceled due to rains. When the green flag dropped Friday afternoon in Sebring for the makeup race, Thompson took an aggressive stance right from the start. He challenged pole sitter Kenton Koch on the outside of Turn 1 and continued to go hard at Koch’s BMW before an inside move in Turn 1 sealed the deal on lap 5.

Thompson built a comfortable cushion in the lead position around the bumpy Sebring circuit. With a best lap of 1:11.545 seconds, he earned the Hanley Motorsports GR Supra the Crowdstrike Fastest Lap award. When Daniel took the wheel late in the pit window, he rejoined the race in the lead position and held a comfortable margin to the finish.

Parker Thompson
“Our development as a team this year has been nothing short of amazing. Our crew has fully capitalized on our GR Supra GT4 EVO race car’s potential. Daniel Hanley’s rapid progress is truly remarkable. Holding the lead under pressure late in the race is a challenging task. He managed his tires and gap perfectly to secure the win.”

Daniel Hanley
“I’m ecstatic about this victory. Our team has faced its share of adversity this year, but their persistence and commitment have been incredible. What’s more special is the support I’ve seen from everyone involved. I’m grateful to have such incredible people at my back.”

The result marks the team’s first overall race win, their second Silver-class victory, and their third season podium. The #GTSebring weekend schedule continues on Saturday with Qualifying sessions at 10:20 AM and Race 1 at 5:00 PM. The Pirelli GT4 America series will close the weekend with Race 2 at 10:55 AM on Sunday. Follow live at hanleymotorsports.com/live