The inaugural season of the McLaren Trophy America was always going to be a milestone, but standing here reflecting on the opening rounds, it’s a journey I’ll never forget. Driving the No. 4 GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy Evo, we didn’t just participate in the birth of a new series—we set the bar.
From a historic "first-ever" win at Sonoma to a dominant "last-to-first" weekend at COTA, here is how those races went down from behind the wheel.
History in the Making: Sonoma Raceway
There’s only one "first time," and we grabbed it. At Sonoma, my co-driver, Andrew Chinnici put us in a perfect position by securing the pole. When I stepped into the car for the second half of the race, we were chasing down the lead after the pit cycles.
With less than 10 minutes on the clock, I managed to reel in the leader and make the decisive move into the Turn 11 hairpin. Crossing the line to take the first-ever McLaren Trophy America victory was an emotional moment for the whole GMG Racing family. Sonoma is a track that demands respect, and the Artura Evo handled the technical elevation changes like a dream.
The Lone Star Sweep: Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
If Sonoma was about precision, COTA was about a pure, gritty comeback. We headed to Austin with a new co-driver, Andre Solano, and the weekend couldn't have gone better.
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Race 1 (Saturday): Due to a technical infraction, we were forced to start from the back of the grid. Andre put in a heroic opening stint to get us into podium contention. When I took over the No. 4, I had my sights set on my team owner, James Sofronas. I managed to make the pass for the lead with 20 minutes left, completing a "last-to-first" charge that felt absolutely electric.
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Race 2 (Sunday): We backed it up with a "perfect" performance. We started from the Pro class pole and led a GMG 1-2 finish.
COTA’s high-speed "S" curves in Sector 1 really let us lean on the Artura’s aero. Managing the Texas heat and tire degradation was the biggest challenge, but the car remained balanced through the final shootout.
Momentum is Everything
Winning the inaugural race at Sonoma and sweeping the weekend at COTA has given us incredible momentum. These trophies aren't just for me—they belong to the crew at GMG Racing who have been working long nights to prep these cars, and to our partners like Mobil 1 and Paddock Equity.
We came into 2025 wanting to prove we belong at the front of the pack. Three wins in the first four rounds is a pretty good way to start the conversation.
— JCD