Flying Lizard Motorsports has little distance to travel for the next rounds of the GT4 America championship this weekend at Sonoma Raceway. With three of their four California based shops on site at Sonoma Raceway, the team will race in front of their home crowd this weekend with Erin Vogel and the #30 Audi R8 LMS GT4. Vogel will make her GT4 America debut, becoming the first woman to race for the team in a professional series.
“We’re excited to have Erin here with us this weekend,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “She’s raced with us in the Porsche Pirelli Trophy West Series as well as the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, and we’re excited to see her advance to the GT4 America series. It’ll be a competitive weekend, and we’ve put in the time to make all preparations for a successful debut.”
The Format
For her GT4 America series debut, Vogel will participate in the Sprint championship, comprised of two 50 minute races. No pit stops are permitted, and there will be no driver changes over the course of the race. The field will have the opportunity to take part in two test sessions on Thursday, June 6 before official practice sessions begin on Friday. Race one of the Pirelli GT4 America Sprint will take place Saturday, June 8 at 12:50PM, followed by race two on Sunday, June 9 at 8:30AM Pacific.
The Driver
Vogel began her motorsports career in 2009 by participating in an Audi Club High Performance Driving Experience with her parents and brother. She joined the Inde Motorsports Ranch Challenge Series for two years before moving to the Porsche Owners Club (POC) in 2016. She has since joined the ranks of the Pirelli Trophy West Series with Flying Lizard Motorsports, with professional race car driver Michael Cooper on hand as her coach. Last weekend, Vogel participated in the series double header at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), taking a win and a second place finish.
Vogel also led the team’s 2018 all-female effort at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Alongside Christina Nielsen, Laura Ely, Aurora Straus, and Ashton Harrison, Vogel celebrated a win in the Toyo Tire GT Challenge class, as well as an impressive fourth place finish overall in the Audi R8 LMS GT4, the same car she’ll be racing this weekend at Sonoma Raceway. Flying Lizard Motorsports driver Robby Foley will act as Vogel’s driver coach while his co-driver Michael Dinan sits out the round, recovering from last month’s shoulder injury.
“Coming off a good weekend at COTA, everything l’ve learned this season is fresh in my mind, and I’m so ready to get to work in the Audi R8 LMS GT4,” said Vogel. “With Flying Lizard running the car and Robby Foley coaching this weekend, I know I’m in the best possible hands. The rest is up to me!”
The Track
Formerly known as Sears Point and Infineon Raceway, Sonoma Racway has been the home of flying Lizard Motorsports for the last decade.
Flying Lizard Motorsports has raced at their home track four times since 2004, earning five podiums, and eight top five finishes. With an average result of fourth place at the California circuit, the team is still striving for that elusive first win on home soil.
The Engineering: From Team Engineer Jim Bell
Sonoma Raceway is not a complicated place for engineering, but there are critical high speed areas where the transition platform needs to be predictable and balanced. There’s a lot of time from the esses to the start finish line, and you need stability in the platform and in the braking. The Audi GT4 should be well suited here.
Source. Flying Lizard Motorsports
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