Skip Barber Racing School continues its relationship with SRO Motorsports America through its entitlement partnership with the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing Series. The partnership that began in 2019 continues with a three-year extension and solidifies the Skip Barber Racing School as the official School for drivers to earn competition licenses and climb the ladder to the TC America professional racing series.
For many, SRO America and Skip Barber Racing School's relationship is personal because it involves chasing a dream, not just playing a sport. Skip Barber Racing School offers a pathway to that dream through their 3-Day and 2-Day Advanced Racing Schools, where graduates are eligible to earn their TC America competition license through SRO America.
The partnership was personal for SRO America, with Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Robbie Montinola having won a Skip Barber Formula championship and been an Instructor for over a decade. Montinola recognized the importance of establishing a path for those students wanting to turn professional and refine their racing skills in a controlled environment.
"We're proud to partner with a racing school with the prevalent history Skip Barber Racing Schools carry," Montinola said. "SRO America wants to be the destination championship for those who have dreams of racing sports cars or touring cars, whether focused on creating a professional career or as their passion. Skip Barber helps us create a more robust ladder system for both types of drivers. We aim to solidify the path from schools to clubs to series as we continue the partnership."
Fresh off back-to-back TC class championships, the next step on the ladder is with the Skip Barber Race Team. The Team campaigns four Honda Performance Development race cars in TC America and a Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo in GT4 America Pro-Am, offering instructors and graduates the opportunity to compete at the pro level. This season, Skip Barber Race Team driver Will Lambros piloted the No. 77 HPD Civic Si to two-second place finishes in the TCA class at NOLA Motorsports Park. Brazilian driver Celso Neto had the same result in his Honda Civic Type R in the TC class. Instructor Carter Fartuch and co-driver Matt Forbush raced their No. 37 Toyota GR Supra GT4 to a podium finish in the season's first GT4 America race at Sonoma. Cooper Broll is showing steady and consistent growth in the TCA Class in his first year of competition.
Throughout the SRO America paddock, Skip Barber alumni continue to have success. The 2022 GT4 America Champion, Stevan McAleer, transitioned from karts to cars through a scholarship to the Skip Barber Regional Series, finishing 2nd in his debut season. Spencer Pumpelly attended Skip Barber Racing School in 1995, started instructing for the School in 2000, and has 24 podium finishes in SRO America Competition. Another Student turned Instructor, Kenton Koch, won two Skip Barber Championships and now competes for Vandals Racings in GT4 America.
"SBRS has been considered the gateway to motorsports since 1975, which continues in earnest today," said Dan DeMonte, the Skip Barber Racing School CMO. Our partnership with SRO America provides aspiring racers a clear path to progress from being a Skip Barber Racing School graduate to starting their pro racing career in TC America and moving up to GT4 America."
If you want to join the Skip Barber Race Team, attend an SRO race and speak to a team member. You can also visit their website at skipbarber.com or 866-932-1949, talk to a Series Advisor, and start your path to the podium.