Memo Gidley and TKO Motorsports secure the 2023 SRO GT America championship for the GT3 class after claiming another 1st place win during Race 1 on Friday, October 6th, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the TKO Motorsports #101 Mercedes AMG GT3, making for an astonishing 8 first place victories for Gidley this season and a podium position for another 8 races of the season!
“What a great SRO GT America season with TKO Motorsports!! To be working with this great group of dedicated crew and to be driving the #101 TKO Mercedes AMG GT3 has been so satisfying!! And now to win race number seven and take home the championship...priceless!” said Gidley.
Qualifiers took place early Friday morning where Gidley secured pole position with a lap time of 1.25.154 while completing 9 laps around the infamous track.
Even with a pole 1 starting position, the 18-point spread to victory between Gidley and Daskalos in the #27 CRP Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 meant there was no room for error in order to secure the championship early in the weekend and bring home the title without any further contention during Race 2 on Sunday. Gidley did just that, leaving the competition behind early on building up as much as a 10 second lead over the field during portions of the race finishing with a final gap of 2.648 seconds over former teammate and longtime friend, Johnny O’Connell in the #3 SKI Autosport Audi R8 LMS and a 5.131 second lead over George Kurtz and Riley Motorsports in their #04 Mercedes AMG GT3.
“Winning the title has not been easy. As a driver, or [for] my team, my sponsor, we are all under extreme pressure to not make mistakes and deliver good results every weekend,” explained Gidley. “So much stress for all [everyone] is what makes winning the title so satisfying! Memories like what we have this season are so great and I am so thankful to have so much support from my team, my family, my friends and all the people that have supported us on this 2023 TKO Motorsports title journey!"
“I am so grateful and proud of our entire TKO Motorsports team/crew in conjunction with Flying Lizard Motorsports,” said TKO Motorsports Owner & CEO, Dave Traitel. “Everyone has put in relentless effort and countless hours of hard work to make today, and this overall season, possible. We love what we do, but to win the championship really makes it all worth it!”
TKO Motorsports does have future plans and endeavors in the works but is keeping the surprises under wraps for now. “Just know that we will be back,” Traitel cunningly shared. “Until next time…”
Tickets and information for the 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge America race weekend are available now at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling 800-870-RACE (7223).
