PWC: Gaples, Aschenbach to drive Blackdog Camaros
Thursday, 09 February 2017
Blackdog Speed Shop will field two new Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R race cars in the GTS class of the Pirelli World Challenge. Tony Gaples and Lawson Aschenbach will again run the full season in a new era for Blackdog Speed Shop, which will be the first team to drive the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R when the Pirelli World Challenge opens its season at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in March.
The Camaro GT4.R is built to global GT4 regulations with the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class among many categories for which the car is eligible.

Based on the road-going Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the Camaro GT4.R features a 6.2-liter, Chevrolet small block V8 that was developed and validated by Chevy Racing. Power is delivered to a six-speed Xtrac sequential transmission with paddle-shifting and adjustable traction control.
"This is going to be a great season with the new Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R," said Gaples, who will drive the No. 11 Blackdog Speed Shop Camaro. "Paddle shift, better cornering, improved aero ... it's all any racer could want! I feel really good about the potential of the Camaro GT4.R in the new-look GTS class. The global SRO rules should be very good for balancing all the competing cars in the category. The bottom line: I'm really excited!"
Blackdog Speed Shop is the winningest team in PWC GTS competition with 18 victories. The team won three consecutive GTS Driver's Championships – Aschenbach in 2013-14 and Michael Cooper in 2015 – as well as the 2013 GTS Team title during Blackdog Speed Shop's first season in the category. Chevrolet was the Manufacturer's Champion that season as well.
"I'm thrilled to be back with Blackdog Speed Shop to campaign the new Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R this season," said Aschenbach, pilot of the No. 10 Blackdog Speed Shop Camaro. "Not only does the new Camaro look and sound awesome, but this car is a testament to all the hard work and dedication back at Chevrolet and all our support partners. The GTS class is going to be competitive this year, and I'm confident that our new hotrod will give us an edge."
Both Gaples and Aschenbach rank among Pirelli World Challenge career leaders in a number of categories. Aschenbach is a four-time class champion with titles in three different categories. He ranks sixth all-time in series wins with 22 – including a GTS-leading 14 – in 96 starts. He won four times in 2016 in a Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R and was third in GTS points.
Gaples is fourth all time in World Challenge starts with 168. He recorded 10 top-10 finishes during the 2016 and placed eighth in GTS points. He also claimed three Optima Standing Start awards on the season.
The 18-round Pirelli World Challenge GTS season opens with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg from March 10-12.