George Kurtz and Colin Braun will partner together in GT World Challenge America for the second straight year in their No. 04 CrowdStrike/AWS Mercedes-AMG GT3. They will drive together in the 13-round professional sports car championship with DXDT Racing beginning March 6-8 at Circuit of The Americas.
The Kurtz/Braun pairing acclimated themselves in their first season together as part of SRO America’s top championship with a fifth-place GT championship finish and two podium results in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 – runners-up at VIR and third at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
“I’m very excited to team again with Colin Braun in the 2020 GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS,” Kurtz said. “We learned a lot during the past year. We are both eager to compete again for race wins and championships together in the CrowdStrike/AWS Mercedes-AMG GT3. This stands to be the most notable season yet for CrowdStrike Racing with our involvement on the competition and commercial sides. As always, we strive to make a maximum impact for our team, our partners and our guests.”
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has been updated for 2020 to enhance its performance for customer teams. It weighs just over 2,800 pounds, features a six-speed sequential transmission with ABS and traction control, and is powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine.
Kurtz begins his fourth season in the series formerly known as World Challenge. Kurtz is a past series champion, is a three-time class winner at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill and has experience with a wide array of manufacturers.
In Braun, CrowdStrike Racing returns one of America’s leading young sports car talents. Braun is coming off a second career victory at the prestigious Daytona 24 Hours in prototype competition, and he has finished on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a GT car.
“I’m excited to be returning to CrowdStrike Racing in 2020,” Braun said. “George and I have great chemistry and I am looking forward to co-driving with him again. As a team, we learned a lot last year, and I think in our second year with DXDT and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 we will be in a great position to compete for wins and a championship especially with the update Mercedes brings to the car. We have an excellent team and I’m looking forward to getting the season started.”