IMSA: Oak Tree Grand Prix @ VA International Raceway (08/24/14)

Jeebus, Monday morning and I'm starting already...what did I get myself in to here?? :lol:



Next weekend will be the IMSA Oak Tree Grand Prix / TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.



*Tudor United SportsCar Championship

*Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge

*Prototype Challenge

*Lamborghini Super Trofeo

*Maserati Trofeo will also be making its only stop in the USA







If you plan on going, there is a special corral for BMW:

BMW Car Corral & Hospitality

This corral is for BMW CCA members only. Packages include corral parking and access to the hospitality tent where food and beverages will be provided. Driver and Passenger packages include admission and hospitality for two.











VIR has recently been repaved. Should provide faster times.





SCHEDULE:

08/22/2014

Practice 1 - Continental Tire Challenge 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM ET

Practice 1 - Lamborghini 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM ET

Practice 1 - TUDOR Championship (PC/Lites) 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM ET

Practice 2 - Continental Tire Challenge 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM ET

Practice 2 - Lamborghini 1:45 PM - 2:35 PM ET

Practice 1 - TUDOR Championship (GTLM/GTD) 2:50 PM - 3:20 PM ET

Practice 2 - TUDOR Championship (PC/Lites) 3:35 PM - 4:20 PM ET

Qualifying - Continental Tire Challenge (ST) 4:40 PM - 4:55 PM ET

Qualifying - Continental Tire Challenge (GS) 5:10 PM - 5:25 PM ET

Practice 2 - TUDOR Championship (GTLM/GTD) 5:50 PM - 6:40 PM ET..



08/23/2014

Practice 3 - TUDOR Championship (GTLM/GTD) 8:15 AM - 9:45 AM ETQualifying - TUDOR Championship (Lites) 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM ETQualifying - TUDOR Championship (PC) 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM ET

Qualifying - Lamborghini 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM ET

Qualifying - TUDOR Championship (GTD) 12:30 PM - 12:45 PM ET

Qualifying - TUDOR Championship (GTLM) 12:50 PM - 1:05 PM ET

Race - Continental Tire Challenge 2:05 PM ET (2 hours 30 minutes)

Race - TUDOR Championship (PC/Lites) 5:15 PM ET (45 minutes)

Race 1 - Lamborghini 6:30 PM ET (50 minutes)..



08/24/2014

Race - TUDOR Championship (PC/Lites) 10:45 AM ET (45 minutes)

Race 2 - Lamborghini 1:45 PM ET (50 minutes)

Race - TUDOR Championship (GTLM/GTD)







ENTRY LIST













MASERATI TROFEO

Round 4 in the Maserati Trofeo World Series, to be run at the Virginia Int’l Raceway, marks Maserati's return to this US circuit.







The first driver to win at VIR, in 1957, was Carrol Shelby. Driving a Maserati 450S, number 98, he managed to complete the 20 laps of a 65 mile race (approx 104 km) and beat the best sports racers of the era. Shelby's fame peaked with his victory in the Le Mans 24 Hour.

Maserati's history in the US is studded with glory; this is testified by the 'Victory Lap' enjoyed by the Maserati 8CTF 'Boyle Special' last May at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, just before the running of the 500. This was a celebration of Wilbur Shaw's consecutive wins, in 1939 and 1940, in the 8CTF. On the day, Johnny Rutherford, three times winner at the Indiana oval, had the honour of climbing behind the wheel. Another landmark was the Maserati 8CTF being registered by the Historical Vehicle Association of the United States as the first non-American production car to earn a permanent place in the annals of the United States Congress Library.





Now, VIR is ready to tell another story, that of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo that will appear in Virginia for the first time (in 2012 and 2013 the Maserati single-make series was held at Sonoma, California).

The third round in the series, at Silverstone, saw Mauro Calamia take the Trofeo Europa. Now that reigning champion Renaud Kuppens is off the stage, the path is open for a new star to emerge. On this form, the Swiss driver seems the most likely candidate for the title. The man in second overall, Gabriele Gardel, is out of the running, as England was the final meet for him, while Italian Riccardo Ragazzi, after taking two wins at Silverstone, is in with a shout. The same could also be said of Alan Simoni, should his luck turn and he become more consistent.