America’s GT Cup’s Racing Series to Compete in Their Own Featured Run Group on SVRA Race Weekend Events in 2016
FERNANDINA BEACH, Florida – Officials from America’s GT Cup and the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) announced today a strategic partnership that will see all three America’s GT Cup sports car racing series compete in their own featured run group on SVRA event weekends in 2016.
Established four years ago, America’s GT Cup operates two Porsche-based racing series, The Stuttgart Cup and Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy USA, and recently introduced The Maranello Cup, which showcases previously eligible Ferrari Challenge race cars. The Stuttgart Cup is for Porsche Caymans while Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy USA is home to Porsche 996, 997 and other GT3 Cup cars from the last decade.
The announcement of the new partnership follows three successful race events this season in which America’s GT Cup raced on SVRA weekends. The 2016 season will see that trend continue with The Stuttgart Cup, Mission Foods GT3 Cup and The Maranello Cup racing together in their own featured run group on at least six SVRA event weekends. The exclusive America’s GT Cup run group will be for all sessions on each race weekend, including practice, qualifying, sprints and enduro races.
“We enjoyed our first events this year with the SVRA and realized early on that we had the foundation for a very good relationship on which we could build,” said America’s GT Cup Owner Bill Riddell. “No matter what you are driving, our teams and drivers want to have close and exciting racing on the track and an even better time off the race track with fellow competitors when the racing is done. It became evident fairly early on that we could best achieve that in an expanded partnership with SVRA which we are pleased to see has become a reality.”
America’s GT Cup will join SVRA for the first time in 2016 at the Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring International Raceway, March 3 – 6, with additional races next year at Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Watkins Glen International, Virginia International Raceway (VIR) and NOLA Motorsports Park.
“We have watched with interest and built a relationship with America’s GT Cup this year and couldn’t be happier to have them join us at even more SVRA events in 2016 and beyond,” said Tony Parella, SVRA President and CEO. “We have a great number of competitors within SVRA racing a variety of both vintage and classic race cars, but adding a new run group that features modern Historics will be a great addition to our race weekends. We like the racing and all of the people involved in America’s GT Cup and look forward to a great relationship.”
The complete schedule to date for America’s GT Cup on 2016 SVRA event weekends includes the following races:
– Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring International Raceway, March 3 – 6
– Road America Spring Vintage Festival, May 12 – 15
– Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, June 23 – 26
– U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, September 8 – 11
– Heacock Classic Gold Cup at Virginia Intl Raceway (VIR), September 22 – 25
– Mardi Gras in October at NOLA Motorsports Park, October 13 – 16
The Sebring, VIR and NOLA races are companion weekend events with Trans Am.
“We are looking forward to anchoring our 2016 America’s GT Cup schedule with our own race group on SVRA weekends,” said America’s GT Cup General Manager and Competition Director Ken Fengler. “The races we did this year with SVRA fit right in with our overall objective of events at great race tracks. The partnership with SVRA, adding Watkins Glen and joining Trans Am at Sebring, VIR and NOLA will make it even better in 2016.”
All America’s GT Cup racing series compete with the support of official series partners Pirelli Tire North America, BRM Chronographes, Pacifico Costa Rica, Mission Foods, Racerink, VP Racing Fuels, Palm Beach Driving Club and Bob Woodman Tires.