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World Challenge unveils 2017 calendar, revised race format

WC Vision, producers of the Pirelli World Challenge, today announced its provisional plans for the 2017 championships with new series outlines and a provisional schedule.

#3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-VR GT3: Johnny O'Connell

#3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-VR GT3: Johnny O'Connell

Art Fleischmann

#9 K-Pax Racing McLaren 650S GT3: Alvaro Parente
#98 Breathless Racing Ford Mustang: Ernie Francis Jr.
#62 Klenin Performance Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo: Mark Klenin
#13 ANSA Motorsports KTM X-Bow GT4: Brett Sandberg
#42 RealTime Racing Acura TLX-GT: Peter Cunningham
Start: #43 RealTime Racing Acura TLX-GT: Ryan Eversley, #05 Always Evolving Racing Nissan GT-R-GT 3: Bryan Heitkotter lead
Start: #43 RealTime Racing Acura TLX-GT: Ryan Eversley, #05 Always Evolving Racing Nissan GT-R-GT 3: Bryan Heitkotter lead
#99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing McLaren 650S GT3: Jon Fogarty
Start: #43 RealTime Racing Acura TLX-GT: Ryan Eversley leads
#16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R: Michael Schein
#45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche GT3R: Andy Wilzoch
#8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-VR GT3: Michael Cooper
#98 Breathless Racing Ford Mustang: Ernie Francis Jr.

For 2017, the PWC tour will provisionally host 11 weekends through North America including a return visit to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) with the 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course set to host all eight PWC classes – GT, GTA, GT Cup, GTS, Touring Car, TCA, TCB and SprintX. PWC's last VIR appearance was in 2010.  

In addition, the series season-opener for the past two years, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), will host all eight categories in a Labor Day spectacular set for Sept. 1-3.

“We are extremely excited about our provisional 2017 Pirelli World Challenge schedule especially after the competition level in 2016,” said Greg Gill, president and CEO of WC Vision. “We will give our racing fans the opportunity to witness the excitement and wheel-to-wheel action that makes the Pirelli World Challenge so special.

“We want to thank many of North America’s most iconic road racing venues in bringing the best GT Production-based motorsports racing to their racing facilities in 2017. We hope to have the schedule finalized very soon.”

In addition to the provisional look at the 2017 schedule, World Challenge also announced a new format for the GT and GTS events include five single-driver sprint events at the five weekends with the Verizon IndyCar Series including St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Road America, Mid-Ohio and one other weekend to be announced.  All except Long Beach (GT single race) will be doubleheader weekends.

In the five PWC headliner races, all eight PWC classes will compete at VIR, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Lime Rock Park, COTA and another summer weekend event to be announced in the near future.

In the PWC headliner weekends, the GT and GTS classes will be competing in the SprintX two-driver format with a 60-minute limit for each of the doubleheader features. Each entry will have two drivers competing in either a GT or GTS car during those contests.

“The GT3 and GTS/GT4 customers now have increased opportunities to run for a single or two-driver championship or compete in all events for an overall title,” said Marcus Haselgrove, World Challenge competition director. “Plus, the addition of the Am [non-pro] class in GTS/GT4 is in response to our customer feedback.”

The Pirelli World Challenge finale again will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Oct. 13-15. Working in conjunction with the SRO Blancpain GT Series, the SRO Motorsports Group Intercontinental GT Challenge will include a six-hour GT endurance contest with U.S.-based GT teams.

The Laguna Seca event will be part of the global GT3 series which includes the Bathurst 12 Hours, 24 Hours of Spa and Sepang 12 Hours. The Intercontinental GT Challenge is aimed at manufacturers, who are encouraged to use local teams to represent them in the leading GT3 races, as it is more cost- and time-effective to fly engineers and drivers around the world rather than cars and equipment.
    

 

Provisional 2017 Pirelli World Challenge Schedule

March 10-12, Streets of St. Petersburg, GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS

April 7-9, Streets of Long Beach GT

April 28-30, Virginia International Raceway, GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS, TC/TCA/TCB, SprintX

May 19-21, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS,TC, TCA, TCB, SprintX

May 26-27, Lime Rock Park GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS, TC, TCA, TCB, SprintX

June 23-25, Road America, GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS

July 28-30, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS

August, TBA, GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS, TC, TCA, TCB, SprintX

Sept. 1-3, Circuit of the Americas, GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS, TC, TCA, TCB, SprintX

September, TBA, GT/GTA/GT Cup, GTS

Oct. 13-15, SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge, Laguna Seca, GT

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