Historic Sportscar Racing news 2010-05-18

Historic Sportscar Racing Heads to Savannah in June

The Historic Sportscar Racing series visits some of the most famous race courses in the country during the 2010 season.

One of the courses that HSR drivers are looking forward to competing on is the Savannah Harbor Race Course on Hutchinson Island in Savannah. The HSR series will visit the exciting circuit June 10-13 and again Oct. 29-31.

One of the features of the June race includes the IMSA Classic Series on the high-speed 2.1-mile Champ Car circuit. The race highlights the early years of IMSA before the GTP era. Porsches, Dekon Monzas, Corvettes and other production-based cars carried the IMSA banner in those races.

The track hosted its inaugural race in 1997 when two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves won the Indy Lights race on the twisting road course.

The course is located across the Savannah River from historic downtown and the Westin hotel and golf course add to the ambience.

"It's a ball to drive, I love it," said Formula 5000 competitor Ted Wenz. "Turn 1 is one of my favorite turns in all of racing. It (the course) has some banking that is very technical but it's a great venue."

"It's not like your standard street course because it was built as a permanent race track," he noted.

"Even though it's fast, it's a very safe track. Everyone has to deal with the same things, like the bumps (street crossings) on the golf course section, but that's what makes it fun. We don't have to run on billiard tables all the time," said long-time Porsche owner/driver Jack Lewis.

"It's a fantastic track. Turns 1 and 2 are the fastest turns anywhere. The back stretch is tight but fun to drive. The front straight is cambered, so the wall is right there. It separates the men from the boys if you want to run up close (to the wall).

"It's also a great venue because you're right downtown. You can stay at the hotel and take the ferry across the river for dinner and you're right at the course. " he added.

"I've raced there once. It's very interesting and exciting. The course is well laid out with FIA curbing, so it's a very safe track as well," noted Peter Argensinger, who juggles as both a driver and driving instructor.

Jack Baldwin, who has driven on nearly every road course in America and is competition director for the Porsche Cayman Interseries, also likes the track. "Turn one is cool. Our cars will do really well there."

The Cayman Interseries features 2009-2010 cars painted with historic paint schemes from Porsche's racing history.

"We are delighted to return to the Hutchinson Island race course twice in 2010," said Ken Fengler, HSR Vice President of Race Operations. "Our competitors like the facility and its perfect location across from downtown Savannah. It's a venue everyone wanted to return to because not only is it a great circuit and safe, but we have some fantastic racing that always happens there. It looks like we'll get a good entry for the upcoming June race and everyone is glad to be going back to Hutchinson Island."

HSR is celebrating its 20th year in 2010 and continues its winning formula with nine (9) classes. They include Vintage Production, Historic Production, Open Wheel, Cayman Interseries, Historic GTP/Group C/WSC/DP, Championship of Makes, Historic Stock Cars, IMSA Historic GT and Klub Sport Porsche Challenge. Additionally, HSR weekends include sprint and enduro races for all classes.

Remembering and giving tribute to the legends of yesteryear is just a part of HSR. All access to the pits, paddock and drivers, celebrity guests, car club corrals/activities, championship drivers of the past combined with pro drivers of today, autograph sessions, and a fan-friendly atmosphere make an HSR race weekend a real event.

For more information, please go to www.hsrforums.com.

-source: hsr