- 2016 Champion Awarded Drive at Spa Francorchamps Next Year- Championship for Modern GT Race Cars Debuts Memorial Day Weekend at VIR in the WISKO Grand Prix- Global GT Venues Include VIR, Road Atlanta, Savannah, Daytona and Sebring
Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) has announced a five-race championship for the HSR Global GT series, a championship based around HSR's Group 10 division showcasing modern GT race cars.
Introduced two seasons ago and competing in HSR Group 10, Global GT has been a popular choice for competitors on HSR race weekends. The class will be even more attractive this year with the first organized HSR Global GT points championship, which debuts on Memorial Day Weekend in The WISKO Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
Global GT is home to modern GT specification race cars from the last 10 to 15 years. Among the popular and eligible models for competition are Porsche 996, 997 and 991 GT3 Cup cars, Porsche Boxsters and Cayman S, R and GT4 models, Ferrari F430 and F458 challenge cars, the Audi R8 LMS and similarly classified models from Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, BMW, Maserati, Lamborghini and many more.
"With the increasing popularity of production-based GT racing in the first 15 years of this century, a good supply of modern sports cars becomes available in the motorsports marketplace each year," said HSR President David Hinton. "Usually only a year or two past their competitive prime, these GT race cars are accessible, current and safe and offer teams and drivers the perfect vehicle for modern historic competition in HSR Global GT."
After next month's VIR debut, the remainder of the 2016 HSR Global GT series includes the Atlanta Fall Historics, September 15 - 18, at Road Atlanta, the Savannah Speed Classic, October 27 - 30, the Daytona Historics, November 10 - 13, and the Sebring Historics, December 1 - 4.
Among the prizes the 2016 HSR Global GT Champion will be awarded is the chance to drive and possibly race on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium in a race-prepared Porsche GT3 Cup or Cayman. The "Race to Spa" champion award includes use of the race car, hotel lodging for two and expert driver coaching, all provided by HSR.
"To me, Spa was and is the ultimate challenge, said sports car racing legend and HSR member Brian Redman. "I was fortunate to win there four times. It's a high-speed circuit that is literally a living legend for motorsports enthusiasts, but now, thanks to HSR and Global GT, one lucky driver will have the chance to add Eau Rouge and the Spa's other legendary sections to their champion's resume."
Global GT will be featured in at least two full-points sprints on all five race weekends in addition to competing for class honors in the Historic GT Enduro at each event. Competitors can also double-up on their racing by competing in Global GT and Group 10 during the five event weekends.
Championship points in all HSR Global GT races will be awarded to the top-six finishers. Race winners will earn eight points, second place is good for six points, four points for third, three points for fourth, two points for fifth and a single point for sixth.
