A Weekend Full of Fun Activities and Elite Racing at the Premier American Road Course

 Danville, Virginia – July 23, 2018 – VIRginia International Raceway is excited to announce the return of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier North American sports car racing series, in August for an unforgettable weekend of high-end sports car racing. The action starts Friday, Aug. 17 with qualifying and support series races and continues Saturday with the Biscuitville Grand Prix IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, all leading up to the invigorating Michelin GT Challenge taking place Sunday, Aug. 19.

VIR’s iconic track is 3.27 miles long and features 17 turns, drastic elevation changes and the challenging “climbing esses.” The road course is the only Mid-Atlantic track to host the prestigious WeatherTech Championship in 2018.

“We could not be more excited to welcome the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship back to VIR this year,” said Connie Nyholm, owner and CEO of VIR. “The premier event brings so much excitement and pure adrenaline to the property that all culminates with the Michelin GT Challenge. We know the weekend of elite racing and family-friendly activities will offer something for everyone and we can’t wait to continue making history and amazing memories on our property this August.”

VIR plays the perfect host for the weekend’s main event, the Michelin GT Challenge, sponsored by the world’s leading tire manufacturer. The grand finale of the weekend, the nearly three-hour race will have drivers reaching top speeds of 190 miles per hour trying to clinch a win.

In addition to the Michelin GT Challenge, race enthusiasts can enjoy other support series, including: 

• Biscuitville Grand Prix, a two-hour race for the IMSA-sanctioned Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, showcasing the latest in American-made and imported high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans straight from the dealer showroom floor. The races include the Grand Sport (GS), Touring Car (TCR) and Street Tuner (ST) classes.
• Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America is the world’s fastest one-make series. It is returning to the North American circuit for its fifth year where point leaders will also be invited to participate in the Super Trofeo World Final later in the year.
• Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama is in its 14th season. Semi- professional drivers compete in one of the largest of Porsche’s 21 single-make Cup Challenge series in the world.
• IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda is an IMSA racing series featuring two classes of single-seat prototype cars racing simultaneously.

Race weekend will also include testing, qualifying, car corrals, driver autograph sessions, Michelin hot lap ride alongs, a skydiver performance, Monster Energy BMX demonstration shows and more. Additionally, guests can take advantage of VIR’s amenities such as karting, shooting sports and dining at the Oak Tree Tavern during the three-day event.

Advanced tickets for the Michelin GT Challenge race weekend are $45 for Friday-only, $50 for Saturday-only, $55 for Sunday-only, $65 for a two-day Saturday and Sunday ticket, and $75 for a three-day ticket. All tickets will be an additional $10 if purchased at the gate. Children 16 and under are admitted free of charge with a paying adult and parking is also free. Active military are admitted free of charge and veterans receive a 50 percent discount with valid military ID. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.virnow.com or call (434) 822-TIKS.

About VIRginia International Raceway

VIRginia International Raceway is one of America’s premier road courses, offering professional and amateur racing for modern and vintage classes while providing contemporary resort amenities. A prominent test facility for the automotive industry, VIR has the distinction of being named one of the top six courses in North America by Car and Driver Magazine, and southern roots and hospitality make it one of the friendliest. Conveniently located at the Virginia/North Carolina border, VIR is just a short two-hour trip from Richmond and about an hour and 15 minutes from both the Piedmont-Triad and Raleigh-Durham International Airports.

VIR offers amenities such as lodging, dining, a spa, an exclusive driver’s club, karting, off-road racing, shooting sports, skid pad and more. VIR’s hospitality features also make the property an unparalleled venue for corporate retreats, team building, special events and other group experiences. For more information, visit www.VIRnow.com, Facebook or Twitter.

About IMSA 

The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda, as well as four one-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, visit www.IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/IMSA or www.facebook.com/IMSA.

About Michelin North America

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, Earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,650 and operates 20 major manufacturing plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

About Biscuitville FRESH SOUTHERN®

Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, Biscuitville FRESH SOUTHERN® is a family-owned company that offers guests an authentic Southern-inspired dining experience. Known for making food the old-fashioned way, Biscuitville uses fresh, authentic ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible, and is known for its genuine Southern hospitality. The company was founded in 1966 when owner Maurice Jennings opened two pizza restaurants in Burlington. After several years, the company added signature, made-from-scratch biscuits to its menu that were so well received, business boomed and the Biscuitville brand evolved. In 2014, the company expanded its lunch menu to include fresh-made sandwiches and sides. Today, Biscuitville employs over 900 people and operates 55 restaurants in North Carolina and Virginia. Biscuitville serves breakfast all day from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers a lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all Triad locations. For more information, visit www.biscuitville.com.