This notice just came to me. Could this possibly couple with BGP the week(s) prior? Discuss.


VIRginia International Raceway Proudly Hosts
The American Le Mans Series
presented by Tequila Patrón
Thursday-Saturday, September 13-15, 2012
Series' debut race at VIR will be on 4.1-mile Grand Course



< Danville, VA - January 17, 2012 >

The list of American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón venues continues to grow with the addition of historic Virginia International Raceway for the 2012 season. North America's leading sports car championship will contest its first race at VIR on Saturday, Sept. 15 in a four-hour enduro.

The first ALMS race at VIR - located in Danville, Va. - also will mark the first competition on the track's impressive 4.1-mile, 21-turn Grand Course. It's a safe bet that track speed records will fall at the hands of the world's most exotic prototype sports cars and premier production-based GT cars. The race will be broadcast on ESPN2.

"For years we have received numerous inquiries from fans and competitors on when we would race at VIR, I'm proud to say that time is now," said Scott Atherton, ALMS President and CEO. "Virginia International Raceway is an excellent addition to what no doubt will be a fantastic 2012 season for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Given VIR's history and acclaim as a world-class road racing facility, this is a natural fit. We look forward to working closely with the VIR team to introduce their fans and lots of new ones to the fastest, toughest and most entertaining competition VIR has witnessed."

Competitors over the years have heaped praise on the circuit. Paul Newman once opined that "if there's a heaven on Earth, it's VIR." Car and Driver named it one of the six best road courses in the U.S. and called a lap around the Grand Course the closest thing in America to a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

"The list of drivers and manufacturers who have achieved success at VIR is a storied one," Atherton said. "We are thrilled at the prospect of ushering in a new era of competition at VIR as the first series to run its Grand Course. The sights and sounds of our prototype and GT cars racing at high speeds around such a demanding and picturesque layout will create a spectacle no one should miss."

The American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón - including the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX5 Cup to race here September 13th-15th - will add a spectacular new chapter to the storied history of VIR.

"Virginia International Raceway and our partners in the surrounding communities are thrilled to witness the incomparable show that will be delivered by the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and IMSA's top-flight development championships," said Connie Nyholm, managing partner of VIR." To be able to give our fans and sponsors the leaders in cutting edge racing technology and the Global Leader in Green Racing, competing at speeds never seen at our historic track is an opportunity not to be missed."

Tickets for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón race at VIR on September 15 will be available at VIRnow.com beginning February 1, 2012. More information on The American Le Mans Series by Tequila Patrón is available at americanlemans.com.

Recently chosen as one of Car & Driver's Top 6 tracks in the nation, VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Virginia. VIR hosts a wide range of professional and amateur auto and motorcycle racing and track events, and is well established as "America's Motorsport Resort." For further information, call 434-822-7700 or visit our web site at www.VIRnow.com and subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on facebook.
VIRginia International Raceway
1245 Pine Tree Road · Alton, Virginia 24520 · 434.822.7700
www.VIRnow.com

 

From what I think we know - the BGP is now toast.

 

We do? I had not heard anything.

But I'm in for this VIR race. I only went to Baltimore on Sat anyway!

 

Have not heard anything yay or nay about bgp, so i'm assuming it's still a go.

 

It is still on ALMS and IRL schedules but from what I understand the city did just terminate the remaining 4 years of their contract with the Balt. Racing Development organizing entity which means that entity cannot put on the event any longer -- period, but it also ends the city being exclusively tied to them for any such event and they can now contract with other entities for similar event.

It was in news a lot and heard from some people with more inside sources that financially it was a real bumblef_ck. They owe the city millions for all kinds of things including some kind of entertainment tax that was supposed to go automatically into escrow for the city upon ticket sales but somehow some guy/lender who gave race org. a last minute loan some days before the race b/c w/out emergency loan the whole thing was going to be called off days prior (they never did land a title sponsor)somehow had access to the account the supposed-to-be escrowed funds were in and just after race took it all as per payment terms on his loan agreement so that whole deal has atty.s fighting over it, and all kinds of other city fees due and stuff like trees that were supposed to be replaced after cut down for bleachers were never replaced, etc. etc.

I read at some point their outstanding debts to gov't and private entities was something like $12mill. and the co. had $600k in assets most of which was in property like fencing and barriers they purchased for the race. And I think I also read the guy who spearheaded the whole idea and co. - can't remember his name - is personally on the hook for all of it even though his employment or exec. position or whatever with the co. ended some period of time before the race. Imagine being him.

Those road-racing street circuit type deals in U.S. have a really bad track record of lasting or making the econ. impact they project to have etc. Long Beach is only one that has stayed for any period of time. But even I thought the Balt GP would at least double the pitiful ONE YEAR duration of the early 2000's DC race LOL.

And the mayor's election period will be over and she was a big race supporter while clamouring for press leading up to it so that doesn't bode well either.

I read an editorial on the race's financial woes and people claiming the city got screwed and the obviously race-biased writer said something like they pulled off a great weekend with great attendance but came up short $$ wise, the city should step up to keep it going and that the tax payers do things like build whole stadiums for the Orioles and then turn the whole thing over lock and key to the owner Angelos and nobody says a word about it.... and I can def. see that point of view, to a point, but $12mill. in payables and $600k in assets.... they need Suze Orman .... "DENIED"!! If you've never seen her call-in show that will make absolutly no sense LOL

ALMS at VIR will be great esp. not being in the shadow of those Honda powered Izod thingies. I've seen GrandAm at VIR but ALMS will be a whole different ball game.... bye bye track redcords. And F1 in NJ.... I'll survive.

 

I'd probably go...I'd prefer to only see ALMS anyway...screw the rest of it.

 

Hotels are slim pickings.