Historic Sportscar Racing Series Opens 20th Season at Sebring
“We’re very excited about having HSR open up the month of March with its annual event and it’s a great way to kick off the race month for us. We have enjoyed this relationship for two decades and look forward to many more years of having HSR here. The vintage element is always a very special event at Sebring and will always continue to be. We are very happy to have them here this weekend," said Tres Stephenson, President and General Manager of SIR.
Sebring International Raceway is the oldest road course in North America. Portions of the 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit were originally a World War II B-17 training base. After major renovations in the 1990s, Sebring is now one of the premier road circuits in the U.S.
“This year marks the 20th season of HSR, an important milestone. We’re delighted to be starting the season at Sebring, home of one of our first events in 1991," said Ken Fengler, HSR Vice President of Race Operations. “The series has really grown over the years and we continue to make the cars the stars. HSR has a vast appeal to a wide range of fans through our numerous classes of historic racing cars and diverse activities."
Highlight of the Sebring weekend will be the Al Holbert Memorial Enduro featuring GTP, WSC, DP and historic endurance cars in a three-hour feature race starting at 1:25 p.m. Sunday.
Championship drivers in the GTP/WSC event include former professional drivers Bill Adam, George Robinson and Elliot-Forbes Robinson.
More than 200 entries in nine classes are expected for the opening race. Classes competing will be 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 Porsches.
The variety of race cars competing includes everything from 1950s-era production and sports cars to former IMSA and Trans-Am racers, NASCAR stock cars and current production Porsches.
The Sebring Endurance Challenge is the first of eight HSR events in 2010 on five different race tracks throughout the eastern United States.
The new Cayman Interseries will make its debut, featuring 2009-2010 Porsche Cayman S cars painted in famous historic Porsche racing paint schemes. These modern-day cars will sport historic livery familiar with race fans such as the Gulf Porsche 917, Lowenbrau Porsche 962, Rothmans Porsche 956 and Martini-Rossi Porsche 935 Turbo.
“A lot of planning, preparation and good old-fashioned man hours have gone into the launch of the Cayman Interseries and we can’t wait to begin our first full season of competition this weekend at Sebring," said Ron Barnaba, Cayman Interseries General Manager. “The fact that we will conduct our first official points-paying race in concert with HSR on a Sebring track that has produced so many great Porsche memories makes it the ideal venue to begin a new era in the marquee’s rich racing heritage."
Also making its debut will be the “Circle of Champions Trophy" presentation. Winning trophies from past championship drivers will be rededicated along with a donation to the former winner’s favorite charity. The “Circle of Champion" trophy at Sebring will be Elliot-Forbes Robinson’s Can-Am winning trophy from his 1978 victory at Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, Canada. The trophy will be awarded as part of the Klub Sport Challenge on Friday, featuring Porsches from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Two non-racing activities also be part of the event. Six students from the Full Sail Film School in Orlando, Fla., will be creating a documentary film at the HSR event as they follow the competitors, race officials and race activities using handheld and in-car cameras.
The Chiera Foundation will host kids with cancer at the race. The foundation, celebrating its 17th year, raises money to send kids with cancer to R.O.C.K. camp (Reaching Out to Kids with Cancer) in Eustis, Florida and offers cancer survivors college scholarships. The kids will be part of the pre-race ceremony before the Sebring Endurance Challenge 3-hour race on Sunday. HSR has partnered with the Chiera Foundation to raise more than $50,000 over the past few years, sending more than 50 kids to camp. The Chiera Golf Classic and auction will be held April 18-19, 2010 in Delray Beach, Florida. This year’s R.O.C.K and Roll themed event and live auction will feature items and events with HSR regulars Derek Bell, the 5-time LeMans winner, and AC/DC front man Brian Johnson.