GT Challenge at VIR

Last updated
GT Challenge at VIR
Gt challenge at VIR.png
Virginia International Raceway - Full Course.svg
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Venue Virginia International Raceway
Corporate sponsor Michelin
First race1957
First USCC race2014
Duration2 hours 40 minutes
Most wins (driver) Walt Hansgen (4)
Most wins (team) Briggs Cunningham (5)
Most wins (manufacturer) Riley (7)

The GT Challenge at VIR is a sports car race held at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, since 1957. After being a part of the SCCA National Sports Car Championship and the IMSA GT Championship the race, along with the track, went on hiatus from the early 1970s until 2002. It returned as a round of the Rolex Sports Car Series, and became an American Le Mans Series race in 2012. In 2014 the race joined the schedule of the United SportsCar Championship after the merger of the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series.

Contents

The race length has varied from 150 to 500 km. The former title VIR 240 refers to the duration of 240 minutes (4 hours). In 2013, the race was renamed the Oak Tree Grand Prix. [1]

Beginning in 2016, the Oak Tree Grand Prix became the name of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge support race run on the same weekend as the United SportsCar Championship Michelin GT Challenge at VIR.

Winners

SeasonDateOverall Winner(s)EntrantCarDistance/DurationRace TitleReport
SCCA National Sports Car Championship
1957 August 4 Flag of the United States.svg Carroll Shelby Flag of the United States.svg John Engar Maserati 450S 100 km (62 mi)Inaugural Grand Prix Sports Car Races report
October 27 Flag of the United States.svg Charles Wallace Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham Jaguar D-type 2 hours, 30 minutesPresident's Cup Race report
1958 May 4 Flag of the United States.svg Walt Hansgen Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham Lister-Jaguar 1 hourNational Championship Spring Sprint Sports Car Road Races report
October 5 Flag of the United States.svg Walt Hansgen Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham Lister-Jaguar 150 km (93 mi)Autumn Festival Sports Car Races report
1959 May 3 Flag of the United States.svg Walt Hansgen Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham Lister-Jaguar 200 km (120 mi)VIR-Shrine National Championship Sports Car Races report
1960 May 1 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Holbert Porsche 718 RSK 200 km (120 mi)VIR-Shrine National Championship Sports Car Races report
1961 April 30 Flag of the United States.svg Walt Hansgen Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham Maserati Tipo 61 3 hoursPresident's Cup report
1962 April 29 Flag of the United States.svg Roger Penske Cooper Monaco2 hours, 30 minutesPresident's Cup report
1963 April 27 Flag of the United States.svg Don Devine Flag of the United States.svg Meister Brauser Racing Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet 1 hour, 30 minutesVIR National Cup report
1964 April 19 Flag of the United States.svg Ed Lowther Genie Mk.8-Ford 58 mi (93 km)National Championship Sports Car Races report
1965

1970
Not held
IMSA GT Championship
1971 April 18 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Gregg
Flag of the United States.svg Hurley Haywood
Flag of the United States.svg Brumos Porsche-Audi Porsche 914/6300 mi (480 km)Danville 300 report
1972 April 16 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Gregg
Flag of the United States.svg Hurley Haywood
Flag of the United States.svg Peter Gregg Porsche 911 S 250 mi (400 km)Danville 250 report
1973

2001
Not held
Rolex Sports Car Series
2002 September 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Wallace
Flag of the United States.svg Chris Dyson
Flag of the United States.svg Dyson Racing Crawford SSC2K-Judd 500 mi (800 km)VIR 500 report
2003 October 5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Pilgrim
Flag of the United States.svg Terry Borcheller
Flag of the United States.svg Bell Motorsports Doran JE4-Chevrolet 400 km (250 mi)VIR 400 report
2004 October 3 Flag of South Africa.svg Wayne Taylor
Flag of Italy.svg Max Angelelli
Flag of the United States.svg SunTrust Racing Riley Mk.XI-Pontiac 400 km (250 mi)VIR 400 report
2005 October 9 Flag of Mexico.svg Luis Díaz
Flag of the United States.svg Scott Pruett
Flag of the United States.svg Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk.XI-Lexus 2 hours, 45 minutesVIR 400 report
2006 April 23 Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Flag of the United States.svg Patrick Long
Flag of the United States.svg Alex Job Racing Crawford DP03-Porsche 400 km (250 mi)VIR 400 report
2007 April 29 Flag of South Africa.svg Wayne Taylor
Flag of Italy.svg Max Angelelli
Flag of Denmark.svg Jan Magnussen
Flag of the United States.svg SunTrust Racing Riley Mk.XI-Pontiac 400 km (250 mi)VIR 400 report
2008 April 27 Flag of the United States.svg Scott Pruett
Flag of Mexico.svg Memo Rojas
Flag of the United States.svg Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk.XX-Lexus 250 mi (400 km)Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
2009 April 25 Flag of the United States.svg Jon Fogarty
Flag of the United States.svg Alex Gurney
Flag of the United States.svg GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Riley Mk.XX-Pontiac 2 hours, 45 minutesBosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
2010 April 24 Flag of the United States.svg Scott Pruett
Flag of Mexico.svg Memo Rojas
Flag of the United States.svg Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk.XX-Lexus 2 hours, 45 minutesBosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
2011 May 14 Flag of Portugal.svg João Barbosa
Flag of the United States.svg Terry Borcheller
Flag of the United States.svg J. C. France
Flag of the United States.svg Action Express Racing Riley Mk.XI-Porsche 2 hours, 45 minutesBosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
American Le Mans Series
2012 September 15 Flag of Germany.svg Lucas Luhr
Flag of Germany.svg Klaus Graf
Flag of the United States.svg Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03a 4 hoursAmerican Le Mans Series VIR 240 report [2]
2013 October 5 Flag of Germany.svg Lucas Luhr
Flag of Germany.svg Klaus Graf
Flag of the United States.svg Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03a 2 hours, 45 minutesOak Tree Grand Prix at VIR report [3]
United SportsCar Championship
2014 1 August 24 Flag of Mexico.svg Luis Díaz
Flag of the United States.svg Sean Rayhall
Flag of the United States.svg 8 Star Motorsports Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet 1 hour, 30 minutes (2 x 45-minute segments)Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR report [4] [5]
Flag of Italy.svg Giancarlo Fisichella
Flag of Germany.svg Pierre Kaffer
Flag of the United States.svg Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia 2 hours, 45 minutes
2015 1 August 23 Flag of France.svg Patrick Pilet
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nick Tandy
Flag of Germany.svg Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR 2 hours, 40 minutesOak Tree Grand Prix at VIR report [6]
2016 August 28 Flag of Spain.svg Antonio García
Flag of Denmark.svg Jan Magnussen
Flag of the United States.svg Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C7.R 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2017 August 27 Flag of Spain.svg Antonio García
Flag of Denmark.svg Jan Magnussen
Flag of the United States.svg Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C7.R 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2018 August 19 Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alexander Sims
Flag of the United States.svg BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2019 August 25 Flag of France.svg Patrick Pilet
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nick Tandy
Flag of the United States.svg Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2020 August 22 Flag of Spain.svg Antonio García
Flag of the United States.svg Jordan Taylor
Flag of the United States.svg Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2021 October 9 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Milner

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nick Tandy

Flag of the United States.svg Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2022 August 28 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matt Campbell

Flag of France.svg Mathieu Jaminet

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2023 August 27 Flag of Spain.svg Antonio García

Flag of the United States.svg Jordan Taylor

Flag of the United States.svg Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD 2 hour, 40 minutesMichelin GT Challenge at VIR report

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References

  1. "2013 ALMS Schedule". alms.com. American Le Mans Series. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  2. "2012 VIR 240 Official Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. "2013 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. "2014 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official PC Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  5. "2014 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official GTLM/GTD Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. "2015 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2014-11-24.