Grand Prix of Miami (sports car racing)

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Geoff Brabham in the Nissan NPT-91 about to take the checkered flag at the conclusion of the 1992 Miami Grand Prix on the Bicentennial Park circuit. FinishNissan92miami.jpg
Geoff Brabham in the Nissan NPT-91 about to take the checkered flag at the conclusion of the 1992 Miami Grand Prix on the Bicentennial Park circuit.

The Trans-Am Series, Rolex Sports Car Series, and American Le Mans Series have all held races in the Miami area.

Contents

IMSA

Promoter Ralph Sanchez brought auto racing to the Miami area in 1983. A course at Bicentennial Park featured the IMSA GT Championship and the inaugural Grand Prix of Miami. A 1.85-mile (2.98 km) circuit was laid out on the park roads and Biscayne Boulevard. The 1983 event was a failure both competitively and financially. A severe rainstorm flooded the circuit, and stopped the race after less than one-sixth of the distance was completed. Despite not being obligated to, Sanchez decided to pay the entire purse to the competitors, absorbing a $1.3 million loss but earning great respect from the racing fraternity.

A year later, the event returned, and grew into a huge success.

IMSA races were held at the first Bicentennial Park from 1983 until 1985. In 1986, the event moved to a new layout, also located at Bicentennial Park. [1] The new Bicentennial Park circuit was a semi-permanent layout that featured purpose-built roads in the park area, along with a temporary segment taking it out on Biscayne Boulevard near the entrance to the Port of Miami. The event continued through 1993, at which time IMSA itself was experiencing a period of decline and reorganization.

SeasonDateRace nameOverall Winner(s)CarTeam
Bicentennial Park
1983 February 27 Budweiser Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Al Holbert March 83G-Chevrolet Holbert Racing
1984 February 26 Budweiser Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Doc Bundy
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman
Jaguar XJR-5 Group 44
1985 February 24 Löwenbräu Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Al Holbert
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Bell
Porsche 962 Holbert Racing
1986 March 2 Löwenbräu Grand Prix of Miami Flag of France.svg Bob Wollek
Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Barilla
Porsche 962 Bayside Leven Racing
1987 March 1Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Elliott Forbes-Robinson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Brabham
Nissan GTP ZX-T Nissan Electramotive Engineering
1988 February 28Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Price Cobb
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Weaver
Porsche 962 Dyson Racing
1989 March 5 Nissan Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Brabham
Flag of the United States.svg Chip Robinson
Nissan GTP ZX-T Nissan Electromotive Engineering
1990 February 25 Nissan Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Brabham
Flag of the United States.svg Chip Robinson
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Earl
Nissan GTP ZX-T Nissan Electromotive Engineering
1991 April 7 Nissan Camel Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Raul Boesel Jaguar XJR-10 TWR
1992 February 22 Toyota Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Brabham Nissan NPT-91A Nissan Performance Technologies
1993 February 21 Toyota Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio II Eagle Mk III-Toyota All American Racers

Trans Am

For 1994, the event at Bicentennial Park switched to the SCCA Trans-Am Series. This event lasted only one year. In 1995, the CART series utilized the course for one race, then the course was partially razed for the construction of American Airlines Arena.

YearDateWinning DriverCarTeam
1994 March 5 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Kendall Ford Mustang Roush Racing

American Le Mans Series

The ALMS and Champ Car held a joint race on a new circuit at Bayfront Park. The event took place in 2002 and 2003.

For 2002, a 1.387-mile (2.232 km) circuit utilized park roads and extended onto Biscayne Boulevard and 3rd and 4th Streets. In 2003, the layout was changed to drop the 3rd/4th Street loop and add a section on Biscayne Boulevard along the north end of the park.

YearDateRace nameWinner(s)EntrantCar
2002 October 5 Cadillac American Le Mans Challenge Flag of Germany.svg Frank Biela
Flag of Italy.svg Emanuele Pirro
Audi Sport North America Audi R8
2003 September 27 Grand Prix Americas Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Johnny Herbert
Flag of Finland.svg JJ Lehto
ADT Champion Racing Audi R8

Grand Am

The Rolex Sports Car Series held a race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. The event was first held in 1998 as a part of the United States Road Racing Championship, but following the cancelation of that series the FIA GT Championship took over the 1999 event. Grand-Am revived the event in 2000. The race took place on the combined road course layout.

For 2002-2009, the race was held in conjunction with the Indycar race. In 2009, it moved to October and served as the Grand Am season finale. In 2010, the Indycar race was dropped, and the Grand Am race returned to the spring as a stand-alone event. It was not scheduled for 2013.

YearDateRace nameOverall Winner(s)TeamCar
1998 May 17Road Racing Extravaganza Flag of the United States.svg Butch Leitzinger
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Weaver
Dyson Racing Riley & Scott Mk III-Ford
1999 26 SeptemberMiami 500 Flag of France.svg Paul Belmondo
Flag of France.svg Emmanuel Clérico
Paul Belmondo Racing Chrysler Viper GTS-R
2000 April 30 Nextel 250 Flag of Italy.svg Mauro Baldi
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Didier Theys
Doran Lista Racing Ferrari 333SP-Judd
2001 March 3 Nextel 250 Flag of the United States.svg Butch Leitzinger
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Weaver
Dyson Racing Riley & Scott Mk III-Ford
2002 March 2 Nextel 250 Flag of Italy.svg Mauro Baldi
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Didier Theys
Doran Lista Racing Ferrari 333SP-Judd
2003 March 1 Nextel Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg J.C. France
Flag of the United States.svg Hurley Haywood
Brumos Racing Fabcar FDSC/03-Porsche
2004 February 28Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg Milka Duno
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Wallace
Howard Boss Motorsports Crawford DP03-Pontiac
September 19Miami 250 Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg Milka Duno
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Wallace
Howard Boss Motorsports Crawford DP03-Pontiac
2005 March 5Grand Prix of Miami Flag of South Africa.svg Wayne Taylor
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg Max Angelelli
SunTrust Racing Riley Mk XI-Pontiac
2006 March 25Linder-Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Flag of the United States.svg Patrick Long
Alex Job Racing Crawford DP03-Porsche
2007 March 24Linder-Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Bill Auberlen
Flag of the United States.svg Matthew Alhadeff
Team Sigalsport Riley Mk XI-BMW
2008 March 29 Gainsco Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Scott Pruett
Flag of Mexico.svg Memo Rojas
Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk XI-Lexus
2009 October 10 Gainsco Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Portugal.svg João Barbosa
Flag of the United States.svg Hurley Haywood
Brumos Racing Riley Mk XI-Porsche
2010 March 6Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Scott Pruett
Flag of Mexico.svg Memo Rojas
Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk XX-BMW
2011 March 5Grand Prix of Miami Flag of the United States.svg Scott Pruett
Flag of Mexico.svg Memo Rojas
Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk XX-BMW
2012 April 29Grand Prix of Miami Flag of Italy.svg Max Angelelli
Flag of the United States.svg Ricky Taylor
SunTrust Racing Corvette DP (Dallara DP01)

See also

References

  1. "Bicentennial Park" . Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  2. "Budweiser Grand Prix of Miami". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 3 April 2010.