(Words and photos by David Whealon) We’re back to the awesome 3.27-mile 18 turn natural terrain road course of Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. for the annual visit of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS. Accompanying the premier North American GT series races were the GT3, GT2 and GT4 machines of the multi-class SRO America’s GT America powered by AWS, the Pirelli GT4 America championship, the TC America powered by Skip Barber championship and the all Toyota GR86 spec series of the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup North America.
The marque event of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS featured a 90 minute double header weekend of two-driver Am and Pro-Am teams. The SRO America’s GT America powered by AWS consists of two wild single-driver 40 minute sprints over the weekend. The Pirelli GT4 America championship brought nearly 40 competitors out for the two 60 min races with a two-driver combo. And with the always exciting classes of TC America powered by Skip Barber and the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup North America, a great field of competitors were on the property in twin 40 minute and 45 minute contests, respectively.
As always, the rolling hills of Southern Virginia at VIR provided some of the best action packed road course racing. It’s no wonder that Car and Driver Magazine deemed VIR as one of it’s top six road courses in the nation. And as the legendary actor and racecar driver Paul Newman once said “If there is a heaven on earth, it is VIR.”
