VIR Returns to GT Roots with Oak Tree Grand Prix

Prominently displayed on Hurley Haywood’s desk at Brumos Porsche in Jacksonville, Fla., is a photo of him standing between two Porsches underneath the bridge at Virginia International Raceway.

One of them, a tangerine colored Brumos Porsche 914/6, won the first race in the history of the IMSA GT Series, driven to victory by Haywood and Peter Gregg at VIR in 1971. The pair went on to become the series’ inaugural champions.

The other car, a tangerine Brumos Porsche 911, won the following year in what was then known as the IMSA Camel GT Series, co-driven by Gregg and eventual champion Haywood.

Next weekend, the circuit located near Danville, Va., returns to its heritage of IMSA GT racing when it hosts the Oak Tree Grand Prix, the first standalone race for the GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes of IMSA’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

Fittingly, Haywood was invited to be an honorary official for the event, but declined due to an existing schedule commitment.

“The 1971 race at VIR was very special for me because it was my first race since serving in the Army in 1969 and 1970 in Vietnam,” Haywood said. “I remember it was the first race on the IMSA GT schedule. We were racing orange cars back then for Brumos – the white, red and blue paint scheme didn’t come until 1973. Peter and I were battling Corvettes and Camaros, and we beat them all. It was our first win in the successful hunt for the championship.

“VIR back then was much like it still is today,” Haywood added. “It’s always been a fun track to drive.”

The fuel crisis of 1973 began a series of troubles for the track that resulted in its closing in 1974. The circuit was reopened by investors Connie Nyholm and Harvey Siegel in 2000, with the renovated VIR becoming America’s first “Motorsport Resort.”

The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge debuted at VIR in 2001, its first of 13 races at the circuit. VIR hosted the season finale from 2005 through 2009 with a series of six-hour races.

The GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series competed at VIR from 2002 through 2011. Current TUDOR Championship GTLM contender Bill Auberlen was a three-time winner, while Jan Magnussen won in GT in the 2011 race in addition to winning overall in 2007.

Terry Borcheller won his class in the first Continental Tire Challenge race at VIR in 2001 in addition to winning overall for Action Express Racing in the final Rolex Series race in 2011. In between, he also won overall in 2003 and in SRP II in 2002.

“VIR has always been a good track for me,” said Borcheller, who joins fellow defending Street Tuner champion Mike LaMarra in the No. 23 BMW 128i in the Continental Tire Challenge. “I really enjoy driving it, because it’s got a good rhythm, a lot of places to pass, and it’s very busy. Mike and I did a training race there in October 2012 in an amateur endurance race. We enjoyed it, and we can’t wait to get back there and race again next weekend.”

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón raced at VIR in 20012-13, with Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr winning both events for Muscle Milk Pickett Racing.

Leh Keen won the GTC class at the 2012 ALMS race with Cooper MacNeil, with the pair returning next weekend in Alex Job Racing’s No. 22 WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT America.

“VIR has really made a lot of improvements over the last year,” Keen said. “They’ve paved it and made it wider – which should also make it a lot faster. Cooper and I finished on the podium at Road America and we’re in contention for the GTD championship. I’m real excited to go back to VIR and try to take over the points lead.”

The feature race showcases the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes in a two-hour, 45-minute race on Sunday afternoon.

The weekend also includes a pair of 45-minute sprints for the Prototype Challenge (PC) and Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, a Saturday race for the Continental Tire Challenge, and a pair of Lamborghini Super Trofeo races.