Following in the wake of Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) being purchased by Parella Racing in July 2012, the new owners had plans to expand both their East and West schedules. Those intentions have come to fruition recently, as SVRA went on to acquire Historic Sportscar Racing West (HSR-West) in September, in addition to announcing this month that they have added one new race and finalized arrangements to keep two other races on their schedule.
SVRA has entered into an agreement with Virginia International Raceway (VIR) that states they will be the sanctioning body of VIR’s hallmark Vintage Racing event, the Gold Cup, in 2013. Conducted in early October, the Gold Cup has become one of the most prestigious and well attended Vintage Racing events in the United States. It will be the final event of SVRA’s 2013 East Coast schedule as well as its Eastern Regional Vintage Championship.
Connie Nyholm, VIR Managing Partner and Co-Owner, had this to say about the agreement, “[w]e are extremely pleased to have partnered with SVRA. With their involvement in the Gold Cup we will enhance the event while adding stature to VIR as one of the premier venues for Vintage Racing in the United States.”
SVRA also extended agreements with both New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) and Watkins Glen International. The agreement with NJMP will bring an event to Thunderbolt Raceway in Southern New Jersey starting in 2013 and continuing on through 2015 as part of the East Coast schedule.
“With the amount of vintage racing enthusiasts we have in the region, we’re excited to welcome the SVRA event back to NJMP next year and beyond,” stated NJMP General Manager, Brad Scott. “We’re pleased to add another great event weekend to our schedule and look forward to working with Tony [Parella] and his team moving forward.”
The agreement with Watkins Glen International will bring the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix to The Glen for the next three years as well. In 2013, the event will conclude the Watkins Glen International race season on September 6-8. SVRA has been an integral part of The Glen’s schedule for the last 27 years.
SVRA President and Tony Parella CEO stated, “[w]e are extremely proud and excited to continue our partnership with Watkins Glen International in presenting the U.S. Vintage Grand prix through September 2015. This race, with its annual Grand Prix Festival and parade laps of the original 6.6 mile road course, is the best attended and most popular event on our schedule each year.”
SVRA will announce their complete 2013 schedule by the end of October.
For more information, visit www.svra.com.
