Trans-Am Series Announces Eight Dates on 2012 Schedule

MIAMI Fla. –The Trans Am Race Company today confirmed eight races on the 2012 Trans Am Series schedule.

 

“We had two key objectives in putting the 2012 calendar together,” said John Clagett, President, Trans Am Race Company. “Objective one was to build a schedule that would flow logically, whereby reducing team travel costs. The second objective was to showcase Trans Am at America’s great race tracks.”? 

“We accomplished what we set out to do,” concluded Clagett. “The 2012 schedule substantially reduces travel costs, by as much as 40 percent.  We narrowed our choice of venues to those that made sense geographically.   This will make it possible for teams to stretch their budgets and make additional races, and that’s the bottom line.”

 

“With respect to our second goal,” continued Clagett, “we’re delighted to be returning to four venues that hosted Trans Am races in 2011, while re-establishing partnerships with four circuits that promoted Trans Am races in previous years."

 

The 2012 season will kick off in May with back to back races on traditional holiday weekends.  The opener is at Mosport International Raceway, May 20, in which it will be part of the annual Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend, where Trans Am will share the billing with the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

 

“The Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend has been a long standing tradition at Mosport as we get our racing season underway with one of the biggest camping weekends of the year,” said Myles Brandt, President and General Manager of Mosport International Raceway.   The Trans Am Series is always a crowd favorite.”

 

The Trans Am Series returns to American soil to celebrate Memorial Day in the most traditional of ways – at Lime Rock Park.  There will be a new twist though, with the race to be held Saturday, May 26.

 

“Trans Am, evocative of the best kind of racing Lime Rock Park has ever seen, has a long and storied history,” said track owner Skip Barber. “With multiple classes, Trans Am today harks back to its very beginnings, when the best sports cars duked it out with the brutish V8s. To have this recently rejuvenated pony car and sports car series returning to Lime Rock is an exciting prospect for everyone who comes here.”

 

Trans Am visits the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 10, as part of the Grand-Am weekend.

 

“I’m excited about the addition of Mid-Ohio,” said Clagett.  “It will mark our 25th visit to the circuit, arguably one of the finest road racing circuits in the USA.  There’s been a lot of Trans Am history made at Mid-Ohio.   Many of the greatest, most recognizable names of Trans Am, dating back to the beginning, have been victorious at Mid-Ohio, including the likes of Mark Donohue, Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Scott Pruett, Tommy Kendall and Paul Gentilozzi.”? ?New Jersey Motorsports Park will follow July 1, and just like in 2009, it will showcase Trans Am, Vintage Trans Am, in combination with ARCA.

 

“New Jersey presents a unique opportunity,” added Clagett.  “We’ll have Trans Am history on full display with the modern day Trans Am and Vintage Trans Am coming together to celebrate our great heritage.”

 

Up next for Trans Am is a visit to one of the country’s truly legendary circuits – Watkins Glen International on July 8.  It will mark the 27th visit to the up-state New York circuit.

 

“Watkins Glen and Trans Am.  It just makes sense,” said Clagett.  “A legendary circuit and a iconic series.  There’s something magical about that pairing.”

 

Mid-August will bring Trans Am to Road America on the 19th, when it partners again with the American Le Mans Series.    

 

“Road America has promoted more Trans Am races than any other circuit in North America,” noted Clagett.  “The roar of V8 powered Trans Am machinery as they work their way around the 4 mile circuit is something special.”

 

“Road America takes a great amount of pride in its long history with the Trans Am Series and appreciates the drivers who value the competitive challenge of our historic circuit,” said George Bruggenthies, Road America President.

 

The series heads for the home stretch with its third visit to Brainerd International Raceway for the 24th Annual Muscle Car Shootout on Labor Day weekend, where once again, the circuit is promoting a Trans Am feature on the road course, while the drag strip plays host to a muscle car themed spectacular as well.

 

“It will be great to have Trans Am back at Brainerd for the third straight year,” said Gary Curtis, Brainerd International Raceway General Manager. “It is important to restore the tradition and history of Trans Am that dates back to 1969.”

 

For the third season in a row, the calendar closes at Road Atlanta with a Nov. 4 race held as part of the SCCA American Road Race of Champions.   

 

“The 2011 season finale at Road Atlanta was a huge success, with the highest entry of the season,” said Clagett.  “We are really excited about partnering with SCCA on its Road Race of Champions weekend.  It’s a win-win.”

 

There remains the possibility that the Trans Am Series will add one to two additional races.

 

2012 Trans Am Series Schedule

May 20, Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada

May 26 Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn.

June 10 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio

July 1, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, N.J.

July 8, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

August 19, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Sept. 2, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.

Nov. 4, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.