Following the closest finish in Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series history at California Speedway in Fontana April 3, the road warriors of the Rolex Series and the Grand-Am Cup head to one of the most spectacular road courses in the country April 29-May 1 for the U.S. Sports Car Invitational at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Opening the door for the inaugural visit of the series to the world-renowned 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course will be MarqueMADNESS Fueled by Shell V-Power, a gathering of sports car enthusiasts from all over the Western United States for a unique “all-marques” festival that begins Thursday, April 28.

The U.S. Sports Car Invitational Presented by Shell V-Power April 29-May 1 will be the season opener for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, featuring the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series for Daytona Prototypes and GT cars as well as the Grand-Am Cup for high-performance street stock cars. There will also be open-wheel and sedan support series in action.

MarqueMADNESS Fueled by Shell V-Power will provide an opportunity for participants to do “warm laps” during a Touring Day at the raceway Thursday, April 28, in addition to an inter-marque shootout autocross competition at the Marina Airport that continues through Friday. MarqueMADNESS will also feature festival-style marque corrals during the race weekend, and two inter-marque rallyes. Additional marque club activities will include a parade laps/photo event, Funcours, special displays and camaraderie. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the international Wheelchair Foundation and to Rancho Cielo in Salinas, a home for at risk youth.

The marque corrals will provide race fans yet another opportunity to view a large variety of sports cars as club members and individuals proudly display their machines while the best sports car racing in the country is taking place on track.

Associate sponsor Yokohama/ADVAN tires will give away a total of 23 sets of the high-performance tires as prizes and Piloti will be giving away 36 pairs of shoes to other lucky participants in the four-day festival.

“We welcome participation and the support of ventures such as MarqueMADNESS,” said Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO/General Manager Gill Campbell. “The organizers are putting together an interesting and stimulating event that will involve car enthusiasts from all sorts of clubs and feature numerous makes and models.”

The MarqueMADNESS organizing committee has designed the festival “to provide an exciting, new and unique marque club event that will stimulate enthusiast participation, assist in retention of participating clubs’ members, help attract new members, create cross-club linkages and raise money for worthy charities.”

In addition to watching world-class sports car racing, MarqueMADNESS attendees will have options to participate in:

• Reserved, festive marque corrals during the race weekend
• Touring Day – April 28th, this is a chance to drive the legendary Laguna circuit at “warm lap” pace with a passenger
• Leadership Forum – April 29th, an opportunity for club leaders to share experience and ideas
• Marque Club Shootout Autocross – April 28th and 29th at Marina Airport
• Two rallyes – one TSD - April 29th and one just for fun, on the 30th
• Race Car transformation – watch a street car on Friday, April 29th built into a Mazdaspeed Miata Cup race car and run in Sunday’s race
• Tour de Vin – April 29th, 30th in the Monterey Wine Country
• MarqueMADNESS Island – with a private tent, live TV feed of race action
• MarqueMixer BBQ – included in the ticket – dinner on the 30th with other club members and car owners as well as pro drivers from the Rolex series and others
• “Funcours” – a fun show and shine event – is your car the winner of the “MAD to HAVE” award?
• Road & Track Magazine’s “Car I most want to drive” award – with an article in this leading magazine

Included in the program will be time built in for club members to exchange ideas to improve and strengthen their own clubs. There will also be a number of off-track activities, including dining and shopping on the spectacular Monterey Peninsula.

To register and purchase tickets (includes race tickets) or for further information about MarqueMADNESS Fueled by Shell V-Power, log on to www.marquemadness.com or call (510) 528-2050.

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