Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Adds SPEED World Challenge

The on-track action at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will be even more diversified and intense with today’s announcement that the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship has been added to the lineup at the August 29-31, 2008 Labor Day weekend celebration.

Joining a power-packed schedule that also features the exotic sports cars of the American Le Mans Series and the high-speed open-wheel machines of the newly-unified IndyCar Series, the SPEED World Challenge GT Championship will add to the excitement and competition on the two-mile Raceway at Belle Isle Park street circuit.

Featuring such top production-based cars as the Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Ford Mustang Cobra and Porsche 911 GT3, SCCA SPEED GT includes coupes and sedans ranging in horsepower from 425-550 hp. A field between 22-25 cars is expected to race wheel-to-wheel in the added event at the picturesque Belle Isle circuit along the Detroit River on Labor Day weekend.

“We’re very excited to add the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship to our 2008 racing lineup," said Bud Denker, Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Event Chairman. “After a very entertaining Grand Prix race weekend in 2007 that included both the American Le Mans Series and the IndyCar Series, our fans told us they wanted even more racing action. SCCA SPEED GT is the perfect addition for a race weekend in the Motor City because it brings great racing and it features a number of terrific manufacturers – including the ‘Big Three’ competing right here in their own backyard."

The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will be the eighth event on the 10-race SCCA SPEED GT 2008 schedule. The series will take to the Belle Isle streets for practice on both Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30. The SPEED GT cars will qualify on Sunday morning, August 31 before lining up for a 50-minute race that will conclude before the start of the IndyCar Series race later that afternoon. The SCCA SPEED GT race from Detroit will be broadcast on tape-delay on the SPEED television network.

“It’s a great opportunity for the SCCA SPEED World Challenge to come to Detroit and compete in front of great racing fans in the automotive capital of the world," said SCCA Pro Racing President and CEO Bob Wildberger. “We know how important the Grand Prix is to Detroit and its revitalization and it’s important to our series as well. We’re looking forward to adding some more excitement to a wonderful holiday weekend of racing."

This summer’s Grand Prix will mark a return for World Challenge racing in Detroit. The series raced at the 2001 Detroit Grand Prix with Peter Cunningham claiming victory in an Acura NSX.

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