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GLOBAL TUNER GRAND PRIX

This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!

Published on Wed, Aug 4, 2010

By: The LACar Editorial Staff

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October 22nd-24th, 2010 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca THE CONCEPT: The Global Tuner Grand Prix is a spectator event inviting top performance tuners and racers from around the world to compete at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The GTGP is similar to international “time attack” competitions held in Europe and Asia but this is the first of its kind in North America and is being held on October 22nd-24th. This is 1 of 4 no sound restriction Pro format weekends at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. EVENT OUTLINE: This is the only event of its kind in North America where the best tuners and racers in the world will compete for the fastest lap time around this legendary circuit. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is the only track in North America where lap times for production cars are recognized by major manufacturers as well as the media worldwide. A lap time here is used as a measuring stick for a vehicles performance. (Equivalent to Nurburgring in Germany) The GTGP is the Main Event of the weekend with ALMS style open grid for teams and spectators. Unlike similar events held at remote race tracks, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a world renown racing facility and the GTGP captures world renown automotive performance companies and enthusiasts. The GTGP is where the best in the world will compete head to head over the course of 3 days. Top manufactures, tuners, drivers and teams from around the world will converge on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for 3 days of competition. Whether you are in the GTGP or the GTGP Challenge race you will experience the best that motorsport has to offer, from the competitors, vendors, manufactures to spectators and fans. This is an event not to be missed as the world will be watching the best in the business go to battle. The GTGP consists of 3 classes of cars, open to all Import, European and Domestic vehicles. This includes Street, Tuner and Unlimited. The 3 different classes each are bracketed in 3 categories that include FWD, RWD and AWD. In addition to these 3 classes GTGP will accept experienced Time Trial and Auto X competitors. We welcome all the top performance tuners in the world including all manufactures. THE GTGP Challenge Race is an all out wheel to wheel no holds barred 50 minute sprint race. The best of the best will compete for the top of the podium. Staged as a wheel to wheel race where anything can happen and the competition will be fierce. The field will consist of 60 entries of mixed makes and models. Automobiles will range from Porsche Cup, to Corvette, Viper, Skyline, EVO, STI, BMW M3 and more. Pirelli Driver’s Cup will feature two main events with a 45 min timed race on Saturday and a 45 min timed race on Sunday. The series runs both Porsche 996 and 997 GT3 Cup Cars, dedicated to providing a safe racing environment for all participants. The goal of the series...On Track with Competence. The Historic Motorsports Association is participating with a 30 min sprint race on Saturday running vintage and historic stock cars to their limits taking you back in time to how hard wheel to wheel racing used to be. Created in 1977 The Historic Motor Sports Association is one of the most respected historic racing organizations in the United States, producing world class spectator events across the country. HMSA members own, restore, preserve and race the most historic and valuable sports and racing cars in the world. HMSA events feature historic production cars built through 1966 and purpose built Formula, Sports Racing and IMSA cars built through 1984. Experience the sounds and thunder of the best race cars of their time from some of some of the biggest names in racing have been delivered over the years, AJ Foyt, Bobby Allison, Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt and more.

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Event Features: Car Corrals- Porsche, Audi, BMW, Corvette, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Nissan, Honda, Ferrari, Lamborghini and more. VIP Car Show on Saturday down by the Yamaha market place. Vendor and Manufactures displays in the main paddock as well as the Yamaha market place. Red Carpet Gala is a fun filled party with an opportunity to mingle with the competitors and automotive executives taking place in the ballroom at the Embassy Suites Hotel Saturday evening on October 23rd. Presentation of the GTGP competitors “Best in Show” award will be given based on participant votes. Key note speakers will highlight the evening festivities with appearances by celebrities and motorsports professionals. MARKETING PLAN: The GTGP is promoting our event in print, radio, TV and online. The marketing focus is aimed to capture all motorsports and automotive enthusiasts as possible as this is a spectator event. Websites that cater to this target audience are from all demographics. Male to female ratio is 60/40 and age range is 16-60. The GTGP is attracting attention from high profile race car drivers, manufactures, celebrities, racing enthusiasts and national media. A print and online ad campaign initiative is already underway. The phrase “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” has been around the auto industry for decades. The GTGP will break new ground in showcasing products and involving the direct consumer where “race on Sunday, establish brand loyalty on Sunday” sets a new bar for experiential marketing. Working as a team with our corporate and media partners we believe will bring the best results for everyone. We want to understand the needs and objectives of our sponsors to help define the scope and goals to create a successful experience. This means collaborating on strategies and implementing all the resources available in the tool box to maximize the exposure and outreach to spectators and followers. ABOUT MAZDA LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved race track, originally constructed in 1957 near Monterey, California, USA. The current racetrack is 2.238 miles (3.602 km) in length with a 300 foot (91 m) elevation change. It has eleven turns, including the famous "Corkscrew" at Turns 8 and 8A. The first race, held on November 9, 1957 won by a Ferrari. In the intervening years, the track has hosted USRRC, Can Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, IMSA GT, Champ Car, American Le Mans Series, Grand American, Monterey Historic Automobile Races, World Challenge, AMA,WSBK Superbike World Championship and MotoGP. For over 50 years top manufactures have tuned and tested at this facility, major championships have been decided here and history has been made in all forms of motorsport at this legendary circuit. Today major automotive magazines along with top manufactures rely on this circuit to be a measuring stick to judge a cars performance. This is the only track in North America that rewards a complete package in terms of a vehicles performance and is also recognized by every automotive manufacture in the world. The 11 turn configuration is one of the most challenging racing circuits in the world with each corner and each straightaway testing both man and machine and pushing them beyond limits, yet each section offers different challenges. A lap time recorded at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a testament to both a driver’s skill and a car’s performance and is recognized around the world. For more information, go to globaltunergp.com.

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