Another mainstay on the WeatherTech Raceway schedule is the Aug. 15-18 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
“Tens of thousands of car enthusiasts come to Monterey every August for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,” McGrane said. “It is the only Monterey Car Week event where you can see the classic racing machines go out on track. This year, we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of IMSA. More of the race groups will feature sports cars and endurance legends that are directly tied to the history of the series.
“Hurley Haywood is going to serve as grand marshal,” McGrane added. “We are also pleased to confirm that two-time Formula One champion Mika Hakkinen will be making special demonstration laps in the 1970 McLaren M8D/3 that the late Dan Gurney drove during the 1970 Can-Am season.”
But the biggest new addition at WeatherTech Raceway this season will be the creation of Monterey Speed Week, which kicks off Sept. 13-15 with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and wraps up with the Firestone Monterey Grand Prix for the NTT IndyCar Series Sept. 20-22.
“Advance ticket sales numbers indicate significant growth for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” McGrane told SPEED SPORT. “That doesn’t come as a surprise due to the momentum of the series and tremendous racing in the prototype and GT classes with world-class drivers and abundant factory support.
“This year kicks off what we are calling Monterey Speed Week, which starts with IMSA’s championship weekend and includes an Indy car test day Sept. 19, the Firestone Monterey Grand Prix Sept. 20-22 and various activities throughout the week,” McGrane continued. “Although we are pleased that the feature races at both the IMSA and IndyCar events will be broadcast live nationally on NBC, it will be an experience that you will truly want to be at the track to enjoy.
“Fans have been calling to reserve tickets, camping and VIP hospitality at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey from the moment they went on sale,” McGrane said. “There is a lot of buildup to the season finale of the NTT IndyCar Series, which will also conclude our 2019 premier event season.”
Not only is the IndyCar Series returning to WeatherTech Raceway for the first time since 2004, the event serves as the season finale for the series, creating great enthusiasm for the event among fans and competitors alike.
“The reaction to Indy cars returning after a 15-year absence has been overwhelmingly positive both locally and throughout the motorsports community,” McGrane explained. “Getting IndyCar back to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is something that our fans have been vocal about for some time.
“The opportunity to host the NTT IndyCar Series season finale ramps up the excitement even further knowing that the year-long championship will be decided in Monterey,” he added. “Many consider the track to be the spiritual road racing home of Indy cars with unforgettable moments such as Alex Zanardi making ‘The Pass’ in 1996, Bobby Rahal winning four consecutive events from 1983 to ’86, and Mario Andretti’s emotional retirement in 1994. We hope to make plenty of new memories this year and beyond.”
With appearances from the Trans-Am Series and Ferrari Racing Days already in the book at the 11-turn road course, a well-rounded schedule is important to the track’s success and popularity.
“There is something for all types of road racing fans at our premier events,” McGrane noted. “We began the premier event season with global GT3 endurance racing, saw the return of the contemporary Trans-Am Series after a 15-year absence, hosted the marquee event on Ferrari Challenge North America’s calendar — Ferrari Racing Days — continue to celebrate historic racing at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Monterey Pre-Reunion Races, bring motorcycle fans together for a can’t-miss MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO Motorcycle U.S. round with MotoAmericab and end the season with America’s top sports car and open-wheel series during back-to-back weekends.
“Additionally, we have track rentals operating year-round, host cycling events such as the Sea Otter Classic and a stage start of the Amgen Tour of California, have a regular Cars and Coffee gathering and host campers from nearby festivals and major events like the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.”