SCCA Pro Racing to sanction Shelby Cobra Challenge

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 6, 2001

CENTENNIAL, Colo. --SCCA Pro Racing Ltd. and the Newport Beach, Calif.-based Shelby Cobra Challenge have announced a sanctioning agreement beginning with the 2002 season for the upstart Shelby Cobra Challenge Senior Racing Series.

Announced this past weekend at the Molson Indy Vancouver event at Concord Pacific Place as a marketing and promotional partnership between the Shelby Cobra Challenge and Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), the Senior Racing Series will showcase such accomplished drivers as Mario Andretti, Bob Bondurant, Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby and Al Unser, Parnelli Jones, Johnny Rutherford, Danny Sullivan and other racing champions in equally-prepared Challenge Cobra racecars.

The series released a preliminary schedule of six races in 2002 run in conjunction with the CART FedEx Championship Series at Monterrey (Mexico), Portland, Cleveland, Mid-Ohio, Road America and Laguna Seca.

"This is an exciting new series that will allow race fans to watch some of the greatest drivers of all time compete in the new Challenge Cobra racecar," said Mitch Wright, SCCA Pro Racing Vice President and General Manager. "Any time you can put past champions from Formula One, Indy cars and Trans-Am together on the track at the same time, you've got something pretty special."

"We're excited about these new relationships with CART and SCCA Pro Racing," said David Parcell, Shelby Cobra Challenge co-founder. "To be able to marry the legends of racing and one of the most legendary sports cars in the world is a dream come true. Like fans, we can't wait to see, hear and feel the rumble of the Challenge Cobras as they race on the biggest road racing weekends across the country."

The Challenge Cobra racecar is based on the new Shelby American CSX 4000 Series Cobra, powered by a Ford 351 cubic inch engine producing up to 500 horsepower.

In addition to the Shelby Cobra Challenge Senior Racing Series, SCCA Pro Racing, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sports Car Club of America, is the sanctioning body for the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup, the longest, continuously running road racing series in North America; the Speedvision World Challenge GT and Touring Car Championships, offering the most exciting production-based road racing; and the Pro Spec Racer series, a great training ground in identically-prepared sports racers.

Text provided by Eric Prill

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.