TRACK: 1999 San Diego Grand Prix Track Layout Unveiled
14 March 1999
High-speed Le Mans-style race cars will take to the streets of San Diego this fall at the first annual San Diego Grand Prix, to be held at the site of the former Naval Training Center on San Diego Bay from November 5 to November 7, 1999.The 1.53 mile course features a long straightaway right along the waters of San Diego Bay's shoreline, according to San Diego Grand Prix Association officials, who unveiled details of the three-day racing spectacle today.
The San Diego Grand Prix will be the eighth and final race of the 1999 American Le Mans Series, featuring the top sports car racing teams fielding Porsche, Ferrari, Riley & Scott and Lola. Manufacturers Audi, BMW, General Motors and Panoz have entered works cars in the American Le Mans Series.
Race participants will include private teams as well as the world's leading sports car manufacturers competing in three classes of cars as defined by the ACO for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Prototype class is open to cars from the World Sports Car (WSC) category. The GTS class is for GT2 cars such as Porsche 911s, Corvettes and the Saleen/Allen Mustang. The next class is the GT class for GT3 cars like the Porsche 911 RSR and BMW M3.
The prototype sports cars, boasting 700-plus horsepower, are similar to those raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
"This location will make for great racing, and we are thrilled to be bringing such an exciting event to San Diego" said David Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego Grand Prix Association.
"We have a strong team of internationally recognized racing and event engineers who have designed a course that provides maximum fan viewing and great racing for the drivers," said Mitchell. "We are grateful for the support we've received from the City of San Diego in securing this venue," said Bruce Watkins, managing director of the San Diego Grand Prix. "The event will also bring millions of dollars of economic benefit to the San Diego region." "I think hosting a Grand Prix event is a wonderful opportunity for San Diego, the operators have assured me that state-of-the-art noise mitigation measures, coupled with remote parking and shuttle systems, will protect the surrounding community from negative impacts," said Deputy Mayor Byron Wear. "The Grand Prix also presents a chance to showcase the Naval Training Center and a sometimes forgotten north San Diego Bay."
The San Diego event will be the final race of the 1999 American Le Mans Series. Other races are scheduled in Sebring, Fla., Georgia's Road Atlanta, Mosport, Ontario, Canada, Portland, OR, Sears Point, CA and Laguna Seca ,CA.
"In all my years of motorsports racing, I have never seen a street course with as much going for it as the former NTC site offers," said Brian Turner, general manager of the San Diego Grand Prix. "It will truly be a world class event."
The November 5-7 event weekend will also feature a number of support races including the Women's Global GT Series.
The high-profile American Le Mans Series has already secured a seven-race broadcast package with NBC including three live broadcasts on the primary network. The season will begin in March with the 12 Hours of Sebring.
The San Diego Grand Prix will be governed by rules and specifications under license from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) which organizes and sanctions the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The ALMS series will be sanctioned by Professional Sports Car Racing.
NOTE: For additional background information on the American Le Mans Series visit www.americanlemans.com