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The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GTvehicles. The field is divided into five classes that start together but are classified separately:
GT class:
American Le Mans Series (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This most popular class among car manufacturers traditionally receives the most support: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series like the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms. LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and a 900 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECAFLM 09.
Seinfeld Joins Singer as Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV Grand Marshal for October 14 – 16 Event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey
ATLANTA — October 10, 2011 – The man who inspired many of the Porsche race cars that will be on display at the upcoming Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be joined by the man who has one of the most significant collections of those cars, as Jerry Seinfeld has been named co-Grand-Marshal with retired Porsche Engineer Norbert Singer.
Seinfeld, who will bring a number of his most-prized cars to Rennsport, was honored to be named to share the Grand Marshal duties with Singer.
“Norbert Singer is one Porsche’s most brilliant innovators and someone I have always wanted to meet. I am thrilled to join him in Monterey for Rennsport IV as Co-Grand Marshal,” said Seinfeld.
Seinfeld’s participation is particularly appropriate as Rennsport IV is honoring the Porsche 911. Included in his collection is the first production 911 (1964) and the last production air-cooled 911 – a 1998 993 that he bought from the factory – the last 993 to roll down the assembly line.
His collection, a mixture of street cars and race cars, includes a street-version Porsche 959 (not legal to drive in the U.S.) – one of only 200 ever built. Others include the Porsche 917K that Steve McQueen drove in the movie Le Mans, a 1959 straight-16 GT speedster; and a 1955 Spyder 550 — the same model and pearl-grey color actor as the James Dean car.
About Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV
Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be the world’s greatest gathering of Porsche race cars and the drivers that drove them to victory, held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from October 14 to 16, 2011. Hosted by Porsche Cars North America, it will assemble the wide variety of Porsche’s most historic racing models from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-Fifties through the mighty 917 and 956/962 of the Seventies and Eighties to the highly successful RS Spyder of the last decade.
Special tribute will be paid to the numerous racing versions of the Porsche 911 and their countless victories on the dawn of what will become another milestone of this iconic sports car.
Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be published on Porsche’s press web site (press.porsche.com), and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s web site (http://www.mazdaraceway.com), Ticket information is available by contacting 800-327-7322 or online at www.mazdaraceway.com.
About Porsche Cars North America
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, the Cayenne SUV and Panamera Gran Turismo. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and employs approximately 220 people who provide parts, service, marketing and training for 196 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brand’s 63-year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency. At the core of this success is Porsche’s proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000 motorsport wins to date.
Ticketholders for next weekend’s big Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV (October 14-16) receive an added bonus to the price of admission. The entire top deck of the Red Bull Energy Center high atop the race track will be open to view the on-track racing.
The panorama viewing deck, located across the Start/Finish line, atop the Red Bull Energy Center is normally reserved entirely for private hospitality.
But this weekend, fans can gain access to the birds-eye perch on top of the hospitality suite as part of their general admission ticket.
Tickets will be sold at the gate, but be sure to arrive at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca early. You’re not going to want to miss any of the excitement. Such as…
George Follmer and Mark Donohue in Porsches pace the 1972 Can-Am race here.
Porsche loyalists will flock to the Monterey Peninsula October 14-16 when Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca hosts Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV.
Complementing the hundreds of historic Porsche race cars competing or on special display in the open paddock, are a number of fan activities that will appeal to the young and young-at-heart.
One of the highlights will be a chance to visit with more than 50 legendary Porsche drivers who will be attending and signing autographs each of the three days. It will be a rare opportunity to mingle and hear stories of their competitive days.
On Saturday, there will be a remarkable collection of Porsches lining up for an afternoon Concours on Pit Lane where judges will be hard-pressed to select overall winners in a variety of categories.
Then, when the sun is setting, the Porsche Fan Party in the Biergarten kicks into full swing with live music, authentic German food and a screening of the classic Steve McQueen film “LeMans.”
Ringing the bustling Yamaha Marketplace and all its exhibitors and food stops, will be an 800-plus Porsche Car Corral. The Porsche Club of America is organizing what is likely to be the largest single marque car corral in Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca history, a remarkable accomplishment in its own right.
“There is going to be so much for visitors to do once they are here, it is going to be nearly impossible to cover it all in one day,” says Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
“Rennsport occurs only once every three years and Porsche Cars North America is ensuring that its West Coast debut will be a memorable one.”
Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will bring together many of Porsche’s most historic racing models from the Spyder of the mid-‘50s through the 917 and 956/962 of the ‘70s and ‘80s to the popular RS Spyder of the last decade.
Additionally, a special tribute will be paid to the numerous racing versions of the Porsche 911.
By whatever means available, Porsche loyalists will find their way to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca October 14-16 for the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV.
The event makes its first West Coast appearance and brings together some of Porsche’s most historic racing models as well as featuring the North American debut of the 2012 Porsche 911.
Helicopter flights are available to and from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca starting at $99 each way or $150 round trip from Monterey Regional Airport. Rates are per person.
Charter service is also available with advance reservations from most Bay Area airports including San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland.
Specialized Helicopters features a team of dedicated pilots and a fleet of state-of-the-art Robinson helicopters. Please contact Specialized Helicopters at 831-763-2244 or log on to www.specializedheli.com for more information.
Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) provides rides from Carmel, Seaside, Monterey and Salinas on lines 36, 37, 38 and 39 respectively, dropping off to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Please visit the MST website www.mst.org or call 1-888-MST-BUS1 for more information.
Area companies such as Main Event Transportation (www.maineventlimosines.com), American International Transportation Services (www.aitslimo.com) and CCM&E Destination Services (www.ccm-e.com) can be contacted for hire by those race fans who want to travel to the track in complete comfort.
Also available to race fans is taxi service that can bring them from their hotel to the race track. Contact Central Coast Taxi (831-626-3333) or Yellow Cab (831-375-3155).
Mazda Raceway aerial view – source Motor Trend
Several entryways will be open allowing for swift arrival and departure.
The South Boundary entrance provides an entry/exit point for spectators coming in from Highway 1 from the North. For race fans coming to the track from Salinas and Southern California the Barloy Canyon entrance will be open on Saturday.
By whatever means they choose, one thing is for sure – it’s going to be a great day at the races. Free parking is available.
“While the Rennsport name has become a staple fixture for international collectors and racers over the past ten years, choosing the Monterey Peninsula will open up this one-of-a-kind gathering to the many Porsche fans in California and beyond who were previously unable to attend,” said Detlev von Platen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Cars North America.
“Now they’ll have the opportunity to see, feel and hear from up close hundreds of famous Porsche race cars and dozens of their drivers from past and present during a truly memorable weekend dedicated to Porsche’s motorsport heritage.”
Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will assemble the wide variety of Porsche’s most historic racing models from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-Fifties through the mighty 917 and 956/962 of the Seventies and Eighties to the highly successful GT3 RSR.
Special tribute will be paid to the numerous racing versions of the Porsche 911 and their countless victories on the dawn of what will become another milestone of this iconic sports car.
“This will truly be a rare gathering of significant Porsche race cars on the West Coast,” commented Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
“Porsche has a long racing tradition in Monterey and we look forward to celebrating its heritage in a befitting manner for everyone to enjoy.”
Complementing the Rennsport Reunion IV venue is the Porsche Race Car Classic, an exclusive concours held at nearby Quail Lodge in Carmel on Sunday, October 16.
Steve Heinrichs, producer of the Porsche Race Car Classic, explained, “this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of vintage Porsche race cars solely from Porsche’s break-out era of 1950-1965 will raise critical funding to directly support lung cancer research. We’ll have Gmünds, Glöcklers, 550s, 718s, 804s, 904s, 356s, Abarths and more – in numbers and provenance never before seen.”
Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV ticket information is available by contacting 800-327-7322 or online at http://www.mazdaraceway.com.
Porsche and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca are working in association with the Porsche Race Car Classic to combine efforts to raise awareness for the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Program.
First roll-out will be part of Porsche’s celebration of a 48-year success story
By the late 1950s it was obvious to Porsche that the 356, which was the company’s sole product line since 1948, needed to be updated. Replacing it was necessary, yet perilous.
Who knew that the eventual replacement for the 356, the 911, would surpass its predecessor in sales, longevity and glory?
Or that it would be so fanatically cherished by its owners that Porsche hasn’t been allowed to replace it. Or that the Company would be introducing its latest iteration all the way in 2011?
And, with Porsche Motorsport concentrating on its development of prototypes for Le Mans and elsewhere, there wasn’t much initial effort by the factory for racing the 911, but it became the most successful race car in history, with hundreds of samples of its 48-year legacy to be displayed and raced at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, October 14 – 16, 2011, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey.
The surprise is that the new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera, the completely redesigned seventh-generation sports car icon, and a fore-bearer of race cars to come, will be on display for the first time in North America for Porsche enthusiasts to see up close at Rennsport Reunion IV.
“As the 911 race car and street car histories are completely intertwined, it is fitting to show our latest 911 at a motor racing extravaganza,” said Bernd Harling, who is heading up Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV for event host Porsche Cars North America.
“Everyone will see that this newborn is truly a member of the family,” said Harling.
From every angle it is unmistakably a 911, holding true to the Porsche 911 Carrera evolution, not revolution’ design philosophy. The new car has a longer wheel base, but is both lower and lighter than its predecessor. With its two engine sizes, the new 911 Carrera is able to provide improved performance and handling, and even better fuel economy than before.
The 911 Carrera is equipped with a 3.4-liter, 350hp six-cylinder boxer engine, while the Carrera S is fitted with a 3.8-liter, 400hp six-cylinder boxer powerplant, both with the optional PDK transmission available.
The new Porsche 911 Carrera celebrated its world premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, while the official North American debut will be held at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The first new 911 models will arrive in U.S. dealerships beginning in February of 2012.
It took a while for Porsche Motorsport to warm up to the 911 as a race car, but, as has happened several times in the company’s history, the customers took the lead. Almost as soon as the 911 went into production, buyers were using it in hill climbs and autocrosses and Porsche itself started to produce lightweight and enhanced performance vehicles for their motorsports customers.
In 1967, Porsche built 20 911 “R” models stripped interiors (no carpet, for instance), thin-skinned aluminum doors, fiberglass deck lids, taillights swiped from a Fiat, oversize carbs, a magnesium engine case, dual spark plug cylinder heads and much more. With about 210 horsepower on board, these race-ready, lightweight rockets were the start of the 911 racing legend.
Vic Elford, one of the most famous Porsche drivers in history, was one of the first to compete in the Porsche 911 at a high level, winning in the mid-‘60s in England using a race with the very first demo model imported by the factory distributor, and later driving to victory in 1968 at the Monte Carlo Rally.
The Porsche 911 race car started to make noise in the U.S. when IMSA’s Camel GT series started in 1970, with Brumos Racing and Hurley Haywood taking their 1970 Porsche 911S to its first championship in the 1972 season. Haywood and co-driver and Brumos co-owner Peter Gregg went on to win IMSA championships in 1973, 1974, and 1975.
After the Porsche 911 Carrera RS and RSR models won IMSA and Trans-Am championships in the mid-70s, the company introduced the radical Porsche 934 and 935 race cars – 911 silhouette bodied cars with big, twin-turbocharged engines. After being banned for a season from the Camel GT, they came back with a roar to become the cars to beat in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
The 1980s and early 90s were prime time for Porsche Motorsport’s 956 and 962 prototype race cars, and the 911 took a bit of a back seat on the GT side to Porsche 924 and 944-based models.
Then, in 1997, Porsche introduced the GT class 911 GT2R at Le Mans where this 996-based water-cooled coupe promptly won its class, followed by the famous Porsche 911 GT1 which gave Porsche its last overall victory at Le Mans (1998).
The current generation of 911 race cars, initiated by the introduction of the Porsche 911 GT3 R in 1999, and promptly driven to the 1999 American Le Mans Series GT championship by Cort Wagner. The iteration of this family is the current Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, with Dick Barbour Racing, Alex Job Racing, and Flying Lizard Motorsports – all U.S.-based teams – leading Porsche to victories in U.S. sports car championships a well as Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans.
The other family of 911 race cars, in production since 1989, is the 911 GT3 Cup, which was developed for the Porsche Supercup and Carrera Cup one-marque series which take place around the globe. The latest version, the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which also competes in the American Le Mans Series, the IMSA GT3 challenge by Yokohama, SCCA World Challenge, and Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series, will have its own feature race during the Rennsport weekend.
Porsche Car Corral Nearly Sold Out Five Weeks in Advance of Event
Anticipation for the first-ever West coast appearance of Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV October 14-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is running high.
Complementing the more than 350 of the rarest Porsche race cars competing on the track will be an unprecedented field of 800-plus Porsches staged in the traditional car corral area. The demand is so swift and the support from the Porsche Club of America so positive that an additional parking area with limited space is being designated as another Porsche car corral.
“This is the first-time a single marque has completely occupied the entire car corral area,” explained Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “The Monterey Peninsula will be a Porsche-lovers paradise, and one that will be long remembered by participants, fans, the community and local businesses.”
An impressive lineup of Porsche race and sports cars, and what quite possibly will be the largest reunion of former and current Porsche drivers will be attending. More than 50 legendary drivers will be available for autograph sessions, mingling and plenty of story-telling of their days driving the now-legendary Porsche race cars.
In addition to the already full Rennsport Reunion IV weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the Porsche Race Car Classic, an exclusive display of more than 180 of Porsche’s silver race cars from the 1950s and early ‘60s will be held on the lawns of the nearby Quail Lodge in Carmel on Sunday, October 16.
Jacky Ickx at the wheel of the 1977 Porsche 935 “Baby,” which now resides at the Porsche Museum.
September 29, 2011 – Press Release
More than 350 Porsche race cars have been accepted to participate in the on-track racing during Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, October 14-16.
They will tackle the historic 11-turn Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, where many of these same cars once turned a wheel in anger during their professional racing day.
Complementing the race cars in the paddock will be a very special display of approximately 50 Porsche race cars that will be showcased to Porsche fans, and each one has its own story.
This includes cars from two very significant collections: the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany, and The Revs Institute for Automotive Research at the Collier Collection in Naples, Florida.
Special cars from Porsche Museum include:
1971 Porsche 16-Cylinder, the only one built and intended for the Can-Am series
1973 Porsche 911 RSR, winner of the last Targa Florio
1977 935/2.0 “Baby,” which “added lightness”
“Moby Dick,” the original that many consider to be the ultimate 935 Porsche
Porsche 961, considered to be the “Uberporsche” race car, and is the one and only
911 GT-1 98 LM, which is widely thought to be the ultimate 911
The Revs Institute is an internationally-recognized collection that focuses not only on the automobile as a technological device, but as an agent for social and economic change, and worthy to be considered among the masterpieces of creativity. This 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational foundation is a vast collection in the highly specialized field of automotive historical research, comprising an enormous resource on automotive history for scholars, historians, media, institutions and academia.
Cars from the Revs Institute’s exhibit: “Porsche: Designed to Excel” include:
1953 Porsche 550 Coupe, the very first 550 built and raced at Le Mans
1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder, raced extensively in 1959 by now-legendary drivers
1960 Porsche Abarth-Carrera GTL, the only factory entry in the 1960 Le Mans
1967 Porsche 911R, winner of the 1969 Tour de France and Tour of Corsica
1971 Porsche 917K, of the famous Martini Racing Team, founded by Louise Piëch
“This is just a sampling of some of the significant Porsche race cars that will be visible for fans,” commented Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “With all the supporting entertainment, legendary Porsche drivers, vendors and fan activities, Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be a delight for everyone interested in motorsports.”
American Le Mans Series, round 8 in Laguna Seca, USA
Stuttgart.It beat them all – on the track and at the gas pump. At its first outing on the West Coast of the USA, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid beat all other GT vehicles in Laguna Seca.
With Porsche works drivers Romain Dumas (France) and Richard Lietz (Austria) at the wheel, it turned the fastest race lap on the challenging course in Monterey/California and conquered the six hour distance with just three pit stops, while its fastest opponents in the GT class had to stop five times: An impressive demonstration of Porsche Intelligent Performance.
Porsche’s strong performance at the riveting eighth round of the American Le Mans Series was rounded off by Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA):
With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, the title defenders won the GT class in a photo finish final and secured their first win of the season featuring the world’s fastest sports cars. For Porsche, this marked victory number three after Mid-Ohio and Baltimore.
Interest from the fans for the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid was enormous in California, as well. And the way the innovative sports car from Weissach – which started from the rear of the grid and was not eligible for points – chased through the field in just a few laps to snatch the lead caused a sensation in the grandstands.
The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid convinced with its consistently fast lap times and low fuel consumption and finished ahead of all other GT vehicles thanks to its ground-breaking drive concept.
“The start phase was huge fun, because it was relatively easy to overtake the slower competitors,” said Romain Dumas. “But it’s even more fun because we can apply superior tactics thanks to the lower fuel consumption. We are much more flexible and we made the most of this today.”
Richard Lietz stated: “We had the least pit stops of all the teams and showed clearly what the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid can do. We didn’t experience one technical problem and left all the other GT vehicles behind us. Our expectations have been far exceeded.”
Thrills and spills also characterized the fight for victory in the fiercely-contested GT class as always.
Spectacular tussles for positions on the track and in the pits as well as frequent changes at the lead were played out over the entire race – and in the last two hours, long after darkness had fallen on the Laguna Seca Raceway, events began to heat up: In the penultimate lap, Joerg Bergmeister squeezed past a BMW into second place with his Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports.
But the most successful GT pilot in the American Le Mans Series wasn’t yet finished.
He wanted victory – and in the final lap he pushed fast the leading Ferrari.
“That was our first win this season. We did it at last and it was high time for that,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “We didn’t have the fastest car in the field today, but we fought to the flag. That paid off. To go from third to first in the last laps – you don’t experience this every day in such a strongly-supported series.”
Patrick Long added: “Joerg won the race today. Our tactic was to keep out of any squabbles as much as possible and to have the car in one piece at the end to fight for victory. This worked, but the driving style of several competitors was clearly too tough today. It almost cost us the race.”
In the second Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche factory pilot Marco Holzer (Germany) joined forces with American Seth Neiman to bring home ninth place.
“The track was new for me and has to be one of the most beautiful in the USA. The race was a fantastic experience,” he said. “I’m pleased that we finished well. It was great fun.”
Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA) saw the flag in tenth with Paul Miller Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.
After wins from Mid-Ohio and Baltimore, luck evaded Wolf Henzler in Laguna Seca.
The Porsche works driver from Germany had taken over the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR from his teammate Bryan Sellers (USA) and was lying within striking distance of the top when a rival hit his rear shortly before the halfway point of the race.
The impact damaged the water pump and put a stop to Falken Tire’s recent run of successes.
“Such a retirement is of course hugely disappointing, especially after our wins of the last weeks,” Wolf Henzler said. “Now we have to roll up our sleeves and try to turn the best season for our team so far into a happy ending at Road Atlanta.”
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The ninth and final round of the American Le Mans Series takes place on 1 October on the Road Atlanta race track at Braselton, in the US State of Georgia.
At the same time as the penultimate race of the American Le Mans Series, Porsche teams were also fighting for championship honours in the equally as popular Grand-Am Series which held its final race on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington/Ohio. With the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by the successful customer team Brumos Racing, which is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS sports car, Americans Leh Keen and Andrew Davis secured the title with fourth place. The highlight of the exciting season was the Daytona 24 hour race in Florida, where Porsche kicked off the season with a double victory for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
Statistics: 8th race in Laguna Seca, California
Result GT class 1. Bergmeister/Long (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 236 laps
2. Müller/Hand (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 236
3. Melo/Vilander (BRA/SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, 236
4. Sharp/van Overbeek (USA/USA), Ferrari F458 Italia, 236
5. Werner/Auberlen (D/USA), BMW M3 GT, 236
6. Magnussen/Gavin (DK/GB), Chevrolet Corvette, 236
9. Holzer/Neiman (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 230
10. Maassen/Miller (D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 224
Result GTC class
1. Pumpelly/Ende (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 222 laps
2. J. Bleekemolen/Pappas/S. Bleekemolen (NL/USA/NL), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 222
3. Le Saffre/Faulkner (USA/IRL), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 221
Points’ standings GT class Drivers
1. Dirk Müller, Joey Hand, BMW, 145 points
2. Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet, 110
3. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen, BMW, 101
4. Jaime Melo, Toni Vilander, Ferrari, 90
5. Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers, Porsche, 77
6. Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 76
Teams
1. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 145 points
2. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 114
3. Risi Competizione, 90
4. Team Falken Tire, Porsche, 77
5. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 75
Facts and figures
This is the American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race.
GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR). GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup). LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms. LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight. LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.
All race cars start together but are classified separately according to their respective classes. This ensures exciting and diverse racing with many overtaking manoeuvres. Points are only awarded for placings in each class.
Stuttgart. That was close: In the hotly-contested qualifying for the six-hour race in Laguna Seca/California, Porsche works driver Patrick Long (USA) missed a second row grid spot by just one-thousandth of a second. Piloting the Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, which he shares with his works driver teammate Joerg Bergmeister for the eighth round of the American Le Mans Series on Saturday, Long set the fifth quickest time. Last year, the reigning GT champions won the classic in the dunes of Monterey.
“Our car’s balance is very good,” said Patrick Long. “Between the final practice and the qualifying we changed a couple of things on the car and that worked well. My quickest lap was perfect. We have an excellent set-up for the race.”
At the wheel of Falken Tire’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, the winning car at Mid-Ohio and Baltimore, Bryan Sellers (USA) posted the ninth quickest time. He contests the race with Porsche factory pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany). “We didn’t have an optimal set-up today, but we know that our car and the tyres will perform much better in the race than in the qualifying,” explained Bryan Sellers. Wolf Henzler added: “The circuit was very cold over the last days. Today we have sun and the asphalt temperatures were suddenly much higher. That changed everything. Our team still simply lacks the experience of reacting to such changes in a short timeframe.”
The innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0, with which the Porsche works drivers Romain Dumas (France) and Richard Lietz (Austria) conduct further tests at Laguna Seca, did not take part in the qualifying. At its debut on the West Coast of the USA, the vehicle is not eligible for points and starts from the back of the grid. At the final free practice, however, it demonstrated its huge potential turning the third quickest lap of all GT vehicles.
“We’ve improved the car step by step,” said Romain Dumas. “It’s a shame that we weren’t permitted to join the qualifying, we could have done with the extra practice for finding a good set-up. I last drove the car at Road Atlanta. Compared to last year’s version, the 2.0 has made huge progress.” Richard Lietz commented: “Okay, we have to start from the back tomorrow, but that is not a decisive handicap over a six hour race. I’m looking forward to showing the fans in the States how much fun a hybrid car can be because it’s efficient and quick swift at the same time.”
The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The regulations correspond to those of the Le Mans 24 hour race.
GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers is traditionally extremely well supported: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR). GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup). LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms. LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and an 825 kg minimum weight. LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.
All classes start together but are classified separately. This ensures racing that is exciting and constantly changing with many overtaking manoeuvres. Points are awarded only for placings in each class.
The 40,000 square-foot Park-in the-Paddock includes Genuine German Biergarten, Turf and Lots of Opportunities to Relax and Enjoy the Magic of Porsche Rennsport
This area, located behind the media center (where the tire companies usually set up for a race weekend), will feature an authentic German biergarten as well as German food and and a park atmosphere so Rennsport attendees can take a break from the on-track activity and absorb the experience. But Rennsport fans will still know that they are at a Porsche event, as the Park-in-the-Paddock will have plenty of sports car activity as well, according to Bernd Harling, Porsche’s Principal Communications Counsel and coordinator for Rennsport.
“Besides the food and drink, our Park-in-the-Paddock will include a center stage where driver introductions and all the autograph sessions will take place and live music will be played, as well as the very popular model car display, photo opportunities with the CARS movie star Sally Carrera – maybe our most famous 911 – and a Porsche Sport Driving School activity center,” said Harling.
“We also hope to have a sneak showing of a future Porsche model in the Park, but it’s a little too early to be able to confirm its appearance,” Harling teased.
Other activities around the paddock are taking shape as well for the October event, according to Harling.
“Porsche Motorsports North America, headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., will have a display not only to show its modern and vintage race car parts and service capabilities, but to encourage the many Porsche race car owners to take advantage of the company’s free technical advice offered to anyone who asks,” said Harling.
With the Porsche 911 being the featured race car of Rennsport IV, fans will also be able to view two 911 displays which help capture the history of this iconic sports car. The first is a special collection of the most significant 15 race cars in 911 history.
Will you agree with the organizer’s choice as there have been hundreds of important 911 race cars? This display in the pit lane garages will surely spark a friendly debate, but, with more than 100 racing 911s in the paddock, everyone’s personal choices won’t be far away.
The other 911 display is being assembled by the Porsche Club of America, and proved to be very popular at Porsche Rennsport III at Daytona in 2007. In order to show the progression of the Porsche 911 model, the club has assembled one car from each year, starting in 1965, when the 911 first appeared in the U.S., until today’s 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
Final Schedule Announced
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Porsche Cars North America have published an updated Rennsport schedule and race classification list based on the latest entries and input from competitors. Please click here to download a printer-friendly version
Porsche Rennsport Reunion Poster
PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION IV 2011
Event Schedule and Race Classification
Subject to change
Group 1: Gmund Cup
550, 550A, RSK, RS60-61 (4&8 cyl.) 2000 GSGT (Dreikantschaber), Abarth Carrera, 356 GT, and 356 (must have period racing history.) Group 2: Eifel Trophy
904 (4&6 cyl.), 914/6 GT, 911TR, 911ST, 911 (911 up to 2.5 liter), Lotus/Porsche, Cooper/Porsche (Pooper) etc, Elva/Porsche.
914’s & 911’s must have period racing history Group 3: Weissach Cup
906, 910, 907, 908, 908/2, 908/3 (8 cyl. & 6 turbo), 909, 917 (normally aspirated and turbocharged) Group 4: Carrera Trophy
911 (over 2.5 liter), RSR, 3.0 RSR, 2.1 Turbo, 934, 935, 936, 924 GTS, 924 GTR. Group 5: Stuttgart Cup
956, 962, GT1, WSC, RS Spyder. Group 6: Cayman Interseries/911 Invitational Group 7: PCA Club Racing
Porsche Club of America race cars
Group 8: Rennsport Reunion Cup – Porsche Cup Cars
FRIDAY, October 14, 2011
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration : Embassy Suites, Seaside
8:00 a.m. – 8:20 a.m. Practice Group 1 – Gmund Cup
8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Practice Group 2 – Eifel Trophy
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Practice Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. Practice Group 3 – Weissach Cup
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Practice Group 5 – Stuttgart Cup
10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Practice Group 6 – Cayman Interseries/911 Invitational
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Practice Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
11:30 p.m. – 11:50 p.m. Practice Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Porsche Customer Hot Laps
12:15 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. LUNCH – VIP hot laps/Parade Laps
1:20 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. Qualifying Group 1 – Gmund Cup
1:50 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. Qualifying Group 2 – Eifel Trophy
2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Practice Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
2:50 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Practice Group 3 – Weissach Cup
3:20 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. Practice Group 5 – Stuttgart Cup
3:50 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. Practice Group 6 – Cayman Interseries /911 Invitational
4:20 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. Practice Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
4:50 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. Practice Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Porsche Customer Hot Laps
SATURDAY, October 15, 2011
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration : Embassy Suites, Seaside
8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Warm up Group 1 – Gmund Cup
8:25 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Warm up Group 2 – Eifel Trophy
8:50 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. Qualifying Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. Qualifying Group 3 – Weissach Cup
9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Qualifying Group 5 – Stuttgart Cup
10:20 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. Qualifying Group 6 – Cayman Interseries/911 Invitational
10:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Qualifying Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
11:20 a.m.- 11:50 a.m. Qualifying Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
11:50 p.m.-1:00 p.m. LUNCH – VIP hot laps/Parade Laps
1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. RACE Group 1 – GMUND CUP
1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. RACE Group 2 – EIFEL TROPHY
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. RACE Group 8 – RENNSPORT REUNION CUP – 911 CUP CAR
RACE #1
3:00 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. Parade/exhibition of Porsche’s racing history to include significant Porsche racing cars
3:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Concours on Pit Lane
SUNDAY, October 16, 2011
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
7:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Registration : Embassy Suites, Seaside
8:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Warm up Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
8:40 a.m. – 8:55 a.m. Warm up Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
9:05 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Warm up Group 3 – Weissach Cup
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. Warm up Group 5 – Stuttgart Cup
9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Warm up Group 6 – Cayman Interseries/911 Invitational
10:20 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. Warm up Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Porsche Customer Hot Laps
11:15 p.m. – 11:45 p.m. Race Group 7 – PCA CLUB RACING
11:55 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Race Group 3 – WEISSACH CUP
12:15 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. LUNCH – VIP hot laps/Parade Laps
1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Race Group 4 – CARRERA TROPHY
2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Race Group 5 – STUTTGART CUP
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Race Group 6 – CAYMAN INTERSERIES/911 INVITATIONAL
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Porsche Customer Hot Laps
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Race Group 8 – RENNSPORT REUNION CUP – 911
CUP CAR – RACE #2
PARK-IN-THE-PADDOCK– The Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Paddock will be transformed into a Porsche immersion zone for attendees at Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV featuring a genuine German biergarten, exclusive Porsche 911 displays and activities, and special race cars in a relaxing atmosphere.
16 CYLINDERS – After its success with the early Porsche 917 race cars, the company wanted to build a car with even more horsepower, and tested this 16-cylinder engine before settling on the twin-turbo 12-cylinder powerplant that eventually powered the Penske Porsche 917/30 driven by Mark Donohue. This one-off car, never shown in public before, made its world debut at Porsche Rennsport Reunion III in 2007 and will be sent from the Porsche Museum in Germany for Rennsport IV as well
16 CYLINDERS – After its success with the early Porsche 917 race cars, the company wanted to build a car with even more horsepower, and tested this 16-cylinder engine before settling on the twin-turbo 12-cylinder powerplant that eventually powered the Penske Porsche 917/30 driven by Mark Donohue. This one-off car, never shown in public before, made its world debut at Porsche Rennsport Reunion III in 2007 and will be sent from the Porsche Museum in Germany for Rennsport IV as well.
CONCOURS – Always a big part of any vintage gathering, the Rennsport concours d’elegance will be a highlight at Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV. At Rennsport III in 2007, the crowd gathered around the best in each class, showing production-based to prototype race cars, from the 356 to the 962.
About Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV
Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be the world’s greatest gathering of Porsche race cars and the drivers that drove them to victory, held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from October 14 to 16, 2011. Hosted by Porsche Cars North America, it will assemble the wide variety of Porsche’s most historic racing models from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-Fifties through the mighty 917 and 956/962 of the Seventies and Eighties to the highly successful RS Spyder of the last decade.
Special tribute will be paid to the numerous racing versions of the Porsche 911 and their countless victories on the dawn of what will become another milestone of this iconic sports car. Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV are published on http://www.porsche.com/usa/rennsport-reunion-iv/, and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s web site ( http:// www.mazdaraceway.com ). Ticket information is available by contacting 800-327-7322 or online at http://www.mazdaraceway.co m.
The Porsche Race Car Classic, a gathering of significant race cars from Porsche’s break-out era of 1950-1965, will take place on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, CA. Event producer Steve Heinrichs is pulling out all the stops to bring rarely-seen race cars out of private collections and museums and into the light of day on the grassy fields at Quail. “These are the cars that started it all,” said Heinrichs. “From Gmünds to Spyders to 904s – this will be the largest, and most comprehensive gathering of the so-called silver cars since they raced in anger back in the day.”
While the cars are by invitation, the event itself is open to the general public. Special guests, celebrities, and era pilots will be on hand, and fine wines and gourmet specialties will be on the menu. Importantly, all net proceeds from the event will directly support lung cancer research.
For more information on the Porsche Race Car Classic or to purchase tickets visit www.porscheracecarclassic.com or contact Mr. Heinrichs at 775-691-2217.
ATLANTA, Aug. 15, 2011 — Porsche celebrates the motorsport heritage of its iconic 911sports car alongside the 918 RSR Concept during the 2011 Monterey Classic Car weekend this year. In keeping with tradition, the Porsche Zentrum is the central hub for the Porsche experience during the week.
Porsche 918 RSR Concept
The Zentrum, located at Quail Lodge, features a full-line Porsche display and a consumer test drive program. A Porsche display will also be nearby at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday, August 19 and on Peter Hay Hill at Pebble Beach, beginning on Thursday, August 18.
This display at Peter Hay Hill will feature several historic 911 race cars, including the 1979 935 from the Brumos Collection, believed to be the last remaining unmodified 935 in existence, as well as the 911 S that carried Hurley Haywood to 10 Camel GT race wins in 1972. Other cars to be on display include a 2011 911 GT3 Cup Car from the Porsche Sport Driving School, the Gunnar Racing 911 GT1 fashioned after the car that won Le Mans overall in 1998 as well as the 2011 911 GT3 RS 4.0.
The 918 RSR concept will be the highlight of the Porsche Zentrum display on Friday and Saturday, August 19-20. The 918 RSR concept is a high-end synthesis of Porsche’s successful hybrid concepts – the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and the 918 Spyder.
It is a true ‘racing laboratory’ featuring an updated V8 engine from the successful RS Spyder race car with an output of 563 hp at 10,300 rpm. In addition, it features electric motors on the two front wheels that each contribute 75 kW, i.e. a total of 150 kW, to provide peak drive power of 767 hp. This additional power, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimized flywheel accumulator.
The 918 RSR and the displays from the Monterey Classic Car Weekend are a precursor to the cars that will be on the track at Rennsport Reunion IV later this year October 14-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
This event promises to bring together an unprecedented gathering of significant Porsche vintage and current race cars, as well those who have driven them to victory in the world’s most famous sports car races. The three-day program of on-track competition is complemented by a concours d’elegance, which is open to invited race participants, and special activities celebrating the decades-long history of the legendary 911 race cars.
Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV along with images from the first three Rennsport Reunions are published on Porsche’s press web site (www.press.porsche.com) and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s web site (www.mazdaraceway.com). Ticket information is available by contacting 800-327-7322 or www.mazdaraceway.com.
About Porsche Cars North America
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, the Cayenne SUV and Panamera Gran Turismo. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and employs approximately 220 people who provide parts, service, marketing and training for 196 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brand’s 63-year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency. At the core of this success is Porsche’s proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000 motorsport wins to date.
GT victory lane: team owner Kevin Buckler celebrates Photo by: Eric Gilbert
TRG Running an Amazing Eight Cars in Four Series this Weekend TRG cars in NASCAR, ALMS, Grand-Am, IMSA Cup across the country
The TRG empire headed by owner Kevin Buckler takes a big bite out of the racing world this weekend. Hoping to leave lasting impressions, the Racers Group (TRG) will run eight cars in four different series, spanning from California’s Monterey Peninsula through Kentucky and onto the rolling hills of Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. The team has cars entered in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, American Le Mans Series (ALMS), Grand-Am and the IMSA Challenge Cup, all will be racing on the same day – Saturday, July 9.
Buckler said.
“We are running seven Porsches at Lime Rock and Laguna Seca and Andy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky. All eight cars will be racing on the same day! We have our hands full, but we have been preparing for this for a while and our team has a good handle on every detail and we hope to have a lot of success across the country over the next three days. I am getting back behind the wheel and will also have my Sprint phone and e-mail going full blast as well as monitoring the broadcasts to keep apprised of everything we have going.”
Brian Redman winning the 1970 Targa Florio, with Jo Siffert in a 908/3 – Porsche won the grueling mountain race in Sicily 11 times, more than any other manufacture
British Racing Legend Will Add His Expertise and Energy to the Much Anticipated October Event
ATLANTA, April 13, 2011 – Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) announced the appointment of Brian Redman as Official Ambassador to Rennsport Reunion IV. In his new role Redman will serve as an advisor to PCNA’s organizing team in the months leading up to the October 14 to 16 event and represent the company vis-à-vis race fans and participants in all Rennsport related matters.
“I can’t think of a more qualified person than Brian to help us realize another successful Rennsport Reunion”, said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America.
“Not only was he instrumental in designing and organizing the previous venues, but with his own colorful racing history, not the least with some of our most famous race cars, Brian Redman personifies the spirit and fascination that we want to encourage with this next gathering of Porsche race cars and their designers and drivers”, von Platen added.
Starting in 1959, Redman’s career has spun more than four decades of racing sports cars as well as Formula 5000 and Formula One. Although making a name for himself as an all-round talent, his biggest triumphs came in racing sport prototypes in the world’s most famous and notorious venues.
Brian Redman/Porsche 908.3/Nürburgring 1000 Km/1970
From Nürburgring, Spa, Monza, Imola, the Targa Florio, Brands Hatch, Zeltweg, Watkins Glen to Daytona and Sebring, Redman won them all. As a member of 1969 factory team he helped Porsche win the World Manufacturers Championship for the first time in the 908LH and 908/2. He then repeated this feat in 1970 with the 908/3 and awesome 917K.
Redman still drives vintage race cars, organizes and promotes historic automotive events and provides individual and group driving instructions.
Even now, at age 74, Redman still competes approximately a half-dozen times a year in various Vintage Series events. After more than 50 years of racing, the sport continues to pull him in.[Picture Source: International Motorsports Hall of Fame; Autosports Marketing Assoc.]
A member of the Detroit and Sebring halls of Fame, was inducted into the Talladega Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Brian Redman 1971 Porsche 908/3
Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be the world’s greatest gathering of Porsche race cars and the drivers that drove them to victory, held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca from October 14 to 16, 2011. Hosted by Porsche Cars North America, it will assemble the wide variety of Porsche’s most historic racing models from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-Fifties through the mighty 917 and 956/962 of the Seventies and Eighties to the highly successful RS Spyder of the last decade.
Special tribute will be paid to the numerous racing versions of the Porsche 911 and their countless victories on the dawn of what will become another milestone of this iconic sports car.
Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be published on Porsche’s press web site (press.porsche.com), and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s web site (www.mazdaraceway.com), as they become available. Ticket information is available by contacting 800-327-7322 or online at www.mazdaraceway.com.
Like in the previous reunions, Rennsport Reunion IV will bring together over 60 years of Porsche racing history from the tiny but nimble Porsche 550 Spyder through the groundbreaking 906 and 908 with their plastic bodies to the mighty 917 with over 1,000 horsepower.
PRESS RELEASE: PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION IV STARTS ITS ENGINE
Groupings, Schedule of Greatest Gathering of Porsche Race Cars Released
More details and a schedule of events are listed below in the press release.
Atlanta, May 13, 2011 – Preparations for Rennsport Reunion IV continue, and Porsche Cars North America and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca today released the latest race groupings and schedules for the fourth installment of fourth installment of its historic event, to be held Oct. 14-16, 2011.
This rare occasion will reunite the cars and drivers that together have written Porsche’s motorsports history during the last 60 years on all five continents.
When Porsche Cars North America held the first Rennsport Reunion in the summer of 2001 at Lime Rock Park, it didn’t take long for the participants to realize they were sharing in something extraordinary. Subsequent Rennsports, II and III, were both held at Daytona International Speedway in Florida and built upon the original premise, remarkable racecars reunited with their equally remarkable drivers.
As in the past three reunions, cars will be grouped by the period in which they raced so that enthusiasts can fully focus on the different motorsports eras with their ever more ferocious machines and increasingly sophisticated technology.
All fans will have full access to both paddocks and track side to view everything from the tiny but nimble Porsche 550 Spyder through the groundbreaking 906 and 908 with their plastic bodies to the mighty 917 with over 1,000hp.
A majority of the hundreds of racecars expected will be made up by the many racing versions of Porsche’s iconic 911 model. From its rather humble beginnings as 911 TR in the mid-1960s this car was for two decades the platform of motorsports legends. Letters and numbers such as RSR, 934 or 935 to GT3 series have stood for proven winners at that time and contributed heavily to the over 30,000 victories that Porsches collected over the past 60 years.
Eight groups promise a jam-packed, three-day racing program with practice, qualifying and warm-up for each group.
The races will be complemented by an exhibition parade and a Concours on Saturday afternoon.
The weekend will conclude with a guest appearance of the Cayman Interseries and a race of modern 911 Cup cars for the Rennsport Reunion Trophy.
Tentative schedule
Group 1: Gmund Cup
550, 550A, RSK, RS60-61 (4&8 cyl.) 2000 GSGT (Dreikantschaber), Abarth Carrera, 356 GT, and any other 356 with FIA history. Selected 356 history cars.
Group 2: Eifel Trophy
904 (4&6 cyl.), 914/6 GT, 911TR, 911ST, 911 (911 up to 2.5 liter), Lotus/Porsche, Cooper/Porsche (Pooper) etc, Elva/Porsche.
914’s & 911’s must have period racing history
Group 3: Weissach Cup
906, 910, 907, 908, 908/2, 908/3 (8 cyl. & 6 turbo), 909, 917 (normally aspirated and turbocharged)
Group 4: Carrera Trophy
911 (over 2.5 liter), RSR, 3.0 RSR, 2.1 Turbo, 934, 935, 936, 924 GTS, 924 GTR.
Group 5: Stuttgart Cup
956, 962, GT1, WSC, RS Spyder.
Group 8: Rennsport Reunion Cup – Porsche Cup Cars
911 Feature Race: – 911 Trophy
PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION IV 2011 Event Schedule Subject to change
For PORSCHE RENNSPORT REUNION IV 2011 Event Schedule pdf clickhere
FRIDAY, October 15, 2011
7:00 AM Gates Open
7:00 AM – 5 :00 PM Registration : Embassy Suites, Seaside
8:00 AM – 8:20 AM Practice Group 1 – Gmund Cup
8:30 AM – 8:50 AM Practice Group 2 – Eifel Trophy
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM Practice Group 3 – Weissach Cup
9:30 AM – 9:50 AM Practice Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM Practice Group 5 – Stuttgart Cup
10:30 AM – 10:50 AM Practice Group 6 – Cayman Interseries
11:00 AM – 11:20 AM Practice Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
11:30 PM – 11:50 PM Practice Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
11:50 PM – 1:00 PM LUNCH -VIP hot laps/Parade Laps
1:00 PM – 1:20 PM Qualifying Group 1 – Gmund Cup
1:30 PM – 1:50 PM Qualifying Group 2 – Eifel Trophy
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM Practice Group 3 – Weissach Cup
2:30 PM – 2:50 PM Practice Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM Practice Group 5 – Stuttgart Cup
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM Practice Group 6 – Cayman Interseries
4:00 PM – 4:20 PM Practice Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
4:30 PM – 4:50 PM Practice Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
SATURDAY, October 16, 2011
7:00 AM Gates Open
7:00 AM – 5 :00 PM Registration : Embassy Suites, Seaside
8:00 AM -8:15 AM Warm up Group 1 – Gmund Cup
8:25 AM – 8:40 AM Warm up Group 2 – Eifel Trophy
8:50 AM – 9:10 AM Qualifying Group 3 – Weissach Cup
9:20 AM – 9:40 AM Qualifying Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
9:50 AM – 10:10 AM Qualifying Group 5 – Stuttgart Cup
10:20 AM – 10:40 AM Qualifying Group 6 – Cayman Interseries
10:50 AM – 11:10 AM Qualifying Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
11:20 AM – 11:50 AM Practice Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
11:50 AM – 1:30 PM LUNCH – VIP hot laps/Parade Laps
1:30 PM – 1:50 PM RACE Group 1 – GMUND CUP
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM RACE Group 2 – EIFEL TROPHY
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Parade/exhibition of Porsche’s racing history to include significant Porsche racing cars
3:30 PM -6:00 PM Concours on Pit Lane
SUNDAY, October 17, 2011
7:00 AM Gates Open
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM Registration : Embassy Suites, Seaside
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM Warm up Group 7 – PCA Club Racing
8:25 AM – 8:40 AM Warm up Group 4 – Carrera Trophy
8:50 AM – 9:05 AM Warm up Group 5– Stuttgart Cup
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM Warm up Group 6 – Cayman Interseries
9:40 AM – 9:55 AM Warm up Group 3 – Weissach Cup
10:05 AM – 10:35 AM Qualifying Group 8 – Rennsport Reunion Cup – 911 Cup Cars
10:45 PM -11:15 PM Race Group 7 – PCA CLUB RACING
11:25 PM – 11:45 AM Race Group 3– WEISSACH CUP
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM LUNCH – VIP hot laps/Parade Laps
1:00 PM – 1:20 PM Race Group 4 – CARRERA TROPHY
1:30 PM – 1:50 PM RACE -911 TROPHY
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM Race Group 5 -STUTTGART CUP
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Race Group 6 – CAYMAN INTERSERIES
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM Race Group 8 – RENNSPORT REUNION CUP – 911 CUP CARS
TruSpeed Motorsports, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., today announced the signing of Patrick Long to race the #45 PrivacyStar Porsche GT3 Cup Car in the 2011 Pirelli World Challenge Championships Series.
After much speculation, Long will first race for TruSpeed starting with the season opener of the WC Series this weekend, March 25-27 on the streets of St. Petersburg, FL.
Rob Morgan, 1996 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona GTS-1 class winner, runs TruSpeed Motorsports, and will drive the #46 Entrust/TruSpeed Porsche GT3 Cup for the season.
Photo: TruSpeed Motorsports
Photo from The FRS Company
Long said, “I’m excited at the chance to do some sprint racing, in a tough series and with a very strong team. TruSpeed has a great team structure with some awesome people that I have worked with in the past. That was the initial draw for me to this idea, then getting to know Rob and just how passionate he is about his racing made it a no-brainer to sign up with these guys.
I like that Pirelli World Challenge is unique – standing starts, sprint formats, double-header weekends, all that. I will be jumping in Thursday cold turkey, but I love St. Pete’s street circuit and it helps that it’s just down the road from where I’ve been living for the past four years.”
Long will race in all the events except for Miller, which conflicts with his European test schedule. Kelly Collins will take Long’s place at the Utah round of the championship.
Team owner Rob Morgan was elated to announce the hiring of Long. “I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Patrick this season, particularly as a driver. Having him around to help us continue to develop as a team will be fantastic, and I know he’ll push me as a driver. Having someone with his record of success and skill involved will help us grow, both on and off track. I can’t wait to get to work at St. Pete this weekend, and to start building on the successes we’ve had in the past.”
The Pirelli World Challenge Series kicks off this weekend with twin races on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Saturday and Sunday, March 26-27.
The Pirelli World Challenge Series GT class features Porsches, Corvettes, Mustangs, Volvos, Vipers, Nissan GT-Rs – and this year, Cadillacs – and will race 12 times over eight events. Venues are
TruSpeed Motorsports was founded in 2001 by Rob and Charles Morgan, over the years racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge and World Challenge. TruSpeed runs a robust arrive-and-drive and trackday business, as well as a street and race car sales and service facility in Orange County, California.
Legendary automotive artist Dennis Simon has once again been chosen to create the event posters for Porsche’s Rennsport Reunion, a not-quite-annual gathering of historic Porsche racecars.Simon has created the posters for two of the previous three Rennsport Reunions. His 2004 poster featured three 908s crossing the finish line at the 1970 Daytona endurance race, and the 2007 version included a 917 in Gulf livery and a 962 in Lowenbrau colors.
For Porsche-philes, these posters have become instant collectibles. The 2011 Rennsport Reunion IV will be held at
Laguna Seca from October 14-16.
it’s official…..Here’s the press release:
Quote: PORSCHE ANNOUNCES RENNSPORT REUNION IV TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER ~ World’s Largest Gathering of Porsche Race Cars and Drivers Seeks New Frontiers, Moves West
ATLANTA, GA – March 8, 2011 — Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca today announced Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will take place at the famed California racetrack the weekend of October 14 – 16, 2011.Sponsored by PCNA, Rennsport Reunion IV brings together an unprecedented gathering of significant Porsche vintage and current race cars, as well those who have driven them to victory in the world’s most famous sports car races. The three-day program of on-track competition is complemented by a concours d’elegance, which is open to invited race participants, and special activities celebrating the decade-long, illustrious history of the legendary 911 race cars.
This is from the archives and from the 2007 Rennsport Reunion III. A bunch of 917s, 908s, 906s, etc
After the highly successful staging of three venues in the East, held every three years, with the first one held in Lime Rock in 2001, Rennsport Reunion IV will now be moving west, tapping a vast array of car aficionados and Porsche enthusiasts.
Porsche 917 and 956/962 racecars during Rennsport III, held at Daytona International Speedway in 2007. The 917 debuted in the late 1960s and the 956 in the early 1980s with the 962 shortly thereafter. It was the largest gathering of the legendary machines with Coupes, Spyders and Longtails both racing and on display.
(Photo Source by PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA )
“While the Rennsport name has become a staple fixture for international collectors and racers over the past ten years, choosing the Monterey Peninsula will open up this one-of-a-kind gathering to the many Porsche fans in California and beyond who were previously unable to attend,” said Detlev von Platen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Cars North America. “Now they’ll have the opportunity to see, feel and hear from up close hundreds of famous Porsche race cars and dozens of their drivers from past and present during a truly memorable weekend dedicated to Porsche’s motorsport heritage.”
Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will assemble the wide variety of Porsche’s most historic racing models from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-Fifties through the mighty 917 and 956/962 of the Seventies and Eighties to the highly successful RS Spyder of the last decade. Special tribute will be paid to the numerous racing versions of the Porsche 911 and their countless victories on the dawn of what will become another milestone of this iconic sports car from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
911 CARRERA Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbos lined up during Rennsport III, held at Daytona International Speedway in 2007. The 911 RSR was the first turbocharged 911 racecars, starting in 1974. Rennsport Reunions are an extraordinary gathering of significant Porsche vintage racecars and those who have driven them to victory in the world’s most famous sports car races.
(Photo Source by PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA )
“This will truly be a rare gathering of significant Porsche race cars on the West Coast,” commented Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Porsche has a long racing tradition in Monterey and we look forward to celebrating its heritage in a befitting manner for everyone to enjoy.”
Laguna Seca tickets for Rennsport… look here!
Additional details of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will be published on Porsche’s press web site (press.porsche.com), and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s web site (www.mazdaraceway.com), as they become available.
Porsche and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca are working in association with the Porsche Race Car Classic to combine efforts to raise awareness for the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Program.
Complementing the Rennsport Reunion IV venue is the Porsche Race Car Classic, an exclusive concours held at nearby Quail Lodge in Carmel on Sunday, October 16. Steve Heinrichs, producer of the Porsche Race Car Classic, explained, “this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of vintage Porsche race cars solely from Porsche’s break-out era of 1950-1965 will raise critical funding to directly support lung cancer research. We’ll have Gmünds, Glöcklers, 550s, 718s, 804s, 904s, 356s, Abarths and more – in numbers and provenance never before seen.”
(Photo Source by PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA )
A feature on the 2007 Porsche Rennsport Reunion III held at Daytona International Speedway. Courtesy of Porsche Cars North America / GrandTouringPrototype.com
Pelican Parts is to be a sponsor of Rennsport Reunion IV at Laguna Seca!
Come October the world’s finest examples of 1950-1965 Porsche race cars will roll onto the Monterey Peninsula. Cars from the Porsche AG Museum, Ingram Collection, Ranson Webster Collection, Dr. Julio Palmaz Collection, and Seinfeld Collection will all be represented on the grassy fields at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California on October 16, 2011 for the Porsche Race Car Classic.
Photos: 
GT victory lane: team owner Kevin Buckler celebrates Photo by: Eric Gilbert
Photo: TruSpeed Motorsports
