Virginia International Raceway

Virginia International Raceway (VIR) is a race track located in Alton, Virginia, near Danville. It is less than a half-mile from the North Carolina/Virginia border just outside Milton, North Carolina, on the banks of the Dan River. VIR hosts amateur and professional automobile and motorcycle events, driving schools, club days, and private test rentals.

Virginia International Raceway

Full Course (1957–1974, 2000–present)
LocationAlton, Virginia, United States
Time zoneUTC-5 (UTC-4 DST)
Coordinates36°33′42″N 79°12′17″W
FIA Grade2
Opened3 August 1957 (1957-08-03)
Re-opened: March 2000 (2000-03)
Closed1974
ArchitectHooper D. Johnson
Major eventsCurrent:
IMSA SportsCar Championship
Michelin GT Challenge at VIR
(1957–1964, 1971–1972, 2002–present)
GT World Challenge America
(2002, 2008, 2010, 2017–present)
Trans-Am Series
(1966, 2002, 2009–2011, 2013–present)
SCCA Runoffs
(2019, 2022–2023)
Former:
MotoAmerica (2001–2010, 2015–2019, 2021–2022)
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Biscuitville 125 (2013–2016)
Full Course (1957–1974, 2000–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.270 miles (5.262 km)
Turns17
Race lap record1:36.112 (Germany Lucas Luhr, HPD ARX-03a, 2012, LMP1)
Grand East Course (2003–present)
Length4.200 miles (6.759 km)
Turns25
Grand West Course (2003–present)
Length4.100 miles (6.598 km)
Turns28
North Course (2000–present)
Length2.250 miles (3.621 km)
Turns17
Race lap record1:19.843 (United States Kenton Koch, Élan DP02, 2015, Prototype Lites)
South Course (2000–present)
Length1.650 miles (2.655 km)
Turns12
Patriot Course (2003–present)
Length1.100 miles (1.770 km)
Turns12

History
Pit road during 2008 Grand-Am race

The track originally opened August 3, 1957, and was created by a group of men using a bulldozer. The track had been closed from 1974 prior to its reopening in March 2000.[1] The track was reopened in 2000 by New Yorker Harvey Siegel and Connie Nyholm using a "country club" model. Memberships to the track are sold. Each member of the VIR Club receives track time on member days, tickets to all spectator events, and other benefits. VIR's membership model has since been followed by other racetracks across the United States.

There have been at least four deaths in track history, with three fatalities coming since the reopening of the facility. The most recent death was that of 14-year-old Toriano Wilson in a US Rookie Cup motorcycle race in August 2008.[2]

The track hosted the SCCA National Sports Car Championship from its opening in 1957 until the series' demise in 1964. The IMSA GT Championship visited VIR in 1971 and 1972. After its re-opening, the AMA Superbike Championship held races at VIR from 2001 until 2010 on the North Course. The Rolex Sports Car Series utilized the Full Course from 2002 through 2011. The American Le Mans Series used the Full Course configuration for its inaugural event at VIR in September 2012 where a new track record was set by Klaus Graf driving the Muscle Milk LMP1 car.[3]

Driving a Maserati 450S, Carroll Shelby won the feature race on the track’s inaugural weekend in August 1957. The list of other well-known drivers who raced at VIR during its first incarnation includes Briggs Cunningham, Walt Hansgen, Roger Penske, Mark Donohue, Richard Petty, Bob Holbert, Augie Pabst, Curtis Turner, Dick Thompson, Peter Revson, Wendell Scott, Bob Tullius, Janet Guthrie, Skip Barber, Ricky Rudd, Gene Felton, Denise McCluggage, Hurley Haywood, Brock Yates, Don Yenko, Lance Reventlow, Dan Gurney and Parnelli Jones.[4]

The track hosts many events throughout the year, including the annual Gold Cup Historic Race as well as AMA races, ChampCar Endurance Series, SCCA, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR test days, and local car club events. Various driving training classes are available on the paved and unpaved (off-road) courses. The site also hosts a go kart track.

Since 2014, VIR has hosted a GT only race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Track description

VIR offers five track configurations, of which two can be run simultaneously. The "Full Course" is 3.270 mi (5.263 km) in length while the "Patriot Course" stretches for 1.100 mi (1.770 km) entirely inside the Full Course. The "North Course" is 2.250 mi (3.621 km) long and the "South Course" covers a distance of 1.650 mi (2.655 km). Both consist of a portion of the "Full Course" and short connecting sections that connect to portions of the "Patriot Course" to produce the two courses that can run simultaneously. There is a second pit complex that is used only when running the "South Course". The longest configuration, "Grand East Course", is 4.200 mi (6.759 km) long, and combines most of the "Full Course" and most of the "Patriot Course" by means of two of the short sections of connecting track used to make the "South Course" and "North Course". There is also another, seldom run, long configuration called the "Grand West Course" that uses the other two short connecting sections between the "Full Course" and the "Patriot Course." Car and Driver magazine has an annual test of fast cars called "The Lightning Lap" using the "Grand West Course".[5] Since the Patriot course is contained completely inside the Full Course, they can be run simultaneously.

The "Full Course" is the most common configuration. One of the most notable sections of the course, second only to "Oak Tree" (T11), are the "Climbing Esses" which consist of an initial left up-hill (T7), followed by a right which crests at the apex then dropping slightly into a left (T8) which again crests at the apex dropping slightly, and then up into a final right (T9). The complexity and difficulty of this section is multiplied by the incredible entry speed because of a straight section leading into the Climbing Esses. This is followed by a cresting blind left hand turn (T10), "South Bend", that finishes in a steep downward slope. Another signature section is the "Roller Coaster" (T14) which is a scaled-down mirror image to the famed "Corkscrew" at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

There are two main straights on the track. The front straight is approximately 3,000 ft (910 m) long while the back straight is approximately 4,000 ft (1,200 m) long. While the back straight is 33% longer, the front straight is where higher speeds are reached since "Hog Pen" (T17) leads onto it and is a much faster corner than "Oak Tree" (T11), which leads onto the longer back straight. There is 130 ft (40 m) of elevation change throughout the course.

Some of the raceway's other named curves include "Oak Tree", "Horse Shoe", "NASCAR Bend" (because NASCAR drivers Richard Petty, David Pearson and Wendell Scott had difficulties there during a 1966 Trans Am race), "Snake", "Spiral", "Fish Hook", and "The Bitch".

Other configurations
  • Grand East Course4.200 mi (6.759 km)25 turns
    Grand East Course
    4.200 mi (6.759 km)
    25 turns
  • Grand West Course4.100 mi (6.598 km)28 turns
    Grand West Course
    4.100 mi (6.598 km)
    28 turns
  • North Course2.250 mi (3.621 km) 17 turns
    North Course
    2.250 mi (3.621 km)
    17 turns
  • South Course1.650 mi (2.655 km)12 turns
    South Course
    1.650 mi (2.655 km)
    12 turns
  • Patriot Course1.100 mi (1.770 km)12 turns
    Patriot Course
    1.100 mi (1.770 km)
    12 turns

Events
Current
Former

Lap records

As of October 2023, the fastest official race lap records at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
Full Grand Prix Road Course: 5.262 km (1957–1974, 2000–present)[6]
LMP11:36.112[7][8]Lucas LuhrHPD ARX-03a2012 American Le Mans Series VIR 240
LMP21:39.393[7][8]Martin PlowmanMorgan LMP22012 American Le Mans Series VIR 240
LMP9001:39.618[9]Didier TheysDallara SP12002 VIR 500
LM GTE1:40.638[10]Earl BamberPorsche 911 RSR-192019 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR
LMP31:40.735[11]Garett GristLigier JS P3202021 Virginia IMSA Prototype Challenge round
LMPC1:41.608[12][13]Colin BraunOreca FLM092014 Oak Tree Grand Prix
Formula Atlantic1:41.817[14][15]David GrantSwift 016.a2017 Virginia Atlantic Championship round
DP1:42.878[16]Max AngelelliDallara DP012009 Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR
TA11:43.502[17]Connor ZilischChevrolet Camaro Trans-Am2023 Virginia Trans-Am round
Lamborghini Super Trofeo1:43.715[18]Sandy MitchellLamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2019 Virginia Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America round
Formula Regional1:44.015[19]Mathias Soler-ObelLigier JS F32019 Virginia F3 Americas round
GT31:44.150[20]Loris SpinelliMercedes-AMG GT3 Evo2022 Virginia GT World Challenge America round
LMP6751:45.289[9]Terry BorchellerLola B2K/402002 VIR 500
Porsche Carrera Cup1:46.726[21]Sebastian PriaulxPorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2021 Virginia Porsche Carrera Cup North America round
Star Mazda1:46.998[22]Adam ChristodoulouStar Formula Mazda 'Pro'2009 Virginia Star Mazda round
TA21:49.934[23]Connor ZilischChevrolet Camaro Trans-Am2023 Virginia Trans-Am round
US F20001:50.298[24]Spencer PigotVan Diemen DP082012 Virginia USF2000 round
GT1 (GTS)1:50.943[25]Ken WildenChevrolet Corvette C5-R2003 VIR 400
SRO GT21:51.706[26]C.J. MosesAudi R8 LMS GT22022 Virginia GT America round
American GT1:52.502[9]Tommy RigginsFord Mustang2002 VIR 500
GT41:52.740[27]Ross GunnAston Martin AMR Vantage GT42019 Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix
Formula 41:53.073[28]Christian RasmussenCrawford F4-162018 Virginia F4 United States round
GT1:53.375[9]João BarbosaMosler MT900R2002 VIR 500
TCR Touring Car1:54.604[29]Michael James LewisHyundai i30 N TCR2018 Grand Prix of Virginia presented by Audi Sport
USF Juniors1:54.619[30]Jack JeffersTatuus JR-232023 Cooper Tires VIR Grand Prix
Mazda MX-5 Cup2:07.470[31]Jared ThomasMazda MX-5 (ND)2022 Virginia Mazda MX-5 Cup round
Group 72:08.400[32]Bob NagelMcKee Mk.71968 SCCA National Championship Races
Group 32:14.400[33]Ed Lowther[lower-alpha 1]
Bob Grossman[lower-alpha 1]		Shelby Cobra 427[lower-alpha 1]1967 SCCA Northeast Division National Championship Sports Car Races
North Course: 3.621 km (2000–present)
Prototype Lites1:19.843[34]Kenton KochÉlan DP022015 New Orleans IMSA Prototype Lites round
Superbike1:23.834[35]Jake GagneYamaha YZF-R12021 Virginia MotoAmerica round
Supersport1:26.206[36]J. D. BeachYamaha YZF-R62018 Virginia MotoAmerica round

Testing

The track is frequently used for test sessions by NASCAR teams. The teams use the road course to test their road course cars for the Watkins Glen International and Sonoma Raceway races. Since the track is not currently active on the principal NASCAR circuit (Trucks, Xfinity and Cup), a practice session is not charged against their allotment.

The track is also used by various manufacturers in testing of new or updated vehicles.

Celebrities at VIR

Several celebrities have visited VIR. In 2010, part of a special episode of the British television show Top Gear was filmed at the raceway and aired later that year as a part of season 16.

Country music superstar Reba McEntire visited the raceway in 2012 when her son took part in the race.[37]

In early October 2013 actor Patrick Dempsey, a star of Grey's Anatomy, and former athlete and reality-TV star Caitlyn Jenner raced at the track.[38]

Video games and simulators

All six configurations are featured in racing simulators Automobilista, rFactor 2, and iRacing.

VIR is featured in Forza Motorsport 6 as part of the Porsche Expansion Pack released on March 1, 2016. The track is featured with all six of its layouts, as well as daytime, nighttime, dry, and wet conditions. It is also featured in Forza Motorsport 7, released in October 2017.

VIR's North Course is featured in the video games Supercar Challenge and Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.

All layouts of VIR were scratch built as a mod for Kunos Simulazioni's racing simulation Assetto Corsa.

See also

Notes
  1. Both drivers took the same lap time independently.

References
  1. England, Nick. "The Story of VIR". VIR History Pages. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  2. Wolf, Jason (19 August 2008). "VIR crash claims teenager". Danville Register-Bee. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  3. "ALMS adds VIR to 2012 event schedule". American Le Mans Series. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  4. Holaday, Chris, England, Nick & Allen, Phil (2003). Virginia International Raceway. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia. ISBN 978-0738515168
  5. "Lightning Lap 2015: The Year's Hottest Performance Cars Attack VIR!". Car and Driver. October 2015.
  6. "Virginia - Motorsport Magazine". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  7. "Virginia 4 Hours 2012". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  8. "2012 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón VIR 240 Official Race Results" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 20 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  9. "Virginia 500 Miles 2002". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  10. "2019 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR Race Official Results (2 Hours 40 Minutes)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 27 August 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  11. "2021 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR IMSA Prototype Challenge Race Official Results (3 Hours)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 12 October 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  12. "United SportsCar Championship Virginia - Prototype Challenge 2014". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  13. "2014 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official Race Results" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 25 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  14. "Formula Atlantic Track Records". Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  15. "Formula Atlantic Virginia International Raceway Race 2" (PDF). 30 April 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  16. "2009 Virginia Grand-Am". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  17. "Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli Virginia International Raceway Oct. 5th - 8th TA XGT SGT GT Round 12 Official Race Results" (PDF). 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  18. "2019 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR - Lamborghini Super Trofeo Race 1 Official Results (50 Minutes)" (PDF). 27 August 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  19. "2019 F3 Americas VIRginia International Raceway - Round 10 Official Race Result" (PDF). 28 July 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  20. "2022 ViRginia International Raceway FANATEC GT World Challenge America powered by aws Race 1 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  21. "2021 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR >> Porsche Carrera Cup North America Race 2 Official Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). 12 October 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  22. "Round Two - Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear BOSCH 250 Virginia International Raceway Alton, Virginia April 23-26, 2009 Race Results". 26 April 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  23. "Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli Virginia International Raceway Oct. 5th - 8th The Big Machine Spiked Coolers TA2 Series Round 12 Official Race Results" (PDF). 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  24. "USF2000 Grand Prix of Virginia Virginia International Raceway / 3.27 miles / September 12 - 15, 2012 / Alton, Virginia Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda Final Race Report - Round 13" (PDF). 14 September 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  25. "Virginia 400 Kilometres 2003". Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  26. "2022 ViRginia International Raceway GT America Race 1 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  27. "2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix Race Official Results (2 Hours)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 27 August 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  28. "2018 F4 United States VIRginia International Raceway - Round 3 Official Race Result" (PDF). 2 May 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  29. "Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car 2018 » Virginia International Raceway Round 4 Results". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  30. "2023 Virginia USF Juniors Race 3 Statistics". Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  31. "2022 Michelin GT Challenge at VIR Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BF Goodrich Race 2 Official Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). 30 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  32. "SCCA National Virginia - Classes: ASR+BSR+CSR 1968". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  33. "SCCA National Virginia - Classes: AP+BP 1967". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  34. "2015 K&N Biscuitville 125 VIR North Course Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda - Official Race Report - Round 11" (PDF). 29 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  35. "2021 MotoAmerica Championship at Virginia HONOS Superbike Race 1 Race (20 Laps) started at 15:11:14" (PDF). 22 May 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  36. "2018 MotoAmerica Championship of Virginia Supersport Race 2 Race (20 Laps) started at 14:30:25" (PDF). 6 May 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  37. "Blackstock, Buford Join Roush Performance for 2012". Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  38. Rosenbaum, Heather (4 October 2013). "Patrick Dempsey and Bruce Jenner Race at VIR". Wset. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
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