Gentlemen's Historic Challenge at Le Belle Macchine d’Italia captures the spirit of the Shell Historics.
Italian CARS’ Joe Corbacio has joined forces with Brickhouse Communications’ David Seibert to produce a new historic racing series, the Gentlemen’s Historic Challenge. The first races will be held at the 24th Annual Le Belle Macchine d’Italia at Pocono International Raceway, June 25-28, 2010. Seibert, former Project Manager of the Ferrari North America Shell Historic Challenge Series from its inception, will manage the event.
“With the suspension of the Ferrari Historic races for 2010, I’m pleased that Italian CARS and Le Belle Macchine d’Italia is offering enthusiasts who’ve raced in the Shell Historics over the years the opportunity to continue in the spirit of that series. The expansion to include additional marques will be a complement to this exciting group, but the intent will remain the same: competition, but with the utmost respect for the other drivers and their historic automobiles,” said Seibert.
The non-gender-specific Gentlemen’s Historic Challenge will follow a similar format as the Ferrari/Maserati Historic Challenge Series races, but with expanded eligibility. The field will be open to selected European racing cars from Alfa Romeo (TZ1, TZ2, and Tipo 33, etc), Bugatti, Aston-Martin, Bizzarrini, ATS, OSCA and other significant period competition marques. Additional races are tentatively scheduled for Daytona (November 4-7) with other venues to be announced.
“We have always been great admirers of the Ferrari/Maserati Historic Challenge Series and are proud to be able to help keep the spirit of that series alive and its community together. A Historic Challenge style race is a natural for Le Belle Macchine d’Italia. It fits perfectly with the Retired Ferrari Challenge Car Races that we have pioneered at our Pocono and Daytona events,” said Joe Corbacio
The Le Belle Macchine d’Italia Concorso d’Eleganza is held at the Skytop Lodge in the Pocono Mountains, just 95 miles West of Manhattan. Now in its 24th year, it is the largest three-day Italian motoring event in North America. It also plays host to the Sports Car Market Maserati Owners National Meet, the Historic Reunion, Lamborghini Owners National Meet, East Coast Annual Ferrari Meet, Iso & Bizzarrini Owners Club East Coast Annual Meet, plus Manufacturer Ride and Drives. The driving portion of the event takes place at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, PA featuring one of the longest straights of any track in North America.
The Retired Ferrari Challenge offers drivers of Ferrari Challenge cars, which are no longer eligible for the Ferrari series, the opportunity to compete in these exciting cars. It as well as the Gentlemen’s Historic Challenge is not affiliated with Ferrari S.p.A. or Ferrari North America.
For complete details and registration for these events, please visit www.italiancarevents.com