AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–One of the maximum successful marques in GT racing history is returning to motorsports with the advent of a new single-make collection designed to show off the world’s most recent turbocharged mid-engine sports car. California-based Saleen Automotive, led by legendary racing driving force and high-performance automobile pioneer Steve Saleen, announced it will host the Saleen Cup, a 5-event, “arrive-and-power” race collection designed to illustrate its talents, and recently announced the Saleen 1 sports activities car.
The Saleen Cup, which changed into introduced at some stage in a press conference on Friday, March 1, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is being offered through a partnership with SRO Motorsports Group and will run simultaneously with the Blancpain GT World Challenge America. The unmarried-make collection invites drivers to be many of the first in the world to enjoy the Saleen 1 on 5 iconic race tracks for the duration of the U.S.
As the primary-ever expert best “arrive-and-pressure” series, the 5 activities might be supported by means of 20 music-ready vehicles maintained, prepped, and transported to race venues by using Saleen – imparting potential drivers and fanatics a turnkey, as soon as-in-a-lifetime racing opportunity – plus a chance to win a manufacturing unit seat in Saleen’s GT4 access for the duration of the 2020 season.
“I am very thrilled to welcome the Saleen 1 Cup Series to the Blancpain GT World Challenge America timetable for the 2019 season,” said Stephane Ratel, founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group. “The Saleen call is instantly recognizable to each race fan, and I even have fond recollections of the super S7-R competing in the FIA GT Championship more than a decade in the past. The new Saleen 1 is an interesting new task for the brand, and the “arrive-and-power” idea is a suitable manner to showcase it at a number of the most iconic circuits in the United States. I look ahead to the inaugural occasion at Sonoma Raceway in June.”
“The Saleen Cup is the subsequent bankruptcy in our company’s return to motorsports,” said Steve Saleen, CEO and founding father of Saleen Automotive. “Racing is inside the DNA of everything we do at Saleen. The generation and design of the brand new Saleen 1 model is an immediate result of extensive song-checking out and development, so it’s the handiest herbal that the brand new model makes its debut on some of the most iconic racetracks. In America.”
“Racing one in every one of our automobiles on those mythical tracks will change your life, not to say the way you look at driving, forever,” introduced Saleen. “The Saleen Cup Series gives racers and mainstream lovers this unforgettable revel in and serves as the ultimate proving ground for the Saleen 1.” Gabriele Cadringher currently joined Saleen as director of motorsports and could lead the Saleen Cup. The former technical director and representative for FIA and Grand-Am will use the five-race events also to hone the musical abilities of the Saleen 1.
Uniquely, the Saleen Cup is open to conventional “D” certified drivers and offers an awesome professional-degree racing revel, wherein every vehicle is similarly prepared and maintained in-house, inclusive of backup automobiles, plus transported to every race occasion. The Saleen Cup also functions racer group that may cut up the cost for contributors and provide greater low-priced racing opportunities. After the 5-race series, class champions within the Saleen Cup will comfy a manufacturing unit seat using Saleen’s GT4 entry for the entire 2020 season.
The Saleen Cup will consist of 5 races scheduled for the second half of the Blancpain GT World Challenge America and kicks offf at Sonoma Raceway in California Wine Country in June. Drivers who can compete in the five races by October 20 at the moment are being actively recruited. Information about the Saleen Cup is available at www.SaleenCup.com:
Sonoma Raceway (Calif.) – June 7-9, 2019
Portland International Raceway (Ore.) – July 12-14, 2019
Watkins Glen (NY) – August 30 – Sept.1, 2019
Road America (Wis..) – Sept. 20-22, 2019
Grand Finale (Las Vegas) – Oct 18-20, 2019
Saleen’s revolutionary Saleen 1 version changed into recently unveiled as a main step forward for the venerated excessive-performance car producer, centered in Corona, Calif. Boasting progressive chassis layout and overall performance prompted by using Saleen’s legendary S7 supercar, the 450hp turbocharged 2.2-liter, 4-cylinder Saleen 1 marks the contemporary within the business enterprise’s Saleen Original line. For extra facts on the Saleen 1 version, go to www.Saleen.com, or follow Saleen on social with aid using Facebook at Facebook.Com/Saleen, or using the use of @Saleen on Twitter and @Saleen on Instagram. For more records at the Saleen Cup, visit www.SaleenCup.com.
About Saleen Automotive, Inc.
Saleen is dedicated to reworking the transportation revel in. For over 35 years, the California-based automobile producer has redefined driving via excessive-performing motors that integrate championship-winning racing pedigree with revolutionary technology and unique styling.
From the first Saleen Mustang in 1984 to the mythical S7 in 2000 and the groundbreaking new Saleen 1, founder Steve Saleen has always set the bar for car layout and performance engineering on streets and racetracks globally. In addition to its one-of-a-kind Saleen Signature and Saleen Original automobile lines, Saleen offers a massive technical element, lifestyle accessories, and clothing for people with an ardor for performance. Learn more at www.Saleen.com.
About SRO Motorsports Group
The global leader in GT racing. With more than 25 years’ enjoy at the forefront of a constantly evolving industry, SRO Motorsports Group is the established international leader in GT racing. Best recognized for developing and implementing the GT3 and GT4 rules, SRO promotes and organizes championships that embody expert and novice competitors. Its portfolio of pretty series spans Europe, America, and Asia, at the same time as its flagship Intercontinental GT Challenge capabilities take place on five different continents.
The 2019 season will see more than 100 races run below the SRO Motorsports Group banner, highlighted through the celebrated Total 24 Hours of Spa. In addition to promotion and agency, the organization operates SRO Race Centre by MMC – an excessive-degree technical center at Circuit Paul Ricard – and presents the closing using opportunities at world-famed centers via Curbstone Track Events.
SRO Motorsports Group is chaired through employer founder and CEO Stephane Ratel. With offices in London, Paris, Liège, Austin, and Hong Kong, its work is facilitated with the aid of a committed international group of complete-time and freelance personnel. Combining a passion for overall performance with enterprise-main experience, SRO is ready to play a crucial role in shaping the destiny of global GT racing.
