The call of auto racing and motorsport continues to generate interest across economic lines. Is it the speed or the challenge? It’s an exciting rush in the seat to drive fast and compete with those skills but what of the spectator? The daily drive to work or the grocery is hardly a challenge of speed or great skill so where is the attraction to watch someone else go fast?
What is the fan attraction to football? A very small percentage of the viewing audience has even played the game so why invest the time to watch? The same applies to most any sport.
Bowling… We’ve all gone bowling. So maybe we can identify with bowling…
Not golf. Certainly not pickleball…
For motorsport, perhaps it is an attachment we all have when entering an interstate or navigating a winding, country road. There are rules that keep us in line but we can get a glimpse of race day and a taste of the challenge. When we see the tight pass or the edge into the turn we can “get it” and appreciate it and even cheer for it.
Add to that the sheer variety of what is available for us to have and drive. Add to that the excitement of seeing what is familiar out and fast on race day. Add to that the ability to see and meet the folks that push those limits that we get a glimpse of. Add to that the ability see the extremes of engineering and speed up close.
That is the GT World Challenge at a facility like Virginia International Raceway. It is a showcase of domestic and “foreign” racing machinery set on a Virginia sloping ribbon of pavement. The drivers are, of course, a show of skill on their own merit with celebrations to be had but the fans are out to see that skill highlighted by what is driven.
It can be as common as the Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Corolla. These are fairly basic and economic cars readily available to buy in showrooms all over. However, tune them a bit and add some racing features and they are quick and nimble on the track.
American muscle such as the Mustang and Corvette are matched with exotic European supercars such as the McLaren and Ferrari. The Ford and Chevy are much more common but are still eye turners when on the road. The McLaren…? Ferarri…? These are definitely more rare but on race day they are out in numbers to admire.
Badges that may be associated as “luxury” brands are race track staples often using competition as a test bed for technology. Mercedes, Aston Martin, BMW are no strangers to racing around the world.
From NASCAR to Sports Car, Toyota is immersed in motorsport with Toyota Gazoo Racing. The GT86 has a dedicated series and the Supra is racing with big dogs.
And here we have the obligatory Porsche…
Virginia International Raceway is a showcase for racing across many disciplines presented as a rolling car show. For race fans and car fans VIR and events like the GT World Challenge bring this variety to the senses.
A full photo gallery from the GTWC weekend is below. Come get your own photos next time!
