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Laguna Seca (disambiguation)

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"Corkscrew" at turn 8.

Laguna Seca is a paved roadracing track (for both auto racing and motorcycle racing) built in 1957 near Monterey, California, USA.

The raceway's primary corporate sponsor is Mazda, who hold some of their own events there and display their products at major racing events. Under a present naming rights sponsorship agreement, the circuit is presently known as the "Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca"

History

The circuit is part of the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, a county park in which the racetrack is set. Resultantly, there are camping facilities located at the raceway, which can be used year-round.

The racetrack is 2.238 miles in length (3.58 kilometers), and has eleven turns, including the famous (and gut-wrenching) Corkscrew at turn 8. Turn 9 has been renamed 'Rainey Curve' in honor of 500 c.c. Grand Prix Motorcycle World champion Wayne Rainey, a resident of nearby Salinas, California.

The track has undergone significant changes over the past two decades to meet evolving safety homologation requirements of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and other sanctioning bodies. Changes include the addition of the entire infield area (present day turns 3, 4, and 5), relocation of pedestrian bridges and embankments, and expansion of gravel pits outside turns for run off.

Events

A variety of racing and exhibition events are held at the raceway, ranging from superkarts to American Le Mans racing to car shows.

Major events each year include the U.S. Sports car Invitational featuring the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series , Monterey Sports Car Championships featuring a four-hour endurance race for the ALMS, Monterey Historics for classic race-cars, The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring both the MotoGP World Championship and the U.S. AMA Superbike Series. Starting in 2006, the A1 Grand Prix brings prominent international open-wheel racing back to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. A Champ Car World Series weekend has been a prominent event in the past.

Laguna Seca and part of the old Fort Ord that is now BLM land annually host the Sea Otter Classic "Celebration of Cycling". As the first major event of the year - typically held in April - it kicks off both the road bike and mountain bike seasons.

Also at Laguna Seca is a branch of the Skip Barber Racing School.

PC game

The track is featured in video games, most notably the Gran Turismo series (including the bike version Tourist Trophy) for Playstation 2 and Forza Motorsport for Xbox. Jeremy Clarkson of the British automotive show Top Gear attempted to beat his GT4 time of 1:41.148 seconds in a Acura NSX in 2005, but reality prevailed and he managed to get a 1:57 on the real course.

Race Winners

Season Winning Driver Chassis Engine
1983 Teo Fabi March Cosworth
1984 Bobby Rahal

BMW M3 GT| March

Cosworth
1985 Bobby Rahal March Cosworth
1986 Bobby Rahal March Cosworth
1987 Bobby Rahal Lola Cosworth
1988 Danny Sullivan Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor
1989 Rick Mears Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor
1990 Danny Sullivan Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor
1991 Michael Andretti Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor
1992 Michael Andretti Lola Ford-Cosworth
1993 Paul Tracy Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor
1994 Paul Tracy Penske Mercedes Benz-Ilmor
1995 Gil de Ferran Reynard Mercedes Benz-Ilmor
1996 Alex Zanardi Reynard Honda
1997 Jimmy Vasser Reynard Honda
1998 Bryan Herta Reynard Ford-Cosworth
1999 Bryan Herta Reynard Ford-Cosworth
2000 Helio Castroneves Reynard Honda
2001 Max Papis Lola Ford-Cosworth
2002 Cristiano da Matta Lola Toyota
2003 Patrick Carpentier Lola Ford-Cosworth
2004 Patrick Carpentier Lola Ford-Cosworth
Season Class Winning Drivers Platform
1999 LMP JJ Lehto / Steve Soper BMW V12 LMR
GTS Olivier Beretta / Karl Wendlinger Dodge Viper GTS
GT Johnny Mowlem / David Murry Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
2000 LMP Rinaldo Capello / Allan McNish Audi R8
GTS Olivier Beretta / Karl Wendlinger Dodge Viper GTS-R
GT Hans Stuck / Boris Said BMW M3
2001 LMP900 Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro Audi R8
LMP675 Milka Duno / Didier de Radigues Reynard 01Q/Judd
GTS Terry Borcheller / Franz Konrad Saleen S7R
GT JJ Lehto / Jorg Muller BMW M3 GTR
2002 LMP900 Emanuele Pirro / Frank Biela Audi R8
LMP675 Chad Block / Steve Knight / Claudia Hertgen Lola EX257-MG
GTS Tomas Enge / Peter Kox Ferrari 550 Maranello
GT Lucas Luhr / Sascha Maassen Porsche 911 GT3-RS
2003 LMP900 Frank Biela / Marco Werner Audi R8
LMP675 James Weaver / Butch Leitzinger Lola EX257-MG
GTS Jan Magnussen / David Brabham Ferrari 550 Maranello
GT Sascha Maassen / Lucas Luhr Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
2004 LMP1 Johnny Herbert / Pierre Kaffer Audi R8
LMP2 Ian James / James Gue Courage C65-AER
GT1 Olivier Beretta / Oliver Gavin Chevrolet Corvette C5-R
GT2 Timo Bernhard / Jorg Bergmeister Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
2005 P1 Tom Chilton / Hayanari Shimoda Zytek 04S
P2 Sascha Maassen / Lucas Luhr Porsche RS Spyder
GT1 Olivier Beretta / Oliver Gavin Chevrolet Corvette C6-R
GT2 Patrick Long / Jorg Bergmeister Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
Season Sprint Race Winner Feature Race Winner
2005-2006 MexicoSalvador Duran MexicoSalvador Duran

Moto GP 2005

United States Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda RC-211V