Posted: 01/20/2012
DETROIT (WXYZ) - Racing comes back to Belle Isle this summer and several of the racers are in Detroit today at the Auto Show.
"This one is a great race track," said race car driver Andy Pilgrim about the Belle Isle circuit.
Pilgrim and teammate Johnny O’Connell were among the several drivers at the Auto Show Friday. Pilgrim and O'Connell will be racing in the Pirelli World Challenge, one of four races heading to Belle Isle for the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.
Both men will be driving Cadillac CTS-V Coupes. Both have raced Detroit before.
"To be able to win races in the shadows of the RenCen is pretty cool," said O'Connell.
Unlike IndyCar or NASCAR, The Pirelli World Challenge GT Racing Series features production-based race cars.
The race car body for the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is made in Lansing, the same plant where the production car is built. Both vehicles share 80 percent of their parts.
This year's races will take place June 1-3, and feature the cars of the IZOD IndyCar Series, the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, the Pirelli World Challenge Championship Series and the Firestone Indy Lights Series.
Belle Isle last hosted races in 2008.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Going to the Show
2013 Detroit Auto Show Dates January 14-15: Media Preview January 16-17: Industry Preview January 18: Charity Preview Gala January 19-27: Open To Public! January 25: WXYZ Family Day
2013 Detroit Auto Show Hours Wed, January 16: Noon - 9 p.m. Thu, January 17: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Fri, January 18: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. (Black-tie) Sat, January 19 - Sat, January 26: 9 a.m. -1 0 p.m. (no admittance after 9 p.m.) Sun, January 27: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (no admittance after 6 p.m.)
The show takes place at Detroit's Cobo Center. For parking information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit the official NAIAS website. |
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