Watkins Glen International lands Ferrari Challenge

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — For the first time since 2014, the Ferrari Challenge will race at Watkins Glen International.

The race weekend, set for July 27-29, will host spec versions of the Ferrari 488 Challenge and 458 Challenge EVO.

The FIA-approved Ferrari Challenge has been around since 1993. It is raced on three continents, with a world final held at Italy’s Monza course in November.

Landing the race — one of six scheduled for North America this year — involved networking, phone calls, and building relationships, says Watkins Glen President Michael Printup.

He explained that running a race track is sort of like being in the movie business. “We’re the movie theater. We rent the movies from Hollywood and sell the tickets.”

To stay in contact with the race series that can make use of Watkins Glen’s 3.4-mile road course, Printup and others from the organization attend major auto events. Those include the New York International Auto Show, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, SEMA in Las Vegas, and the Los Angeles Auto Show, as well as some races.

Scheduling is usually focused on two years out, he says. On a late winter day, he explains that work right now is focused on finalizing the 2019 schedule and lining up racing for 2020.

Along with meeting the sanctioning bodies in charge of race series, Printup spends time meeting with those interested in promoting their products or making use of the track in other ways. The marketing efforts have created about 150 “partnerships,” he explains, including local businesses from Central and Western New York.

In addition, he says car makers are sometimes interested in using the course to test cars.

Each year, the track attracts tens of thousands of spectators, Printup says, including 160,000 to 165,000 during the NASCAR race weekend in the summer. It’s a major driver of the economy in the area, he adds, with 3,000 employees at the height of the racing season and about 40 who work fulltime year-round. 

Printup estimates that Watkins Glen International generates an economic impact of about $230 million annually. That includes spending at the track as well as people visiting the area’s restaurants, hotels, and other attractions while they are in the area. “We’re a big tourist destination,” he says.

Watkins Glen International is part of publicly traded International Speedway Corporation (NASDAQ: ISCA). The Florida–headquartered company owns NASCAR and IndyCar racing, as well as 13 tracks — of which Watkins Glen is the only road course. Other tracks include Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway.

In 2017, International Speedway generated revenue of $671.4 million, up $10.4 million from 2016. Separate revenue figures for Watkins Glen were not available.

Printup says this year’s season starts April 14 and 15 with a charity event, the opportunity to drive your personal car around the track. Motorists can pay $25 for three laps around the course. 

For the opening weekend, proceeds from the $25 track fees will go to pay for a $50,000 standing wheelchair for a 17-year-old race fan from Boonville who has cerebral palsy. The chair, Printup says, will allow the student to stand up at his high-school graduation.

The track is available for personal car use, at $25 for three laps, most every day of the season, Printup says. “We get hundreds of cars a week.”

Cars on the track follow a pace car that travels at near-highway speeds. “We pace everybody,” Printup says of the drivers who take their personal cars around the course. And everybody really does mean everybody. He says the open track days attract every type of vehicle, including minivans, family sedans and, a couple of times, those mini buses that senior-citizen communities use to transport residents.

While most anyone can drive the track, Printup stresses that the Ferrari Challenge is not open to people whose only qualification is that they own a Ferrari.

While there are several categories for winners, including the “Gentlemen Cup,” for drivers over 55, every car must be race prepped and every driver has to be credentialed. “They have to be race qualified,” he says. “This is the Majors, not Little League baseball.” 

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — For the first time since 2014, the Ferrari Challenge will race at Watkins Glen International.

The race weekend, set for July 27-29, will host spec versions of the Ferrari 488 Challenge and 458 Challenge EVO.

The FIA-approved Ferrari Challenge has been around since 1993. It is raced on three continents, with a world final held at Italy’s Monza course in November.

Landing the race — one of six scheduled for North America this year — involved networking, phone calls, and building relationships, says Watkins Glen President Michael Printup.

He explained that running a race track is sort of like being in the movie business. “We’re the movie theater. We rent the movies from Hollywood and sell the tickets.”

To stay in contact with the race series that can make use of Watkins Glen’s 3.4-mile road course, Printup and others from the organization attend major auto events. Those include the New York International Auto Show, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, SEMA in Las Vegas, and the Los Angeles Auto Show, as well as some races.

Scheduling is usually focused on two years out, he says. On a late winter day, he explains that work right now is focused on finalizing the 2019 schedule and lining up racing for 2020.

Along with meeting the sanctioning bodies in charge of race series, Printup spends time meeting with those interested in promoting their products or making use of the track in other ways. The marketing efforts have created about 150 “partnerships,” he explains, including local businesses from Central and Western New York.

In addition, he says car makers are sometimes interested in using the course to test cars.

Each year, the track attracts tens of thousands of spectators, Printup says, including 160,000 to 165,000 during the NASCAR race weekend in the summer. It’s a major driver of the economy in the area, he adds, with 3,000 employees at the height of the racing season and about 40 who work fulltime year-round. 

Printup estimates that Watkins Glen International generates an economic impact of about $230 million annually. That includes spending at the track as well as people visiting the area’s restaurants, hotels, and other attractions while they are in the area. “We’re a big tourist destination,” he says.

Watkins Glen International is part of publicly traded International Speedway Corporation (NASDAQ: ISCA). The Florida–headquartered company owns NASCAR and IndyCar racing, as well as 13 tracks — of which Watkins Glen is the only road course. Other tracks include Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway.

In 2017, International Speedway generated revenue of $671.4 million, up $10.4 million from 2016. Separate revenue figures for Watkins Glen were not available.

Printup says this year’s season starts April 14 and 15 with a charity event, the opportunity to drive your personal car around the track. Motorists can pay $25 for three laps around the course. 

For the opening weekend, proceeds from the $25 track fees will go to pay for a $50,000 standing wheelchair for a 17-year-old race fan from Boonville who has cerebral palsy. The chair, Printup says, will allow the student to stand up at his high-school graduation.

The track is available for personal car use, at $25 for three laps, most every day of the season, Printup says. “We get hundreds of cars a week.”

Cars on the track follow a pace car that travels at near-highway speeds. “We pace everybody,” Printup says of the drivers who take their personal cars around the course. And everybody really does mean everybody. He says the open track days attract every type of vehicle, including minivans, family sedans and, a couple of times, those mini buses that senior-citizen communities use to transport residents.

While most anyone can drive the track, Printup stresses that the Ferrari Challenge is not open to people whose only qualification is that they own a Ferrari.

While there are several categories for winners, including the “Gentlemen Cup,” for drivers over 55, every car must be race prepped and every driver has to be credentialed. “They have to be race qualified,” he says. “This is the Majors, not Little League baseball.”