Baltimore Announces Final Schedule for Grand Prix

Organizers in Baltimore have finalized activities to coincide with the Grand Prix of Baltimore, to be held in Baltimore City, Maryland. The race will take place from Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

All information is available at the official site http://grandprixofbaltimore.com/

The race is entitled “A Celebration of Acceleration” and organizers are inviting the public to Experience the Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT this Labor Day weekend.

Behind the scenes, however, race officials have admitted they lack a title sponsor and are struggling to find weekends to accommodate the event. Indycar races as a whole are also lacking the ability to draw the crowds they once did. Baltimore organizers want to try to keep the race alive, and have stated they are committed to it. This year's event includes multiple events, both racing and family-themed, in the hopes of bringing in extra crowds and revenue.

Official information states,

This year the Grand Prix is bringing a Celebration of Acceleration to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  The Grand Prix of Baltimore is more than just a racing festival, it is the must-attend festival of the summer. Accelerated Sights—Experience the incredible speeds of up to 180mph as open wheel and sports cars rip around the 12-turn, 2-mile street course along Baltimore’s beautiful harbor.

• Accelerated Flavors—Send your taste buds into overdrive by cracking all the perfectly seasoned crabs you can eat or by sampling a full array of traditional favorites as you take in the rest of the festivities.
• Accelerated Sensations—Feel the rhythm and exhilaration of live music and entertainment for the whole family, all weekend long.
• Accelerated Fun—Climb, tumble and spring through the indoor, air-conditioned Family Fun Zone, free with your race admission. 

Information on the race itself includes the following events:

RACING SERIES IZOD IndyCar Series: The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier American open-wheel racing series offering one of the most diverse and challenging schedules in motorsports.  Featuring races held on ovals, permanent road courses and temporary street courses, this exhilarating series brings accelerated action through the streets of Baltimore! For more information, visit:  www.indycar.com

Firestone Indy Lights Series: Firestone Indy Lights is the development series for drivers striving to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series.  For more information, visit: www.indycar.com/roadtoindy

American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón:  The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is the world’s premier sports car racing series. The most luxurious manufacturers and greatest names in motorsports have tested their skills in this series. This race event offers a chance to see Porsches, Ferraris, Corvettes and more as they race through the streets of Baltimore. For more information, visit: www.alms.com

IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama: For the first time, the Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT will showcase the largest single-make series in North America, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama.  This will be the first-ever appearance by the GT3 Cup Challenge at a street course event. The GT3 Cup Challenge features semi-professional drivers competing in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.  The series will run two races during Labor Day weekend, complementing the Grand Prix’s two feature races: The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the IZOD IndyCar Series. The inclusion of the GT3 Cup Challenge with the Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT race festivities is guaranteed to add a new level of racing excitement to this year’s Celebration of Acceleration.

The question of the year is whether last year’s winner, Hunter-Reay, can repeat his victory in 2013. Hunter-Reay raced the No. 28 DHL/Sun Drop Chevrolet car for Andretti Autosport and emerged as a title contender mid-season.  With race victories in Milwaukee, Iowa, Toronto, Baltimore and Fontana, Californi,a he became the first American to win the IZOD IndyCar Series Championship since 2006.

During the 2012 Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT, Hunter-Reay won the 75-lap street-course race, crossing the finish line 1.4391 seconds ahead of Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe.  This victory for Hunter-Reay positioned him right behind series leader Will Power.  Hunter-Reay was then able to claim victory, winning the series championship at Fontana, California.

Information on all events is available at http://grandprixofbaltimore.com/