January 2015

Audi at the CES

Audi made its fifth appearance at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas recently to talk about advancements in car technologies. Watch their press conference to find out what’s new.

Grab your Notebooks, it’s Time for (Karting) Class!

Sim Track Update: Daytona International Speedway

With the 24 Hours of Daytona revving up for action this weekend, our simulation team has released a comprehensively upgraded Daytona International Speedway virtual track for Simraceway Online Racing World players to enjoy. Find out more on the game blog.

Jim Russell F3 Winter Series by Simraceway – Race 3

The third race in the Jim Russell F3 Winter Series by Simraceway saw a very different landscape as this was the inaugural “away” race for the Lola F3 cars and the first in many years for a Jim Russell Championship. A glorious weekend greeted racers and Simraceway crew alike at the world famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. From Zanardi to Andretti Laguna Seca and it’s infamous corkscrew has been a haven for many an epic open wheel battle and now the Jim Russell F3 series drivers would get a taste of it for themselves.

Click here to read a full race report and view the race gallery and leaderboard.

ANNOUNCING MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA

SIMRACEWAY PERFORMANCE DRIVING CENTER

EXPANDS TO MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA

Storied West Coast Track Offers Exciting New Challenge

for Simraceway Competitors and Students

SONOMA, CA—(January 14th, 2015)—The Simraceway Performance Driving Center (http://pdc.simraceway.com) today announced it has reached agreement with The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (“SCRAMP”) to extend the activities of its racing school, associated driving programs, and racing series to the world-famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Starting this month, Simraceway’s racing school activities, including its industry-leading fleet of Lola Formula 3 cars, will offer track days from the legendary Monterey-based circuit as well as its current home, Sonoma Raceway.

“We are pleased that Simraceway has chosen Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for their programs,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/General Manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “We strive to feature only the best options for drivers of all skill levels to experience our facility.”

The 11-turn, 2.238-mile track, known throughout the world for its challenging “Corkscrew” section, will also play host to the final four rounds of the Jim Russell F3 Winter Series, the off-season iteration of Simraceway’s pioneering Formula 3 Championship, in January and February.

Race Director Randy Buck, previously in charge of Skip Barber Racing School’s West Coast operations, which included Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, said of the addition:

“The opportunity to drive a modern-day Formula 3 car at such a great track as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is something that every driver dreams of. The chance to drive such famous corners as the Corkscrew was enough to gain a full-field commitment within just three days of the Series schedule announcement.”

Joining the Simraceway Performance Driving Center on its journey south will be its neighbor at Sonoma Raceway, the Audi sportscar experience, whose presence in Central California will allow a whole new audience of motoring enthusiasts to enjoy its range of performance cars, including the RS5, S5, S4, TTS, and R8.

Jonathan Haswell, CEO of Simraceway, said of the Simraceway Performance Driving Center’s expansion:

“The opportunity to extend our operations to a track of the caliber of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was one we grabbed with both hands. This expansion will provide much needed additional track day inventory for our school, which saw record participation levels in 2014. We look forward to joining the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge, and Indy Lights Series on this prestigious circuit in 2015.”

About Simraceway

With a portfolio that includes both an industry-leading driving school and a respected racing simulation, Simraceway offers unrivalled real-world and virtual automotive experiences and instruction. Headquartered at Sonoma Raceway in California, the Simraceway Performance Driving Center (formerly the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School) employs a fleet of over 110 vehicles and a team of world-class instructors. Its diverse range of programs occupy over 300 days of track time each year, while its unique offering of adrenaline-fueled excitement and unparalleled hospitality have earned it a five-star rating on Trip Advisor. Simraceway’s free-to-play Online Racing World boasts live, multiplayer racing, simulation-grade driving physics developed by world-champion drivers, an unparalleled collection of car and track licenses, and cutting-edge proprietary technology, including its “Skillquant” skill-matching software and “SRW-S1” racing controller.

About Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was established in 1957. The world-renowned raceway has been operated since its inception by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), a not-for-profit 501(c)4 corporation. Each race season, SCRAMP donates its net proceeds to the volunteer groups that help organize the races.

Contact Information

Paul Charsley

707-364-8731

[email protected]

ASCE Heads to Laguna Seca!

The Audi sportscar experience is hitting the road and heading south to the one-and-only Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, to provide guests with a brand new driving experience.

Situated on the California coast near beautiful Monterey, the 11-turn, 2.2-mile track, with its iconic “Corkscrew” section, is often hailed as one of the best road courses in the world–and now YOU can drive it in your choice of Audi performance model.

Available experiences include the Audi R8 Introduction course which, for only $1,995, will will introduce you to one of motorsport’s most treasured venues at the wheel of our range-topping supercar.

Grab your spot before they’re gone!

Happy New Year–Now Let’s Get Racing!

Don’t let that bite in the air fool you, at the Simraceway Performance Driving Center, we’re out in full force! The new calendar has been hung and January is shaping up to be a fantastic month with everything from 2-for-1 karting to Jim Russell F3 Winter Series racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca!

Find out what’s going on in January at the PDC.