California 8 Hours Explained

Race Title:California 8 Hours
Series Long:Intercontinental GT Challenge
Series Short:IGTC
Venue:WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
First Race:2017
Last Race:2019
Duration:8 Hours
Most Wins Driver:Kelvin van der Linde (2)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Audi (2)

The California 8 Hours was a sports car endurance race held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, United States from 2017 to 2019 as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.[1]

The inaugural edition was open to GT3 and GT4 cars. TCR Touring Cars were added for 2018.[2]

For the first two years, the California 8 Hours served as the season finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. In 2019, the date was brought forward to fill the second race of the season. The event was replaced as the American leg of IGTC by the newly created Indianapolis 8 Hours event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge.[3]

Over the three editions of the event, it was broadcast in part on television by CBS Sports Network, and streamed live across the internet.[4] [5] [6]

Winners

YearDriversVehicleEntrantLapsRef
2017 Pierre Kaffer
Kelvin van der Linde
Markus Winkelhock
Audi R8 LMS Audi Sport Team Magnus314[7]
2018 Christopher Haase
Kelvin van der Linde
Christopher Mies
Audi R8 LMS Audi Sport Team Land306[8]
2019 Nick Foster
Miguel Molina
Tim Slade
Ferrari 488 GT3 HubAuto Corsa327[9]

Multiple winners

By manufacturer

See also

References

  1. Web site: Karis. Tony. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca preps for California 8 Hours, the longest race in track history. Monterey Herald. 30 January 2018.
  2. Web site: James. Richard S.. October 25, 2018. Double the grid, double the spectacle at California 8 Hours. January 31, 2022. Racer.
  3. News: Coch . Mat . Indianapolis joins Bathurst on IGTC calendar . 26 August 2019 . . 26 July 2019.
  4. Web site: Kish. Ryan. March 30, 2019. California 8H: Pre-Race Notes. January 31, 2021. DailySportsCar.
  5. Web site: September 22, 2017. CBS Sports Network to Broadcast California 8H. January 31, 2022. SportsCar365.
  6. Web site: October 28, 2018. Stream the California 8 Hours live. January 31, 2022. Racer.
  7. Web site: 8 h California 2017. Racing Sports Cars. October 22, 2021.
  8. Web site: California 8 Hours 2018. Racing Sports Cars. October 22, 2021.
  9. Web site: California 8 Hours 2019. Racing Sports Cars. October 22, 2021.