Grand Prix de Ponce explained

Race Name:	Grand Prix de Ponce
Series Long:	American GT Series, Marlboro GT de las Americas
Venue:	Ponce Speedway
Sponsor:	Ponce Grand Prix, Inc.^[1]
Distance:	300 miles (483 km)
Laps:	200
Previous Names:	Grand Prix Marlboro, Marlboro GT de las Americas^[2]

The Grand Prix de Ponce is an auto race held at the Ponce Speedway in the El Tuque sector of barrio Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico. The yearly event started in 1993.^[3] Before the construction of the Speedway, the race took place in the area of La Guancha in barrio Playa in Ponce.^[4] The new speedway opened in 2003.^[5]

History

The Grand Prix Marlboro de Ponce first started in 1993, taking place in Puerto Rico's historic and second largest city.^[6] The 60,000 fans attending provided the momentum to continue celebrating the races.^[7]

Location

Today's Grand Prix de Ponce takes place in Ponce at El Tuque, a beach, speedway and marina complex just west of Ponce. The new speedway venue is called the Ponce International Speedway Park and opened in 2003.^[8] It includes a drag-racing track and circuit track.^[9]

Winners

GT Marlboro de las Américas 1993

The 1993 winners were:^[10]

VIII Championship GT Marlboro de Las Américas, Grand Prix de Ponce, 3 October 1993.
GTS: (46) Adriano Abreu, Oldomobile Cutlass.
GTU: (85) Tony Canahuate, Porsche 911.

GT Marlboro de las Américas 1994

The 1994 winners were:^[11]

V Championship GT Marlboro de Las Américas, Ponce Grand Prix. 2 October 2012:
GTS: (35) Armando Mandy-González (Puerto Rico), Chevrolet Camaro.

VI Championship GT Marlboro de Las Américas, Ponce Grand Prix. October 1994.
GTS: (35) Armando Mandy-González / Manolo Villa (Puerto Rico), Chevrolet Camaro.

IX Championship GT Marlboro de Las Américas. 8 December 1994.
GTS: (46) Adriano Abreu, Chevrolet Camaro.
GTU: (19) Peter Moodie (Trinidad & Tobago), Mazda RX-7.

GT Marlboro de Las Américas Champions:
GTS: (98) Wally Castro / Rolando Falgueras (Puerto Rico), Ford Mustang Cobra, with 118 pts.
GTU: (44) Paco Aponte (Puerto Rico), Mazda RX-7, with 128 pts.

GT Marlboro de las Américas 1995

The 1995 winners were:^[12]

VI Championship GT Marlboro de Las Américas, Grand Prix de Ponce, October 1995.
GTS: (35) Armando Mandy-González / Manolo Villa (Puerto Rico), Chevrolet Camaro.

Notes and References

1. Resolucion 042 (1993-1994) Legislative Assembly. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. 17 September 1993. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
2. Resolucion 042 (1993-1994) Legislative Assembly. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. 17 September 1993. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
3. Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Breviario sobre la Historia de Ponce. Second Edition. 2002. Page 150.
4. Resolucion 042 (1993-1994) Legislative Assembly. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. 17 September 1993. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
5. http://www.eltuque.com/pista/index.html Ponce International Speedway Park.
6. Web site: Ponce . Discover Puerto Rico.
7. Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Breviario sobre la Historia de Ponce. Second Edition. 2002. Page 150.
8. http://www.eltuque.com/pista/index.html Ponce International Speedway Park.
9. http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2002/vol6n17/CBInves605-en.html The New El Tuque Beach
10. http://www.listin.com.do/el-deporte/2007/2/10/2745/Campeones-nacionales-de-automovilismo Campeones nacionales de automovilismo.
11. http://www.listin.com.do/el-deporte/2007/2/24/4281/Deporte-de-Velocidad Deporte de Velocidad.
12. http://www.listin.com.do/el-deporte/2007/2/10/2745/Campeones-nacionales-de-automovilismo Campeones nacionales de automovilismo.