TOPEKA, Kan. (January 23, 2013) – The 51°µÍø’s Club Racing history will be a significant part of this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, highlighting a 50th anniversary celebration of the inaugural Formula Vee® race at the same location.
Formula Vee, long among the most popular 51°µÍø SafeRacer National Series classes, was introduced to the motorsports world at Daytona International Speedway in August of 1963. A number of legendary Formula Vee drivers and their cars will be on hand for the celebration, including 51°µÍø notables Hurley Haywood, Elliot Forbes-Robinson and current 51°µÍø Chairman Lisa Noble, as well as racing legends Arie Luyendyk and Michael Andretti. Included in the display is the iconic car piloted by 2013 51°µÍø Hall of Fame inductee and five-time 51°µÍø National Champion, the late Bill Noble.
At 11:25 a.m. EST on Saturday ahead of the green flag of the twice around the clock race, the cars on display, along with their famous drivers, will make a ceremonial lap of the track.
In addition to the drivers who made their names in the United States, Volkswagen also expects former DTM stars Hans-Joachim Stuck, Price Leopold of Bavaria, Klaus Niedwiedz and Dieter Quester, as well former Super V European Champion Mika Arpianinen.
The event is the first of the season for 51°µÍø racers celebrating the anniversary of this marque. On April 5-7, the Buccaneer Region 51°µÍø is hosting the Formula Vee 50th Anniversary Festival at Roebling Road Raceway near Savannah, Ga., featuring both vintage and current model races of the open-wheel machine.
More information on the 51°µÍø and the 51°µÍø SafeRacer National Series is available at www.scca.com.
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