Looking Forward: Pittsburgh International Race Complex

Looking Forward: Pittsburgh International Race Complex

After a short break, the Tire Rack Time Trials National Tour Powered by Hagerty is back in action August 28-29 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (PittRace) in Wampum, Pennsylvania. The circuit, located in scenic and quaint Beaver County, is only about 45 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and easily accessible from multiple routes, including a the I-76 Turnpike and I-376.

It’s going to be “all SCCA, all the time” at the 427-acre PittRace property during the weekend as accompanying the Time Trials National Tour visit will be a RoadRally event, two days of autocross competition hosted by SCCA’s Steel Cities Region, a competition licensing school, and Steel Cities road race Sunday. Thankfully, PittRace is large enough to handle everyone, and has enough different track configuration to ensure everybody gets plenty of time on course. It should be a blast with lots of different things to see and do, and the opportunity to meet a bunch of others who love having #funwithcars.

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Tracking a PittRace Lap

PittRace actually has three course configurations. There is a 1.6-mile North Track, originally opened in 2002, and a 1.2-mile South Track which was added in 2011. Both the North Track and South Track can be used separately at the same time. A third Full Course circuit that covers 2.78 miles with 19 turns combines both the North Track and South Track for another layout option.

You can eyeball an overall track map here. But no matter how you slice it, the circuit features significant elevation changes flowing through natural terrain. Surrounded by trees that make it feel like you’re racing through a park, the circuit also has plenty of runoff space for those who step a bit over the line while learning the limits of this fast, exciting track.

Good “Times” at PittRace

The first and only previous Time Trials National Tour visit to PittRace was back in 2019. But that means there are official SCCA Time Trials National Tour track records drivers will be aiming to beat on the Full Course during the upcoming two-day event. Some current class lap times include:

Overall/Tuner 2 — Tom O'Gorman, 1:48.907
Max 1 — Michael Laffey, 1:48.984
Unlimited 1 — Jim McKamey, 1:49.491
Sport 1 — Manfred Woodall, 1:53.816
Sport 6 — Benjamin Bunk, 2:05.198
Tuner 5 — Mark Shrivastava, 2:06.734 

TrackSprint Back for PittRace

All three course layouts at PittRace will be deployed at one time or another during this year’s Time Trials National Tour event and the schedule is shared with road racing throughout the weekend. Starting Saturday morning, participants will each get a 15-minutes practice session on the 1.2-mile South Track, followed by two 15-minute Time Attack sessions on the same course.

Saturday afternoon, drivers will take part in a TrackSprint session using the 1.6-mile North Course. After that, the Full Course comes into play with 20-minute practice sessions for all groups. Then to wrap up a busy day, everyone will join together for that evening’s Hagerty Party with food and drink.

Sunday morning will see everyone return to the Full Course for 20-minute Time Attack sessions. That continues through the afternoon with each Time Trials National Tour group getting a final 20-minute session on course. Then to cap off an action-packed weekend, the KONI Podium Celebration will take place late Sunday afternoon.

There’s still time to register online for the Time Trials National Tour at PittRace. Click the link below and reserve your spot now!

 REGISTER HERE

 

Photo by Michael Berchak