The GT Challenge at VIR is a sports car race held at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, since 1957. After being a part of the SCCA National Sports Car Championship and the IMSA GT Championship the race, along with the track, went on hiatus from the early 1970s until 2002. It returned as a round of the Rolex Sports Car Series, and became an American Le Mans Series race in 2012. In 2014 the race joined the schedule of the United SportsCar Championship after the merger of the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series.

GT Challenge at VIR
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
VenueVirginia International Raceway
Corporate sponsorMichelin
First race1957
First USCC race2014
Duration2 hours 40 minutes
Most wins (driver)Walt Hansgen (4)
Most wins (team)Briggs Cunningham (5)
Most wins (manufacturer)Riley (7)

The race length has varied from 150 to 500 km. The former title VIR 240 refers to the duration of 240 minutes (4 hours). In 2013, the race was renamed the Oak Tree Grand Prix.[1]

Beginning in 2016, the Oak Tree Grand Prix became the name of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge support race run on the same weekend as the United SportsCar Championship Michelin GT Challenge at VIR.

Winners

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Season Date Overall Winner(s) Entrant Car Distance/Duration Race Title Report
SCCA National Sports Car Championship
1957 August 4   Carroll Shelby   John Engar Maserati 450S 100 km (62 mi) Inaugural Grand Prix Sports Car Races report
October 27   Charles Wallace   Briggs Cunningham Jaguar D-type 2 hours, 30 minutes President's Cup Race report
1958 May 4   Walt Hansgen   Briggs Cunningham Lister-Jaguar 1 hour National Championship Spring Sprint Sports Car Road Races report
October 5   Walt Hansgen   Briggs Cunningham Lister-Jaguar 150 km (93 mi) Autumn Festival Sports Car Races report
1959 May 3   Walt Hansgen   Briggs Cunningham Lister-Jaguar 200 km (120 mi) VIR-Shrine National Championship Sports Car Races report
1960 May 1   Bob Holbert Porsche 718 RSK 200 km (120 mi) VIR-Shrine National Championship Sports Car Races report
1961 April 30   Walt Hansgen   Briggs Cunningham Maserati Tipo 61 3 hours President's Cup report
1962 April 29   Roger Penske Cooper Monaco 2 hours, 30 minutes President's Cup report
1963 April 27   Don Devine   Meister Brauser Racing Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet 1 hour, 30 minutes VIR National Cup report
1964 April 19   Ed Lowther Genie Mk.8-Ford 58 mi (93 km) National Championship Sports Car Races report
1965

1970
Not held
IMSA GT Championship
1971 April 18   Peter Gregg
  Hurley Haywood
  Brumos Porsche-Audi Porsche 914/6 300 mi (480 km) Danville 300 report
1972 April 16   Peter Gregg
  Hurley Haywood
  Peter Gregg Porsche 911 S 250 mi (400 km) Danville 250 report
1973

2001
Not held
Rolex Sports Car Series
2002 September 1   Andy Wallace
  Chris Dyson
  Dyson Racing Crawford SSC2K-Judd 500 mi (800 km) VIR 500 report
2003 October 5   Andy Pilgrim
  Terry Borcheller
  Bell Motorsports Doran JE4-Chevrolet 400 km (250 mi) VIR 400 report
2004 October 3   Wayne Taylor
  Max Angelelli
  SunTrust Racing Riley Mk.XI-Pontiac 400 km (250 mi) VIR 400 report
2005 October 9   Luis Díaz
  Scott Pruett
  Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk.XI-Lexus 2 hours, 45 minutes VIR 400 report
2006 April 23   Mike Rockenfeller
  Patrick Long
  Alex Job Racing Crawford DP03-Porsche 400 km (250 mi) VIR 400 report
2007 April 29   Wayne Taylor
  Max Angelelli
  Jan Magnussen
  SunTrust Racing Riley Mk.XI-Pontiac 400 km (250 mi) VIR 400 report
2008 April 27   Scott Pruett
  Memo Rojas
  Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk.XX-Lexus 250 mi (400 km) Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
2009 April 25   Jon Fogarty
  Alex Gurney
  GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Riley Mk.XX-Pontiac 2 hours, 45 minutes Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
2010 April 24   Scott Pruett
  Memo Rojas
  Chip Ganassi Racing Riley Mk.XX-Lexus 2 hours, 45 minutes Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
2011 May 14   João Barbosa
  Terry Borcheller
  J. C. France
  Action Express Racing Riley Mk.XI-Porsche 2 hours, 45 minutes Bosch Engineering 250 at VIR report
American Le Mans Series
2012 September 15   Lucas Luhr
  Klaus Graf
  Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03a 4 hours American Le Mans Series VIR 240 report[2]
2013 October 5   Lucas Luhr
  Klaus Graf
  Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03a 2 hours, 45 minutes Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR report[3]
United SportsCar Championship
20141 August 24   Luis Díaz
  Sean Rayhall
  8 Star Motorsports Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet 1 hour, 30 minutes (2 x 45-minute segments) Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR report[4][5]
  Giancarlo Fisichella
  Pierre Kaffer
  Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia 2 hours, 45 minutes
20151 August 23   Patrick Pilet
  Nick Tandy
  Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR 2 hours, 40 minutes Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR report[6]
2016 August 28   Antonio García
  Jan Magnussen
  Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C7.R 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2017 August 27   Antonio García
  Jan Magnussen
  Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C7.R 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2018 August 19   Connor De Phillippi
  Alexander Sims
  BMW Team RLL BMW M8 GTE 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2019 August 25   Patrick Pilet
  Nick Tandy
  Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2020 August 22   Antonio García
  Jordan Taylor
  Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2021 October 9   Tommy Milner

  Nick Tandy

  Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2022 August 28   Matt Campbell

  Mathieu Jaminet

  Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2023 August 27   Antonio García

  Jordan Taylor

  Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD 2 hour, 40 minutes Michelin GT Challenge at VIR report
2024 August 25 TBA TBA TBA 2 hour, 40 minutes

References

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  1. ^ "2013 ALMS Schedule". alms.com. American Le Mans Series. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  2. ^ "2012 VIR 240 Official Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. ^ "2013 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. ^ "2014 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official PC Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  5. ^ "2014 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official GTLM/GTD Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. ^ "2015 Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR Official Race Report" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
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