SpeedTour to rejoice ladies in motorsports at VIR
Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH), the guardian firm that hosts SpeedTour occasions, is planning a particular celebration of ladies in motorsports through the upcoming VIR Gold Cup SpeedTour weekend, October 5-8.
Held at VIRginia Worldwide Raceway, the weekend will function Lyn St. James as Grand Marshal, a fundraising dinner benefiting Ladies in Motorsports North America and a panel dialogue that includes 5 ladies whose various roles will every play an integral half within the success of the VIR Gold Cup SpeedTour occasion.
“I’m proud to host this celebration of ladies in motorsports throughout our VIR Gold Cup SpeedTour occasion,” mentioned Tony Parella, CEO of PMH. “It is a chance to acknowledge all the ladies who contribute to the success of motorsports. The ladies on PMH’s workers have performed an integral function in advancing our firm and getting us to the place we’re right this moment. I’m an enormous advocate for making a extra inclusive paddock and surroundings. With the whole lot we have now deliberate at VIR, I do know it’s going to be a really particular weekend.”
As Grand Marshal, St. James will throw the inexperienced flag for the beginning of Saturday’s Trans Am Collection introduced by Pirelli race. The veteran of 53 Trans Am begins, she earned seven top-five Trans Am finishes and several other IMSA GT wins. Additionally an endurance driver, she received the 24 Hours of Daytona twice, received the 12 Hours of Sebring, raced twice on the 24 Hours of Le Mans and as soon as on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. She earned the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Yr title and competed in seven Indy 500s and 15 IndyCar races. She set 21 nationwide and worldwide velocity data and was named one of many “High 100 Feminine Athletes of the Century” by Sports activities Illustrated.
St. James will probably be obtainable to satisfy followers and signal autographs through the weekend, together with an autograph session at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 7 on the Petty’s Storage show.
“I’m an enormous fan of what Tony Parella has finished with SVRA and have watched how he’s expanded the race occasions to incorporate Trans Am, System 4, System Regional Americas and so many different thrilling types of racing,” mentioned St. James.
“The assist he’s given to proficient younger racers via his Range Scholarships is an instance of how he provides again to the game he loves. I’m actually wanting ahead to being the Grand Marshal. Whereas I by no means raced at VIR, it’s one of the vital widespread race tracks within the U.S. and it will likely be tremendous enjoyable to be there and rejoice the various nice ladies in motorsports, whether or not as drivers, workforce homeowners, crew members, officers, volunteers, race followers or leaders, like monitor proprietor Connie Nyholm.”
An extended-time advocate for girls’s racing involvement, St. James is the Co-Founding father of Ladies in Motorsports North America (WIMNA), a company dedicated to supporting alternatives for girls throughout all disciplines of motorsport. With a neighborhood of execs championing the trigger, WIMNA seems to create an inclusive, resourceful surroundings that fosters mentorship, advocacy, training and development, whereas guaranteeing the continued energy and profitable way forward for motorsport. Proceeds from Saturday’s fundraising dinner will assist WIMNA and its mission.
Supporters at Saturday’s dinner can even get pleasure from a particular panel dialogue concerning the journey of 5 ladies which have solid various careers in motorsports. Moderated by St. James, the panel will probably be composed of Connie Nyholm, Proprietor and CEO of VIRginia Worldwide Raceway, Teena Larson, Co-Proprietor of System 4 United States Championship and System Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda workforce Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, Michele Abbate, Massive Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Collection driver and 2023 recipient of the PMH Powering Range Scholarship, and Kim Parella, Common Supervisor of Parella Motorsports Holdings.
The VIR Gold Cup SpeedTour is scheduled for October 5-8 at VIRginia Worldwide Raceway. That includes racing from the Sportscar Classic Racing Affiliation, Trans Am Collection introduced by Pirelli, Worldwide GT, Prototype Dash Collection Affiliation introduced by Hankook, System 4 United States Championship and System Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda, tickets can be found at VIRnow.com. Followers are additionally invited to make a donation on to WINMA, or buy tickets for Saturday night time’s dinner at womeninmotorsportsna.com.
