From R3 Motorsports, Inc.
The first Saleen 1 Cup Car.
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[Source: R3 Motorsports, Inc.]
SALEEN 1 CUP CAR
Technical Specifications
The Saleen Cup features a dedicated racing version of the new Saleen 1 production model – a mid-engine turbocharged four-cylinder “sportscar with supercar credentials.” The Saleen 1 is the latest in the Saleen Original line of models from Saleen Automotive.
A total of 20 cars will be built, maintained and transported to each race event by Saleen, throughout the Saleen Cup. Dedicated technical support will be provided to each competitor, and pre-season test days will be available for each car. Additional technical specifications will be announced prior to the Saleen Cup series launch in June 2019:
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[Source: Saleen Automotive]
From Saleen Automotive.
Additional photos of the 2019 Saleen 1 Cup display / promo car.
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[Source: Saleen Automotive]
By: DANIEL LLOYD on March 1, 2019
Original Article: SPORTSCAR365.COM
Saleen Automotive returns to racing with new Cup series launched for 2019…
Saleen Automotive has announced a new single-make series that will support Blancpain GT World Challenge America later this year.
As first reported by Sportscar365 in October, the Saleen Cup will be dedicated to the racing version of the manufacturer’s 450-horsepower Saleen S1 sports car, which was launched last year.
The five-round championship “arrive and drive” series will feature 20 cars plus spares prepared and transported by the California-based company, and comes with a chance to win a “factory seat” in its GT4 lineup next year.
Further details of Saleen’s involvement with the S1 in GT4, including timescales, have yet to be established.
Round 1 of the Saleen Cup is set to take place at Sonoma Raceway in early June, followed by stops at Portland International Raceway, Watkins Glen International and Road America before concluding in Las Vegas in October.
The series will be open to standard ‘D’ licensed drivers while two-person crews will be permitted in a bid to help spread individual costs.
“I am very pleased to welcome the Saleen Cup Series to the Blancpain GT World Challenge America schedule for the 2019 season,” said SRO founder and CEO Stephane Ratel.
“The Saleen name is instantly recognizable to every race fan and I have fond memories of the wonderful S7-R competing in the FIA GT Championship more than a decade ago.
“The new Saleen 1 is an exciting new project for the brand and the ‘arrive-and-drive’ concept is the ideal way to showcase it at some of the most iconic circuits in the United States.”
Saleen emerged on the global endurance racing scene in the 1990s with specially modified Ford Mustangs, before running its own S7-R supercar in the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The manufacturer went on to win the Le Mans GT1 class through Larbre Competition in 2010 while the S7-R also raced extensively in the American Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship and various national competitions.
“The Saleen Cup is the next chapter in our company’s return to motorsports,” said Steve Saleen, CEO and founder of Saleen Automotive.
“Racing is in the DNA of everything we do at Saleen. The technology and design of the new Saleen 1 model is a direct result of extensive track testing and development, so it’s only natural that the new model makes its debut on some of the most iconic racetracks in America.”
Format, Costs Outlined
Saleen’s director of motorsports Gabriele Cadringher confirmed that Cup events will comprise of two 50-minute races with grids decided by 30 minutes of qualifying spread over two sessions.
Single or two-driver lineups are permitted, with each race carrying a mandatory pit stop but no tire changes.
Three sets of Continental tires will be available to each entry per weekend.
Cadringher projected that the total cost of a full-season program this year will be $190,000 ($38,000 per event) if submitted before April, rising to $210,000 afterward.
2019 Saleen Cup Schedule:
June 7-9 – Sonoma Raceway
July 12-14 – Portland International Raceway
Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 – Watkins Glen International
Sept. 20-22 – Road America
Oct. 18-20 – Las Vegas
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Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365 and e-racing365, with a focus on the FIA World Endurance Championship and various electric racing series.
[Source: sportscar 365]
SALEEN RETURNS TO AUTO RACING WITH LAUNCH OF SALEEN CUP SERIES
High-performance vehicle manufacturer partners with SRO Motorsports Group
to introduce with world’s first professional-level “arrive-and-drive” series,
designed to showcase new Saleen 1 model
Five-race schedule will coincide with Blancpain GT World Challenge America,
June 7 to Oct. 20, 2019
AUSTIN, Texas (March 1, 2019) – One of the most successful marques in GT racing history is returning to motorsports with the introduction of a single make series designed to showcase the world’s newest turbocharged mid-engine sports car.
The Saleen Cup, which was announced today during a press conference at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is being presented via a partnership with SRO Motorsports Group, and will run concurrently with the Blancpain GT World Challenge America. The single-make series invites drivers to be among the first in the world to experience the Saleen 1 on five iconic race tracks throughout the U.S. As the first-ever professional qualify “Arrive-and-drive” series, the five events will be supported by 20 track-ready cars maintained, prepped and transported to race venues by Saleen – offering prospective drivers and enthusiasts a turnkey, once-in-a-lifetime racing opportunity – plus a chance to win a factory seat in Saleen’s GT4 entry throughout the 2020 season.
“I am very pleased to welcome the Saleen 1 Cup Series to the Blancpain GT World Challenge America schedule for the 2019 season,” said Stephane Ratel, founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group. “The Saleen name is instantly recognizable to every race fan and I have fond memories of the wonderful S7-R competing in the FIA GT Championship more than a decade ago. The new Saleen 1 is an exciting new project for the brand and the “arrive-and-drive” concept is the ideal way to showcase it al some of the most iconic circuits in the United States. I look forward to the inaugural event at Sonoma Raceway in June.”
“The Saleen Cup is the next chapter in our company’s return to motorsports,” and Steve Saleen, CEO and founder of Saleen Automotive. “Racing is in the DNA of everything we do at Saleen. The technology and design of the new Saleen 1 model is a direct result of extensive track-testing and development, so it’s only natural that the new model makes its debut on some of the most iconic racetracks in America.”
“Racing one of our cars on these legendary tracks will change your life – not to mention the way you look at driving – forever,” added Saleen. “The Saleen Cup Series gives racers and mainstream enthusiasts this unforgettable experience and serves as the ultimate proving ground for the Saleen 1.”
Gabriele Cadringher recently joined Saleen as director of motorsports and will lead the Saleen Cup. The former technical director and consultant for FIA and Grand-Am will use the five-race events to further hone the track capabilities of the Saleen 1.
Uniquely, the Saleen Cup is open to standard “D” licensed drivers, and offers a distinct professional-level racing experience, in which each car is equally prepared and maintained in-house, including back-up cars, plus transported to each race event. The Saleen Cup also features two racer teams, which can split the cost for participants and offer more affordable racing opportunities. At the conclusion of the five-race series, category champions in the Saleen Cup will secure a factory seat driving in Saleen’s GT4 entry for the entire 2020 season.
The Saleen Cup will consist of five racings scheduled for the second half of the Blancpain GT World Challenge America, and kicks-off at Sonoma Raceway in California Wine Country in June. Drivers who are able to compete in the five races through October 20 are now being actively recruited. Information on the Saleen Cup is available at www.SaleenCup.com:
Saleen’s innovative Saleen 1 model was recently unveiled as a major breakthrough for the venerated high-performance vehicle manufacturer, headquartered in Corona, Calif. Boasting innovative chassis design and performance influenced by Saleen’s legendary S7 supercar, the 450hp turbocharged 2.2-liter, four-cylinder Saleen 1 marks the latest in the company’s Saleen Original line.
For more information on the Saleen Cup, visit www.SaleenCup.com. For more information on the Saleen 1 model, visit www.Saleen.com, or follow Saleen on social media using Facebook at Facebook.com/Saleen , or by using @Saleen on Twitter and @Saleen on Instagram.
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[Source: Saleen Automotive]
