< Back to News Home Team Sahlen announces 2017 Race Schedule

Posted (01/06/2017) -

Team Sahlen has set their preliminary 2017 race schedule.  There will be 7 events with 14 races throughout the season.  From these 14 events, there will be over 100 hour of racing on track.  If you include the aspect that there will be 2 entries per race, and a 3rd entry at several events, then Team Sahlen will be on track a combined 250+ hours for the year. 

 

Team Sahlen Manager Tim Weyer shared his thoughts on this epic schedule – “With all of our races being at least 7 hours, this means there is a lot of off season preparations that are necessary to be ready for the races ahead.  Not only is there over 250 hour of on track racing, this is spread across 6 race cars.  This is a lot of logistics, parts replacement scheduling, and time management.  Our 2017 season started in the shop in November.  The crew is busy getting everything ready, and we are very excited to get back out there on the track.”


Similar to last year’s schedule, the season will include a montage of events between three different series: American Endurance Racing, ChumpCar World Series and World Racing League.  There will be 7 events with 14 races throughout the season. 


The 1st event of the season will be in April for the Sahlen’s Sports Car Springfest at the Glen with the American Endurance Racing Series.  Team Sahlen will be defending their 2016 victory at this event.  The team has added a 3rd Porsche Cayman to increase the potential for this race.  Team Sahlen tested this Cayman at the Fall 2016 American Endurance Racing event at Mid-Ohio to prepare for the coming year. The team will make a 3rd straight year visit to American Endurance Racing’s season finale at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in October. 


Will Nonnamaker shared his excitement in returning to action in the American Endurance Racing series. – “This is a very competitive series.  We were very fortunate to secure three victories in a row in the series in 2015 and into 2016.  In the last 3 races we have been the bridesmaid.  The team is certainly focused to contend strongly for the overall victory in 2017 with our 3 Porsche Caymans.”


Team Sahlen has competed in the ChumpCar World Series since 2011.  In that period of time, the team has relied upon the everlasting strength of rotary power from their Mazda RX7s to race to the front of the pack.  In 2016, Team Sahlen was able to lead 6 ChumpCar events, with a victory at Gingerman Raceway as the capstone to ChumpCar chaptert of the season.  The 1st event with the ChumpCar World Series in 2017 will be at the Memorial Day weekend Sahlen’s Chumpyard DOG at the Glen event.  The next event with ChumpCar will be in June at the brand new National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park.   The final 2017 event with the ChumpCar World Series will be at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in October.  At this event in 2016, Team Sahlen led the 7 hour event all the way up to 2 laps to go, when a broken exhaust pushed the team back to 3rd place.  Team Sahlen will most certainly be marking this event on the calendar for redemption over the prior year heart break.


Joe Sahlen shared his thoughts on the season ahead with the ChumpCar World Series - “I am excited to be returning for the 3rd straight year to the Memorial Day weekend event.  Being a sponsor of race at my home track is special.  But what makes it even more special is to have my whole family there during the weekend.  My son Joseph will be driving with me, and all of the Grandchildren will be there.  We almost won last year, leading with 10 minutes to go,,so maybe we can pull it off the victory this coming year.”


Last season marked Team Sahlen’s debut in the World Racing League.  The team was fortunate to be able to win in their inaugural event with the series at Gingerman Raceway.  In this event, Team Sahlen campaigned their Mazda RX7s to victory.  For 2017, Team Sahlen will be switching mounts to their Porsche Caymans for the World Racing League events. The 1st event on the World Racing League circuit will be in September at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.  Here Team Sahlen will be hoping to utilize their home track knowledge to have an edge on the competition.  The final event on Team Sahlen’s calendar will be in December at World Racing Leauge’s US Endurance Championship at the Circuit of the America’s.   


Wayne Nonnamaker shared his thoughts on returning to the Circuit of the Americas – “This is one of the more challenging circuits in North America.  You have to make lots of compromises from turn to turn to achieve a fast lap.  To be on the track where Formula 1 races makes it even more special.  It will be a bit strange racing all the way into December, but being in Austin, Texas should hopefully ensure some mildly warm weather.”


2017 Team Sahlen Campaign Partners

eEuroparts.com, Tarett Engineering, Guard Transmission, Porsche of Beachwood, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, HubstandsPRO, Brothers Grimm Landscaping, NGK Spark Plugs, CM Racing Products, Mothers Polishes, Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, Design Engineering Inc., Hard Brakes, Alcon Rotors, Lamin-X, Optima Batteries, Mazdaspeed and TheRaceSite.com.

Most Recent News Articles
** Team Sahlen's Joe Nonnamaker - Nelson Ledges 24 hours from 1980 to 2019
** Team Sahlen has a great day of Testing at Nelson Ledges Road Course
** Audi Mentor mentors Team Sahlen on new Audi R8 LMS GT3
** Team Sahlen excitedly announces their newest racer - the Audi R8 LMS GT3
** ECS Tuning welcomes new partnership with Team Sahlen
** All Fit Automotive helps Team Sahlen improve their Race Cars' Aerodynamics
** Team Sahlen secures Double OVERALL victory at the Sahlen's Champyard DOG at the Glen
** Team Sahlen secures photo finish 1st and 2nd Place at the Sahlen's Sports Car Springfest at the Glen
** Team Sahlen excited for Memorial Day weekend at the Watkins Glen International
** The Sahlen's Sports Car Springfest kicks off the racing season at Watkins Glen International
** Team Sahlen kicks off season at Watkins Glen International

Contact