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North American debut of FIA World Touring Car championship begins weekend at Sonoma Raceway

The North American debut of the FIA World Touring Car Championship begins today at the Sonoma Raceway and will mark the Valley racing season’s final major event, with the action continuing through tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, when two 13-lap, 30-minute sprint races will be featured.

Also debuting with the American premier of the World Touring Car Championship will be three support series – the Auto GP, the United States Touring Car, and the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo World Series, which features a lineup of talented drivers, including actor and accomplished racecar driver Patrick Dempsey.

Best known for his role on Grey’s Anatomy, Dempsey has competed in a variety of series in the United States, including the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series. He has also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Cost for the World Touring Car event is $25 to $35 for a single day, and $49 for the weekend – with discounts for military – and kids 12-years-old-and-younger, along with parking, are free.

To purchase tickets for the FIA World Touring Car championship weekend, for Wednesday Night Drags details, or for general Sonoma Raceway information, call 800-870-RACE (7223), or visit www.infineonraceway.com/tickets, racesonoma.com/wtcc or www.ticketmaster.com. 

 

WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Friday, Sept. 21: United States Touring Car Championship practice, 10 to 10:45 a.m.; AutoGP practice-1, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; USTCC practice-2, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Trofeo Maserati practice-1, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.; FIA WTCC testing, 1:45 to 2:15 p.m.; USTCC qualifying-1, 2:45 to 3:15 p.m.; AutoGP practice-2, 3:30 to 4 p.m.; Trofeo Maserati practice-2, 4:15 to 5 p.m.  

Saturday, Sept. 22: FIA WTCC practice-1, 9 to 9:30 a.m.; AutoGP qualifying, 9:45 to 10:15 a.m.; Trofeo Maserati qualifying, 10:30 to 11:20 a.m.; FIA WTCC practice-2, 11:30 a.m. to noon; USTCC qualifying-2, 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.; Auto GP Race-1 (max. 40 minutes), 1:20 to 2 p.m.; FIA WTCC qualifying, 2:15 to 2:50 p.m.; Trofeo Maserati Race-1 (max. 30 minutes), 3:20 to 3:50 p.m.; USTCC Race-1, 4:20 to 4:50 p.m.                                  

Sunday, Sept. 23: FIA WTCC warm-up, 9 to 9:15 a.m.; Trofeo Maserati Race-2 (max. 30 minutes), 9:45 to 10:15 a.m.; pre-race festivities, 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.; FIA WTCC Race-1 (13 laps), 12:20 to 12:45 p.m.; FIA WTCC Race-2 (13 laps), 1:35 to 2 p.m.;      AutoGP Race-2 (max. 40 minutes), 2:35 to 3:15 p.m.; USTCC Race (max. 30 minutes), 3:45 to 4:30 p.m.; Trofeo Maserati Race-3 (max. 50 minutes), 4:45 to 5:35 p.m.         

TELEVISION: Sunday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. PST, SPEED.