Draft:Hutchinson Island Circuit
North American Street Circuit
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The Hutchinson Island Circuit (also known as the Grand Prize of America Road Course) was a 1.964 mi (3.161 km) temporary street circuit located on Hutchinson Island, Georgia. The circuit hosted The Savannah Speed Week yearly until 2019 and a round of the 1997 PPG/Firestone Indy Lights Championship.
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| Location | Hutchinson Island, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°05′13.55″N 81°04′34.88″W |
| Opened | 1997 Re-opened: 2008 |
| Closed | 2021[1] |
| Major events | Savannah Speed Week (2008–2019) Indy Lights (1997) North American Touring Car Championship (1997) U.S. F2000 National Championship (1997) Barber Pro Series (1997) |
| Street Circuit (1997, 2008–present) | |
| Length | 1.964 mi (3.161 km) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Race lap record | 1:05.726 ( Hélio Castroneves, Lola T97/20, 1997, Indy Lights) |
History
The opportunity for a racing circuit was open with the island's only use being industrial, in support of the Port of Savannah, but in the 1990s a public-private partnership began to build a Convention Centre and Hotel. The Plan was to build a road network on the island with $10 Million of public money with a section of it being used for the Circuit.[1] CART Officials such as Wally Dallenbach Sr. helped design the section of county road to serve as a circuit.
The circuit hosted The Dixie Crystals Grand Prix, a round of the 1997 PPG/Firestone Indy Lights Championship, which was won by Hélio Castroneves, followed by Sérgio Paese in second, and Lee Bentham in third.[2]
After the Indy Lights race, the circuit laid dormant for decades until its reopening in 2008 with the Savannah Speed Week being the headline event. The Savannah Speed Week was a big success and became an annual fixture until 2019 when COVID-19 caused the organizers to cancel the 2020 Edition [3] and then developments to the island that rendered circuit unsafe closed the circuit for the forceable future.
Lap records
The fastest official race lap records at the Hutchinson Island Circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Street Circuit: 1.964 mi (3.161 km) (1997, 2008–present) | ||||
| Indy Lights | 1:05.726 | Hélio Castroneves | Lola T97/20 | 1997 Dixie Crystals Grand Prix |
| Super Touring | 1:17.399[4] | Neil Crompton | Honda Accord | 1997 Hutchinson Island NATCC round |