The Six Hours of Watkins Glen (currently sponsored as the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen) is a sports car endurance race held annually at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. The race dates from 1948, and has been a part of the SCCA National Sports Car Championship, United States Road Racing Championship, World Sportscar Championship, IMSA GT Championship, Rolex Sports Car Series and currently the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
 | |
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| IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Watkins Glen International |
| Corporate sponsor | Sahlen's |
| First race | 1948 |
| First USCC race | 2014 |
| Duration | 6 Hours |
| Previous names | Watkins Glen Grand Prix |
| Most wins (driver) | Walt Hansgen, Derek Bell, James Weaver, Scott Pruett, João Barbosa (4) |
| Most wins (team) | Briggs Cunningham (8) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Porsche (12) |
History
editThe first Watkins Glen Grand Prix was held in 1948 on a 6.6-mile course around Watkins Glen State Park and the village of Watkins Glen. Cameron Argetsinger, a Cornell law student and SCCA member, organized the event along with the local Chamber of Commerce. The 8-lap, 52.8-mile race was won by Frank Griswold in a pre-war Alfa Romeo 8C. In 1950, three spectators were injured during a support race, and driver Sam Collier was killed during the Grand Prix. The 1951 event became a part of the new SCCA National Sports Car Championship series. In 1952, twelve spectators were injured and one killed when a car left the circuit in the village.[2] This led organizers to move the course to a hillside southwest of Watkins Glen for 1953. Drivers complained of poor visibility and run-off, prompting the construction of a permanent circuit, today called Watkins Glen International, in 1956.[3]
In 1963, the race switched to the SCCA's new series, the United States Road Racing Championship. In 1968, the race was expanded to six hours, and joined the World Sportscar Championship. Along with the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, the Six Hours of Watkins Glen served as an American round of the WSC from 1968 until 1981, traditionally held during the summer. With the track's bankruptcy and the FIA's decision not to return the World Championship to the United States in 1982, the event was not held again until 1984. It returned as an event for the IMSA Camel GT Championship.
Under the control of IMSA, the event was radically altered and shortened. In the 1984 running, a break was held after three hours before the race began again and completed the next three hours.[clarification needed] This event became known as the Camel Continental. A second event later in the year was also held lasting for just three hours or 500 kilometers, and was known as the New York 500. The Continental was modified once more in 1985, this time running sports prototypes in one three-hour event, and grand tourer cars in a second three-hour event. By 1986, the event was shortened altogether, and became a single 500 mile race, then shortened once more in 1987 to just 500 km.
For several years IMSA kept the Continental as a 500 km race for prototypes in the summer, and the 500 km New York 500 for grand tourers in autumn. IMSA chose to drop the New York 500 in 1992, retaining the Continental as an event just for prototypes until 1995. In 1996, IMSA restored the Watkins Glen event to its historic format, combining prototypes and grand tourers once again.
By 1998, Watkins Glen chose to schedule the Six Hours as part of the new United States Road Racing Championship. This championship change was short lived, as the USSRC folded during the 1999 season prior to their second running at Watkins Glen, leaving an FIA GT Championship event as the year's sportscar headliner. In the wake of USRRC's collapse, the Grand American Road Racing Championship took control of the event, and retained the Six Hours since 2000 as part of the Rolex Sports Car Series. In 2014 after the merger of Grand-AM and the ALMS sports car series, IMSA regained control of the event under the United SportsCar Championship. The format of the race remains the same as it was under Grand-Am operation.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 race to be moved to Road Atlanta, as New York state authorities would not allow NASCAR Holdings to host events.
Race winners
editFirst street course
edit| Year | Drivers | Team | Car | Duration/Distance | Race Title | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B | 50 mi (80 km) | Grand Prix Watkins Glen | Non-championship | ||
| 1949 | Riley-Mercury Special "Ardent Alligator"[4] |
100 mi (160 km) | Grand Prix Watkins Glen | Non-championship | ||
| 1950 | Allard J2-Cadillac | 100 mi (160 km) | Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen | Non-championship | ||
| 1951 | Cunningham C2R | 100 mi (160 km) | Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1952 | Cunningham C4R-Chrysler | 100 mi (160 km)† | Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship |
- † Not completed; race stopped after fatal accident involving spectators
Second street course
edit| Year | Drivers | Team | Car | Duration/Distance | Race Title | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Jaguar XK120 | 100 mi (160 km) | Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen | Non-championship | ||
| 1954 | Cunningham C4R-Chrysler | 100 mi (160 km) | Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1955 | Jaguar D-Type | 100 mi (160 km) | Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship |
Watkins Glen International
edit| Year | Drivers | Team | Car | Duration/Distance | Race Title | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Jaguar D-Type | 50 mi (80 km) | Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1957 | Jaguar D-Type | 100 mi (160 km) | Watkins Glen Grand Prix | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1958 | Lister-Jaguar | 100 mi (160 km) | Grand Prix Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1959 | Lister-Costin Jaguar | 100 mi (160 km) | Watkins Glen Grand Prix | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1960 | Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet | 100 mi (160 km) | Watkins Glen Grand Prix | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1961 | Ferrari 250 TR 59 | 100 mi (160 km) | Grand Prix at Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1962 | Cooper Monaco T61-Buick | 100 mi (160 km) | Grand Prix at Watkins Glen | SCCA National Sports Car Championship | ||
| 1963 | Porsche 718 RS61 | 300 km (190 mi) | Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix | United States Road Racing Championship | ||
| 1964 | Chaparral 2A-Chevrolet | 200 mi (320 km) | Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix | United States Road Racing Championship | ||
| 1965 | Chaparral 2A-Chevrolet | 200 mi (320 km) | Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix | United States Road Racing Championship | ||
| 1966 | Lola T70 Mk.2-Chevrolet | 200 mi (320 km) | Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix | United States Road Racing Championship | ||
| 1967 | Lola T70 Mk.3-Chevrolet | 200 mi (320 km) | Sports Car Grand Prix at Watkins Glen | United States Road Racing Championship | ||
| 1968 | McLaren M6A-Chevrolet | 200 mi (320 km) | Watkins Glen Sports Car Road Race | United States Road Racing Championship | ||
| Ford GT40 | six hours 1,058.626 km (657.800 mi) |
World Sportscar Championship | ||||
| 1969 | Porsche 908/02 | six hours 1,077.134 km (669.300 mi) |
Watkins Glen Six Hours | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1970 | Porsche 917K | six hours 1,140.059 km (708.400 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1971 | Alfa Romeo T33/3 | six hours 1,090.189 km (677.412 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1972 | Ferrari 312PB | six hours 1,059.777 km (658.515 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1973 | Matra-Simca MS670B | six hours 1,081.516 km (672.023 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1974 | Matra-Simca MS670C | six hours 1,048.906 km (651.760 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1975 | Alfa Romeo 33TT12 | six hours 826.083 km (513.304 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1976 | Porsche 935 | six hours 945.647 km (587.598 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1977 | Porsche 935/77 | six hours 940.213 km (584.221 mi) |
6 Hours of the Glen | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1978 | Porsche 935/77 | six hours 793.474 km (493.042 mi) |
World Championship 6-Hours | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1979 | Porsche 935 K3 | six hours 951.082 km (590.975 mi) |
World Championship 6-Hours | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1980 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo | six hours 755.431 km (469.403 mi) |
World Championship 6-Hours | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1981 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo | six hours 940.213 km (584.221 mi) |
Glen Six Hours of Endurance | World Sportscar Championship | ||
| 1982–1983 | Not held following track bankruptcy and the end of the United States Grand Prix being held at the circuit in 1980 | |||||
| 1984 | Porsche 962 | six hours 1,054.342 km (655.138 mi) |
Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1985 | Porsche 962 | three hours | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1986 | Porsche 962 | 500 mi (800 km) | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1987 | Porsche 962 | 500 km (310 mi) | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1988 | Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo | 500 km (310 mi) | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1989 | Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo | 500 km (310 mi) | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1990 | Nissan NPT-90 | 500 km (310 mi) | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1991 | Eagle HF90-Toyota | 500 km (310 mi) | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1992 | Eagle MkIII-Toyota | two hours, forty-five minutes | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1993 | Eagle MkIII-Toyota | 500 km (310 mi) | Camel Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1994 | Ferrari 333 SP | three hours | Glen Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1995 | Riley & Scott Mk III-Ford | three hours | Glen Continental | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1996 | Ferrari 333 SP | six hours 973.975 km (605.200 mi) |
First Union 6 Hours of the Glen | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1997 | Riley & Scott Mk III-Ford | six hours 924.980 km (574.756 mi) |
First Union 6 Hours of the Glen | IMSA GT Championship | ||
| 1998 | Ferrari 333 SP | six hours 949.392 km (589.925 mi) |
First Union 6 Hours of the Glen | United States Road Racing Championship | ||
| 1999 | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | three hours | Bosch Sports Car Oktoberfest | FIA GT Championship | ||
| 2000 | Riley & Scott Mk III-Ford | six hours 931.632 km (578.889 mi) |
Bosch Sports Car Summerfest | Grand American Road Racing Championship | ||
| 2001 | Ferrari 333 SP-Judd | six hours 988.256 km (614.074 mi) |
Sports Car Grand Prix at the Glen | Grand American Road Racing Championship | ||
| 2002 | Riley & Scott Mk III-Ford | six hours 1,038.224 km (645.122 mi) |
Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2003 | Fabcar FDSC/03-Porsche | six hours 927.184 km (576.125 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2004 | Riley Mk XI-Lexus | six hours 910.528 km (565.776 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2005 | Riley Mk XI-Pontiac | six hours 832.800 km (517.478 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2006 | Riley Mk XI-Ford | Six hours 855.008 km (531.277 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2007 | Riley Mk XI-Pontiac | six hours 927.184 km (576.125 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2008 | Riley Mk XX-Lexus | six hours 993.808 km (617.524 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2009 | Riley Mk XX-Lexus | six hours 1,020.840 km (634.321 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2010 | Riley Mk XX-BMW | six hours 1,037.130 km (644.443 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2011 | Dallara DP08-Chevrolet | six hours 944.820 km (587.084 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2012 | Chevrolet Corvette DP (Coyote CPM-Chevrolet) |
six hours 995.656 km (618.672 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2013 | Chevrolet Corvette DP (Coyote CPM-Chevrolet) |
six hours 935.712 km (581.424 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen | Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series | ||
| 2014 | Chevrolet Corvette DP (Coyote CPM-Chevrolet) |
six hours 1,045.152 km (649.427 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen | Tudor United SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2015 | Chevrolet Corvette DP (Coyote CPM-Chevrolet) |
six hours 875.52 km (544.02 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen | Tudor United SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2016 | Chevrolet Corvette DP (Coyote CPM-Chevrolet) |
six hours 1,077.9 km (669.8 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2017 | Cadillac DPi-V.R |
six hours 1,090 km (680 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2018[5] | Oreca 07-Gibson |
six hours 1,105.3 km (686.8 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2019 | Mazda RT24-P | six hours 1,154.5 km (717.4 mi)1 |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2020 | Moved to Road Atlanta due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2021 | Mazda RT24-P | six hours 1,090 km (680 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2022 | Acura ARX-05 | six hours 900 km (559 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2023 | BMW M Hybrid V8 | six hours 1,115 km (693 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
| 2024 | Porsche 963 | six hours 822 km (511 mi) |
Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen | WeatherTech SportsCar Championship | ||
- Notes
^1 Race record for distance covered.
References
edit- ^ "Best of the Best: 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B wins Pebble Beach "Best of Show"". wot.motortrend.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
- ^ Reuter, Cliff. "1952 SCCA Race Results". Etceterini. Archived from the original on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Welty, Richard P. "Short History of Road Racing at Watkins Glen". The GEL Motorsport Information Page. Archived from the original on 2009-09-21. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Jaslow, Russell. "The Ardent Alligator and The 1949 Watkins Glen Grand Prix". Auto Racing History. Archived from the original on 2010-03-11. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Official Race Results" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association. 2018-07-04. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
- Ultimate Racing History: Watkins Glen archive
- Racing Sports Cars: Watkins Glen archive
- World Sports Racing Prototypes: SCCA National archive, USRRC archive, WSC archive, IMSA archive