From Petit Le Mans to the Suzuki Superbikes, if you like it fast, then Road Atlanta is the place to be.

Fuel your need for speed, get behind the wheel at their driving school.

www.roadatlanta.com

The Formula Drift® competition at Road Atlanta will be conducted in the Turn 10 complex, a right left-right-hand combination that will require the drifting competitors to quickly change direction while in full drift mode. The competition will include Friday qualifying to determine a 16-car field for the finals Saturday, with two cars paired together on consecutive runs (one leads, then they switch). A panel of professional drifting drivers will determine the bracket winners.

Drift Atlanta VIII — May 6-7, 2011

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#6 Car Corrals

Car Corrals – Petit Le Mans not only has a wide variety of race cars during the weekend - they also have a large selection of car corrals. You won’t be able to miss the Porsche, Corvette, Pennzoil/Ferrari and Audi corrals lining the infield! Make sure to bring your camera, you can bet there will be some rarities!

Plus fans can walk around in the paddock area and see the inner workings of the crews up close and personal – feel the burn.

For more info, visit Road Atlanta’s website by clicking here.

Reason #10

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup - This year, for the first time ever, Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda2 will be the sole North American stop of a new global sports car championship called the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Created by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup is comprised of one marquee endurance race in Europe, North America (Petit Le Mans) and Asia. It will decide a true International champion!

Originally conceived for LMP1 manufacturers, the ACO has expanded the Cup to include a championship for GT2 manufacturers and also team championships for all four ACO-sanctioned classes. That means International Heavyweights including Audi, Peugeot, Porsche, Ferrari and other new competitors are expected to come over from Europe and race at Petit Le Mans this fall.

For more info on the 2010 Petit LeMans Powered by Mazda…click here.

In the good old days, danger was an accepted part of the deal, and we think a scintilla of fear makes for a more challenging competition venue. Of course, we aren’t featuring all of them—some stellar circuits, such as Mid-Ohio, didn’t make the ultimate cut, and this will certainly inspire heated online arguments. But, hey, isn’t that what the Internet is for?

Old-timers swear this track was ruined in 1998 when new owner Don Panoz inserted a chicane into the long back straight, thus bypassing the infamous dip prior to the blind last corner.

But they’re wrong: This undulating ribbon is still one of the most exciting places to drive a car, any car. And it’s insanely quick. The only truly slow corners are the chicane and Turn Seven, which leads onto the back straight. We love the blind approach to Turn 12 and how you have to carry the precise amount of speed up the front straightaway into Turn One. The stretch out of that corner into Turn Five is like running through a huge soup ladle with curves in it.

The track feels like it’s in Gone with the Wind country, but it’s less than 50 miles from downtown Atlanta. Swells can stay at Panoz’s Chateau Elan resort if they can’t abide Atlanta traffic.

WHERE IT IS: Braselton, Georgia

WHEN IT OPENED: September 1970

LENGTH, NUMBER OF TURNS: 2.54 miles, 12

HOW TO GET ON IT: Skip Barber (www.skipbarber.com) invites you to one of its schools here. Clubs—such as Porsche and BMW—rent the facility, but individuals have to contact the track for pricing and insurance information (800-849-7223). (www.roadatlanta.com)

HISTORICAL NOTE: An open field became a racetrack in just six months after Can-Am officials awarded the Bridgehampton race to Road Atlanta’s founders.

Click here for the full article in Car and Driver magazine.

Click here to check out the 2010 schedule.

With seven-time champion Mat Mladin’s retirement, the AMA Pro American SuperBike class is wide open this year. Geoff May (Gainesville), Jake Zemke, Tommy Hayden, Larry Pegram, Josh Hayes, Blake Young, Ben Bostrom, and John Hopkins headline the field. The American SuperBike finals (20 laps/50 miles) are scheduled for Saturday, April 17th and Sunday, April 18th at 3:00 p.m. each day

This year’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike field sees the return of 2009 champion Danny Eslick. Josh Herrin, Tommy Aquino, Martin Cardenas and 2009 SunTrust Moto-GT champion Mark Crozier will provide tough competition. Saturday’s SportBike final (20 laps/50 miles) is set for 1:45 p.m. while Sunday’s final gets underway at 4:15 p.m.

In addition, The AMA Pro Racing SuperSport class will showcase riders aged 16 to 21 against the more experienced Top Gun class of riders, comprised of expert licensed riders and local talent. Saturday’s SuperSport race (16 laps/40 miles) is at 4:15 p.m. and Sunday’s race begins at 1:45 p.m.

For more info, visit the Road Atlanta website HERE.

Located 35 miles north of Atlanta and just minutes away from Chateau Elan, a 4-Star resort offering guests comfort and amenities such as three championship golf courses and a European-style Spa.

The facility is utilized for a wide variety of events, including professional and amateur sports car and motorcycle races, racing and driving schools, corporate programs and testing for motorsports teams.

Road Atlanta is host to major events like Petit Le Mans and the Suzuki Superbike Showdown, and is home to the Skip Barber Racing School and the Saab Aero Academy.

Fast Facts:
- 2.54-mile, 12-turn world class road course
- 320,000 annual visitors from 33 states and 18 countries
- Family friendly atmosphere: Kids 12 and Under Are Always Free!

Road Atlanta is part of the Panoz Motor Sports Group. Since purchasing Road Atlanta in 1996, Don Panoz has made millions of dollars in improvements designed to create a perfect blend of safety for the racers and comfort and convenience for the fans. We hope you will visit often and experience the excitement only Road Atlanta can offer!

As one of the top entertainment centers in Georgia, Road Atlanta offers individuals, families and large corporate groups a fun and family-friendly environment. Our Kids 12 and Under Are Always Free policy gives families an affordable family outing.

Visit the Road Atlanta website here.

After transitioning to the Ganassi team’s NASCAR program in 2008, the 2007 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series Champion returns to open wheel racing alongside new teammate and reigning Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series Champion, Scott Dixon.

Before trying his hand in the world of stock car racing, Franchitti posted four wins and four pole positions in 2007, en route to his first IndyCar Series championship. 2009 will be his first IndyCar season with Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Since the open-wheel merger and with the IndyCar Series schedule comprised of an equal blend of ovals, street & road courses, Franchitti is an odds-on-favorite to again contend for the series championship. For the first time since 2002, Dario will return to Southern California for the Grand Prix of Long Beach, where he was the runner-up in 1998 and 1999. The series will also travel to the familiar downtown streets of Toronto in July where Franchitti recorded a race win in 1999 during his racing days in CART.

Over the course of his open-wheel career, Franchitti has accumulated a wealth of experience and trophies in his time on the track. He has over 180 starts under his belt between the CART and IndyCar Series resulting in 20 wins, 19 poles, 101 top-10 finishes (1997-2009). He’s won races on road courses, street courses, short ovals and superspeedways and he is one of only 12 drivers to win a race in the IndyCar Series and CART.

With his immeasurable drive and a renewed excitement to be back in the unified IndyCar Series, no one doubts Franchitti can again vie for the Borg Warner Trophy and win another driver’s championship in 2009

Over 100,000 people will pack the venue to watch the action.

Special events include an enormous vendor village, meet the drivers session, vintage racing display and lots of super fast indy style racing.

Some of the famous faces driving this year include Dario Franchetti (actress Ashley Judd’s husband) and Indianapolis 500 champ Scott Dixon.

A limited number of tickets are still available at the gate.

For more info…visit Road Atlanta’s website by clicking here.