OVERVIEW

VIRginia International Raceway is a modern, state-of-the-art road racing facility located in beautiful Halifax County right on the Virginia-North Carolina boarder. The massive facility is on 1,200 acres of gently rolling hills next to the Dan River. Although VIR’s history goes back to 1957, the entire facility has been recently renovated by new owners and is the perfect location to host GT LIVE this October.

The thoughtfully designed track layout offers 4 configurations, of which 2 can always be run simultaneously. For the GT LIVE weekend, both the 3.27 mile main course and the 1.1 mile Patriot course will run simultaneously. Details on the track configurations and circuit data can be found on the GT Track Attack page here [link to GT Track Attack track info page].

VIR’s facilities include two separate paddocks with timing towers, covered tech bays, classrooms, a restaurant, Sunoco race fuel station, pro shop, camping facilities and restrooms with showers.

TRACK LOCATION

VIRginia International Raceway
1245 Pine Tree Road
Alton, VA 24520

Phone: 434-822-7700
FAX: 434-822-8033

12 miles east of Danville, VA
20 miles west of South Boston, VA
15 minutes from Danville Regional Airport
One hour from Raleigh-Durham or Greensboro, on the NC state line
Mild climate permitting year-round operation

GPS COORDINATES:
The turn from the public road into VIR is located at N36.54984 W79.19271, (in hddd.ddddd format) or N36i 32’ 59.4” W79i 11’ 33.7” (in hddi mm’ ss.s” format)

YAHOO MAP: Click here

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Driving from Roanoke

  • Take US 220 South towards Martinsville, approx. 50 miles
  • Exit onto US 58 East to Danville, VA, continue through Danville, approx. 40 miles
  • Turn right onto VA-62 South to Milton, NC, through the traffic light and onto NC-57 South.
  • Continue one half mile and turn left onto Race Track Road. VIR is 1 mile on the left

Driving from Richmond

  • Take I-95 South, 22 miles
  • Take I-85 South, 56 miles
  • Take US 58 West near South Hill, 70 miles
  • Turn left on VA-62 South to Milton, NC, through the traffic light and onto NC-57 South.
  • Continue one half mile and turn left onto Race Track Road. VIR is 1 mile on the left

Driving from Raleigh

  • Take US 70 Bypass West to I-85 South
  • Turn right onto US 501 Bypass North, becomes US 501
  • Stay on US 501 to Roxboro, approx. 27 miles
  • Turn left onto Court St. in Roxboro,
  • Turn right onto NC-57, 17 miles
  • Turn right onto Race Track Rd. VIR is 1 mile on the left

Driving from Greensboro

  • Take US 29 North, 45 miles
  • Turn onto US 58 East towards South Boston, 5 miles
  • Turn right onto VA-62 South to Milton, NC, through the traffic light and onto NC-57 South.
  • Continue one half mile and turn left onto Race Track Road. VIR is 1 mile on the left

VIR HISTORY:

Virginia International Raceway opened for business in August, 1957, hosting an SCCA race that attracted such stars of the sport as Carroll Shelby, Carl Haas, Bob Holbert, Augie Pabst, Bob Grossman, John Yenko, Dr. Dick Thompson, Walt Hansgen and Bruce Jennings.

VIR’s holding company, Sports Car Enterprises, was forced to relinquish its lease on the Foote family's property in 1959. Danville's Col. Paul Rembold took over the lease and the track fell under the auspices of the Civil Air Patrol. Col. Rembold and track manager Henry Wallace were more successful in the operation of the track through the 1960s, attracting thousands of fans to sports car, motorcycle and kart races.

The track fell on hard times in the early 1970s, and that, combined with the fuel crisis of 1973, spelled the end for VIR. The track was shuttered following an SCCA enduro on October 13, 1974.

The Foote property reverted to farmland for 25 years, until the property was leased and revived by New York real estate developer and vintage sports car racer Harvey Siegel in 1998. Siegel's vision for VIR was more expansive than anyone could have imagined, and the facility reopened in 2000, transformed into a world-class road racing circuit (repaved and widened, following the original track's center line).

Within two years, VIR began hosting the top professional sports car and motorcycle racing series in America, as well as welcoming back the amateur racers of the SCCA, whose North Carolina Region was thrilled to have their "home track" back. Under the guiding hands of Siegel and his partner Connie Nyholm, the future looks bright for VIR. The facility has received international acclaim as one of the world's most beautiful and challenging circuits, and continues to push the envelope of what a racetrack can be.

Additional information is available on the VIR web site.