MIAMI – After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Trans-Am Series to utilize a consolidated schedule this year, the Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli has revealed an expanded 14-race calendar for next year.
The 2021 schedule has grown to include the Roval circuits of Charlotte Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway, and has been designed with the goal of cost containment for the robust paddock.
With five back-to-back weekends that will be geographically friendly to participants, as well as the option for competitors to drop two rounds from the championship, the ruleset and calendar reflects both a connection to Trans-Am’s long history as well as some well-considered responses to current conditions.
Adding flexibility and potential budget advantages for teams, drivers will be able to utilize their 12 best race finishes toward the championship standings. Teams will have the opportunity to drop two races or drop their worst two finishes up to Aug. 1, establishing the opportunity for teams to select the best schedule of races to fit their plans without losing any competitiveness in the championship fight.
“After a season of unknowns, we wanted to give our participants stability with a cost-effective travel schedule that is geographically friendly and that would also allow for more racing in 2021 after having a shortened season in 2020,” explained Trans-Am Race Co. President John Clagett. “We also gave the teams the flexibility to choose the events they attend to help with their overall bottom line. There are some great events at the best venues in North America on this schedule. We’ve still got a lot of racing to yet do in 2020, but the enthusiasm about next year is really strong.”
Trans-Am has a history at Sebring that stretches back to the very first race in 1966. The series will continue that tradition again in 2021 on Feb. 20-21 to kick off a back-to-back Florida run that will see Trans-Am return to Homestead-Miami Speedway (Feb. 27-28) as part of the SVRA SpeedTour.
The Homestead round is the first for Trans-Am since 2017, and the last time that Sebring and Homestead (2015) ran on back to back weekends, the two races generated 73 and 65 entries, respectively.
The multi-class series travels to Charlotte Motor Speedway (March 20-21), having raced at the track in a previous iteration of the ROVAL layout in 2000. From there, the series will move south to the always-competitive Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (March 27-28) for another single tow race weekend with SVRA.
Following a short break, the series will make a West Coast swing on consecutive weekends with visits to Sonoma Raceway (April 24-25) and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (May 1-2), with the dates also slated is the opening two events of the growing Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship.
Sonoma Raceway hosted the Trans-Am Championship 24 times, consecutively from 1969 through 2004; then returned to the schedule in 2018 as host for a West Coast Championship round. The West Coast Championship has returned to Sonoma every year since, and played host for three rounds and two events this season. The 2021 schedule will mark the first appearance for the National Championship at Sonoma since 2004.
Due to rescheduling, Trans-Am drivers will be fighting for a title in the infamous Corkscrew during the 2020 season finale. In 2021, the SVRA SpeedTour event returns to its regularly scheduled first weekend of May slot featuring the Trans-Am by Pirelli Championship and West Coast Championship series.
The series then heads back to the other side of the country for a fan favorite and traditional event the Trans-Am SpeedTour Classic at Lime Rock Park over Memorial Day Weekend (May 29-31) with SVRA.
Another pair of back-to-back weekends kick off Trans-Am’s summer tour, starting with Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 26-27. Trans-Am will celebrate America’s independence at one of the most iconic road courses in the country, Road America, once again staging two 100-mile races as part of the NASCAR Cup Series event on its new date (July 3-4).
After a one weekend break, Trans-Am will head North to Minnesota for a very special event. For the second consecutive season, Trans-Am will honor the late track co-owner and former part-time Trans Am driver Jed Copham for the Jed Copham Tribute Weekend July 17-18.
Keeping true to the Trans-American name, the final leg of the 2021 docket starts internationally in Canada at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park September 4-5.
The 2021 visit to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park will be its 31st visit, and its first time there since 2014. Trans-Am raced at the venue 14 consecutive years (1984-97) and then six straight seasons (2009-2014) on the traditional Victoria Day weekend (start of summer) to now the end of summer holiday (Labour Day).
The following weekend, the teams return to the iconic Watkins Glen International (Sept. 11-12) after missing the date in 2020 due to the pandemic. The three-week September sprint ends in Virginia Int’l Raceway (Sept. 25-26) with SVRA.
The teams and drivers break for October before the season finale at Circuit of the Americas Nov. 6-7, which will host the season finale for both the Trans-Am National and West Coast championships.
The TA2 powered by AEM class will compete in one additional race, to be announced in the near future.
2021 Trans-Am by Pirelli Schedule
Feb. 20-21 – Sebring Int’l Raceway – Sebring, Fla.
Feb. 27-28 – Homestead-Miami Speedway – Homestead, Fla.
March 20-21 – Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL – Concord, N.C.
March 27-28 – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – Braselton, Ga.
April 24-25 – Sonoma Raceway – Sonoma, Calif.
May 1-2 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.
May 29-31 – Lime Rock Park – Lakeville, Conn.
June 26-27 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, Ohio
July 3-4 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.
July 17-18 – Brainerd Int’l Raceway – Brainerd, Minn.
Sept. 4-5 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – Bowmanville, Ontario
Sept. 11-12 – Watkins Glen Int’l – Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Sept. 25-26 – Virginia Int’l Raceway – Alton, Va.
Nov. 6-7 – Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas