The Puerto Rico Grand Prix was a motor race held in Puerto Rico in 1962 and 2003.
History In the 1950s and 1960s a series of sports car races took place after the European season in the Caribbean and the US centred on the big dollar speedweek of races in Nassau in the Bahamas. The Grand Prix Societe de Puerto Rico held an expansion to the Nassau season on the Antilles Auto Racing Circuit, near Caguas over two weekends in November 1962. The main event was held on November 11. The race was dominated by Roger Penske in his Zerex special. Penske won the 246 kilometre race by three laps ahead of Timmy Mayer in a Cooper Climax and factory Porsche racer Dan Gurney in a Porsche 718 WRS.
The long-running American Trans-Am Series staged a Puerto Rico Grand Prix in 2003 in what was a one-time visit to the island territory. Jorge Diaz promoted the event, which was held on a temporary circuit on runway, taxiways and support roads of San Juan's Isla Grande Airport. Jorge Diaz, Jr. climbed from a rear of grid penalty into the top three, but the win went to Jaguar driver Wally Castro ahead of Bobby Sak and Tomy Drissi. A planned 2004 race was cancelled.
Winners
Year Driver Constructor Race Name Circuit Report 1962 Roger Penske Zerex Special-Climax Grand Prix Société de Puerto Rico Antilles Auto Racing Circuit Report 1963–2002 Not held 2003 Wally Castro Jaguar XKR Trans Am Gran Premio de Puerto Rico Isla Grande Airport Circuit Report
See also Grand Prix de Ponce Cuban Grand Prix Bahamas Speed Week
References