Puerto Rico Grand Prix

The Puerto Rico Grand Prix, was the name of two unconnected motor races held in Puerto Rico just over 40 years apart.

Puerto Rico Grand Prix
Isla Grande Airport
Race information
Number of times held2
First held1962
Last held2003
Most wins (drivers)no multiple winners
Most wins (constructors)no multiple winners
Circuit length2.575 km (1.6 miles)
Race length141.625 km (88 miles)
Laps55
Last race (2003)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The 1950s and 1960s saw a series of sports car races held after the European season at the end of the year in the Caribbean and the USA 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 with the main event held on November 11. The race was won dominated by Roger Penske in his controversial 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.[1][2][3]

The long-running American Trans-Am Series stage a Puerto Rico Grand Prix in 2003 in what was a one-off 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 another local driver Jaguar driver Wally Castro ahead of Bobby Sak and Tomy Drissi.[4][5] A planned 2004 race was cancelled.[6]

Winners of the Puerto Rico Grand Prix
Year Driver Constructor Race Name Circuit Report
1962 United States Roger Penske Zerex Special-Climax Grand Prix Société de Puerto Rico Antilles Auto Racing Circuit Report
1963
–
2002		 Not held
2003 Puerto Rico Wally Castro Jaguar XKR Gran Premio de Puerto Rico Isla Grande Airport Circuit Report

See also

References
  1. Mark Bisset (19 March 2015). "Roger Penske: 'Zerex Special'". Primotipo. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. "Puerto Rico Grand Prix 1962 Race Program Sports Car Reproduction Ferrari Racing". Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. "GP Puerto Rico". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  4. "Tickets on sale for Puerto Rico Grand Prix". motorsport.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  5. "2003 Puerto Rico Grand Prix". The Third Turn. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  6. "Puerto Rico Grand Prix canceled". motorsport.com. 6 September 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
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