Though it wasn't inaugurated until 1948 and only became permanent in 1956, the Watkins Glen circuit is nevertheless legendary in the U.S. Fruit of the imagination of a law student named Cameron Argetsinger who wanted to bring European stye automobile races to the town where he spent his summer vacations, "The Glen," as it has been nicknamed by the Americans, was used by Formula 1 between 1961 and 1980, and unfortunately is mainly well-known in France for the accidental death of François Cevert during the free practice in 1973.

A regular NASCAR stop since 1984, the track in New York state (located a little more than four hours from the Big Apple) was the scene of a six-hour endurance race from 1968 to 1981, but it wasn't until the inception of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (initially called TUSC) for the circuit to host new prototypes and GTs.

The 6 Hours of Watkins Glen figures on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar as well as in the North American Endurance Cup (NAEC), a mini-championship of the four long races on the schedule (Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans). A long race calls for a third driver for certain teams, meaning in addition to the driver line-ups present at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, about a dozen other drivers.

In compliance with the regulations, two outfits received an invitation from the IMSA, the governing body across the Atlantic, to take the start at the 85th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Keating Motorsports, who debuted the Riley Mk30 in competition and crossed the finish line, although in last place in the LMP2 class, and Scuderia Corsa who claimed a third podium finish in LMGTE Am in three participations.

In GTLM (the equivalent of the LMGTE Pro class in North America), though the two Corvettes (third and eighth) and the two Fords (sixth and seventh) will be on the starting grid at Watkins Glen, Risi Competizione's Ferrari 488 GTE, the victim of an accident at Le Mans when a prototype made contact with the car inadvertently, will not make the trip due to budget concerns (though the chassis is rented, the Italian car has not been further than the first lap as a result of collisions at the Long Beach and Austin rounds).

The start of the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen will be given Sunday, July 2nd at 10:10 a.m. (3:10 p.m. in the U.K.). You can watch the race on the IMSA's official website. In recognition of Independence Day, several cars have been outfitted with special American flag- inspired liveries.

Entry List

Program

PHOTO (Copyright - Michael L.Levitt/LAT Images - IMSA): Quite a few cars will boast special liveries at Watkins Glen in honor of Independence Day in the U.S.