Racing Miami
There are a number of enticing options for motorsports racing in the Miami area. If you want to watch the action, there’s the upcoming Race of Champions at Marlins Park and the Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But if you prefer doing rather than spectating, you can always take to the track yourself behind the wheel of a high-performance automobile. And how fun would that be?
Race of Champions @ Marlins Park
Ever ask yourself the question: Who’s the greatest superhero of all time? Spiderman? Wonder Woman? Iron Man? The Hulk? The annual Race of Champions (ROC) is motorsport’s superhero equivalent, pitting the stars of Formula One, World Rally Championship, IndyCar, NASCAR, sportscars and touring cars head-to-head against one another. The kicker? They all race identical cars on the same track.
Launched in 1988 as a competition between the world’s best rally drivers, the race expanded to include competitors from most of the world’s premier motorsport disciplines. For 18 years it has been staged in Europe and Asia, at venues like Gran Canaria, Stade de France and Wembley Stadium in London. For the first time on American soil, the race comes to Miami’s Marlins Park on January 21st and 22nd, 2017.
For die-hard racing fans it’s nirvana. For non-racing fans, it will be an Olympic-like spectacle that could be the gateway drug to fandom.
Two Race Events Over One Weekend
Saturday, January 21st, 2017
A straight up one-on-one battle, the Race Of Champions is an individual race whose singular winner earns the title “Champion of Champions” and the Henri Toivonen Memorial trophy.
Sunday, January 22nd, 2017
The ROC Nations’ Cup was added in 1999 and features teams of two drivers per country, racing in a knockout format, competing for the title of “World’s Fastest Nation.”
Between-race entertainment includes car and bike stunt shows, world record attempts, music and fan interactions.
And the answer to “Who’s the greatest superhero of all time?” Why, it’s Batman, of course.
For information and tickets
Ford Championship Weekend @Homestead Miami Speedway
Ford Championship Weekend in Homestead is the name given to the final race weekend of the NASCAR season, where all three of its major series run their last events of the year and crown their champions. Races include the Ford EcoBoost 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series, Ford EcoBoost 300, and the NASCAR Cup Series.
For information and tickets
You Behind the Wheel
The Homestead-Miami Speedway is located an hour south of Miami Beach. While it’s home to the Ford Championship Weekend held every November, it is also the place for non-professionals to experience the rush of racing high-performance vehicles.
There are a number of options for getting behind the wheel or giving the gift of racing to someone else:
Miami Exotic Auto Racing
Miami Exotic Auto Racing provides the opportunity to drive some of the world’s most exotic cars at Homestead Miami Speedway. Take the wheel of a Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo or an Audi R8. All participants will receive one-on-one instruction from professional race car drivers.
Rusty Wallace Racing Experience
Every Rusty Wallace Racing experience begins with classroom instruction and ends with 3 to 15 record-breaking, window-shaking laps. Don’t want to drive but you still want to play? Call shotgun in an authentic Sprint Cup car with a professional driver.
The HPDE
At HPDE Academy, learn to maximize the performance of your own vehicle with high performance instructors in a safe and predictable track environment.
Porsche & BMW Owners Club
High performance driver’s school which includes classroom instruction, in car instructors for all novices, intermediate and advanced students. Owners/racers driving Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and others bring their own wheels for a weekend of racing. Public infield viewing available. For information: (407) 804-0892
Fast Lane Friday
“Fast Lane Friday” is a legal drag racing event open to all car enthusiasts 18 and older with a valid driver’s license and proof of registration/insurance. Drivers will be able to race their cars against other street-legal cars on the drag strip as many times as they would like throughout the night.
Photo Credit: Daniel Huerlimann-Beelde/Shutterstock Editorial
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