Opportunity to adjust opens up to move PKRA as opener and CalSpeed to month of February
ORANGE, CA (December 9, 2020) – Dates remain the same, however, the locations will be different from the published schedule for the 2021 Challenge of the Americas. The ROK Cup USA international winter series is adjusting the locations for the January and February events on the upcoming calendar.
The opening weekend for the 2021 Challenge of the Americas scheduled on January 22-24 is moving from the CalSpeed Karting facility in Fontana, California to the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, Arizona. The February 26-28 that was scheduled for PKRA facility is now replaced with CalSpeed.
“Two reasons for the change in locations,” commented FTK Promotions owner Andy Seesemann. “NASCAR and COVID-19. The 2021 schedule for NASCAR took away our original plan to compete at CalSpeed in February. Their announcement this week to not host a race in February at Auto Club Speedway allows for us to move the Challenge second event back to Fontana and open in Phoenix. This was our original plan and works best with the weather and other logistics. We also know that California can be one of more restrictive states regarding COVID-19 guidelines. With just six weeks away from the opening event, this move gives us five more weeks to monitor and adapt to those guidelines.”
As the COVID guidelines continue to change state to state, county to county, Seesemann stated that they are reviewing back-up plans, especially for the events in California.
“We have continued discussion with our friends at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson as the backup venue for our second event in February should California have any further restrictions. We have been able to run events while observing the guidelines set out by the Auto Club Speedway and the San Bernardino County thus far, but we need to have plans in place in the event that things change.”
In addition to the change in schedule, The Challenge is also establishing a restricted access to the paddock for the Phoenix Kart Racing Association event in January. For each driver, access to the paddock is limited to one mechanic. In the case of drivers who are minors, one mechanic and one parent are permitted.
Details surrounding the opening event for Challenge of the Americas at the PKRA facility in Arizona will be published to the challengekarting.com website in the coming days. Registration for the opening event for the 2021 COTA program opens on Friday, December 11. Be sure to follow The Challenge on Facebook and Instagram.
2021 Challenge of the Americas Schedule – REVISED
February 26-28: CalSpeed Karting – Fontana, California
March 26-28: Sonoma Raceway – Sonoma, California