California 8 Hours
Intercontinental GT Challenge
VenueWeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
First race2017
Last race2019
Duration8 Hours
Most wins (driver)Kelvin van der Linde (2)
Most wins (manufacturer)Audi (2)

The California 8 Hours was a sports car endurance race held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, United States from 2017 to 2019 as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.[1]

The inaugural edition was open to GT3 and GT4 cars. TCR Touring Cars were added for 2018.[2]

For the first two years, the California 8 Hours served as the season finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. In 2019, the date was brought forward to fill the second race of the season. The event was replaced as the American leg of IGTC by the newly created Indianapolis 8 Hours event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge.[3]

Over the three editions of the event, it was broadcast in part on television by CBS Sports Network, and streamed live across the internet.[4][5][6]

Winners

Year Drivers Vehicle Entrant Laps Ref
2017 Germany Pierre Kaffer
South Africa Kelvin van der Linde
Germany Markus Winkelhock 		Audi R8 LMS United States Audi Sport Team Magnus 314 [7]
2018 Germany Christopher Haase
South Africa Kelvin van der Linde
Germany Christopher Mies 		Audi R8 LMS Germany Audi Sport Team Land 306 [8]
2019 Australia Nick Foster
Spain Miguel Molina
Australia Tim Slade 		Ferrari 488 GT3 Taiwan HubAuto Corsa 327 [9]

Multiple winners

By driver

Wins Driver Years
2 South Africa Kelvin van der Linde 2017, 2018

By manufacturer

Wins Manufacturer Years
2 Germany Audi 2017, 2018

See also

References

  1. ^ Karis, Tony. "Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca preps for California 8 Hours, the longest race in track history". Monterey Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ James, Richard S. (October 25, 2018). "Double the grid, double the spectacle at California 8 Hours". Racer. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  3. ^ Coch, Mat (26 July 2019). "Indianapolis joins Bathurst on IGTC calendar". Speedcafe. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  4. ^ Kish, Ryan (March 30, 2019). "California 8H: Pre-Race Notes". DailySportsCar. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "CBS Sports Network to Broadcast California 8H". SportsCar365. September 22, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "Stream the California 8 Hours live". Racer. October 28, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  7. ^ "8 h California 2017". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "California 8 Hours 2018". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "California 8 Hours 2019". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
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