Monterey, CA — Today’s announcement of the 2021 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion’s 14 run groups included news that a dedicated historic Indy Car group — competitors between 1963 and 1978 — will be on the grid. The event is scheduled for Aug. 12-15, 2021.
Photo: Nick Lish Vintage Motorsport)
“The British invasion of America included not only the Beatles, but the introduction of rear engine Indy Cars starting in 1963 at Indianapolis,” commented three-time Indy Car Champion Bobby Rahal, who also won three consecutive Indy Car races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca beginning in 1985. “From 1965 on, there would never again be a front engine winner of the 500.
“From 1963, Lola, BRP, Lotus and other British manufacturers would take the fight to Captain America Dan Gurney’s Eagles, California’s Gerhardts, Huffakers and other U.S. manufacturers,” Rahal added. “And the scream of the iconic Ford 4 Cam would take on Offys and whispering Jet Turbines. I personally look forward to returning to Laguna Seca with my 1966 Eagle-Ford and share this great era with fans from all over the world.”
The Indy Cars will be complemented by two wildly disparate groups: the thundering historic Trans-Am cars from the “pony car” era of 1966 to 1972, and the high-revving historic Formula One cars that competed on the international stage between 1966 and 1985.
Run groups:
• Pre-1920 Exhibition race
• 1966-1985 Masters Historic Formula One
• 1920-1951 Racing Cars
• 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT
• 1955-1964 GT
• 1963-1966 GT over 2500cc
• 1973-1981 FIA, IMSA, GT, GTX, GTU, AAGT
• FIA Manufacturers Championship
• 1981-1991 IMSA GTO, GTP, Trans-Am
• 1955-1961 Sports Racing under/over 2000cc
• 1961-1966 GT under 2500cc
• 1966-1972 Trans-Am
• 1983-2016 Masters Endurance Legends
• 1963-1978 IndyCar
Entry invitations and applications will open in October on the online registration portal under the event page on WeatherTechRaceway.com. Each entry will be reviewed to determine the car’s authenticity, provenance and mechanical- and period-correctness to ensure it meets the longstanding strict criteria established for the event.
