In a post on its Facebook page late Friday evening, Historic Sportscar Racing announced that racing champion Jim Pace died today (Nov. 13) at the age of 59.

Photo: Scott Paceley

Pace got his start in the Barber Saab Pro Series in 1988. His prestigious wins included overall and GT class victories in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona; a two-time win in the 12 Hours of Sebring; and Series Champion in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) GTU class. Recognized as a top driver, he regularly raced formula, Prototype, GT and vintage cars around the world, recording wins at the Spa and Nurburgring circuits.

Respected for his skill and integrity as a driver, Pace was also in demand as a driving instructor, racing coach and adventure consultant. His love of racing, combined with a passion for teaching, made him one of the most popular instructors at the renowned Skip Barber Racing School for over 20 years.

As a principal in Historic Sportscar Racing since 2015, Pace had served as Race Advisor for the Classic 24 at Daytona and Classic 12 at Sebring, providing driver training to a host of international drivers.

Photo: Scott Paceley