From a press release issued by Wilson Motorsport Inc.:

NEW RACE , AUTOCROSS AND DRIVING FACILITY FOR PHOENIX

A new facility now under development in Phoenix, Arizona introduces a unique concept in recreational motor sport in North America.

Arizona Motorsports Park, located adjacent to Luke Air Force Base in Maricopa County, Arizona will feature both an 18 acre Professional Autocross Driving Center and a 2.25 mile road course.

“As an active competitor in National Autocross competition”, said Dan Maloney, President and developer of the new facility, “I have come to recognize that this sport needs a permanent facility capable of hosting the largest events. The Tire Rack SCCA Nationals in Topeka are attended by more than 1100 competitors each year using an active Air Force base that is only available once a year. Here at the Arizona Motorsports Park we plan to provide a facility capable of hosting similar size events on a year round basis”.

“Autocross represents both the SCCA’s the largest number of events and the largest competitor base with over 1200 Solo II autocross activities conducted each year across the country,” says SCCA Director of Development, Howard Duncan. “We have more than 20,000 active autocross and solo competitors in the club with many new drivers taking it up each year. Most of our events take place in small car parks and on airports which offer limited availability. Having a permanent facility in Phoenix that is this big will be a huge benefit to the sport and will enable us to hold additional major events”.

The Arizona Motorsports Park facility (www.arizonamotorsportspark.com) includes a 1000′ x 800′ Autocross Pad, a 200 ft radius skid pad, six acres of paved staging and parking, eight acres of surfaced paddock and the 16 turn road course. The track is divided into two equal length sub-tracks of 1.13 miles each and will be 40 ft wide. Designed for club level car and motorcycle events the course features few barriers and wide open safety zones. Although elevation changes are minimal the track layout is designed to be challenging and competitive.

The race course has been designed by Wilson Motorsport whose previous designs include GingerMan, Carolina Motorsports Park, the new Mid-America Motorplex near Omaha, the Las Vegas Speedway and Pikes Peak infield courses and the new Barber Motorsports Park track which is in final construction near Birmingham, Alabama.

“Phoenix is one of the most active motor sports areas in the country”, said Alan Wilson, President of Wilson Motorsports Inc. “This unique facility will be available for rent to existing car and motorcycle racing clubs, sanctioning groups and racing schools and will open a whole new market for club and semi-pro autocross competition. The facility will also provide car and motorcycle companies with an ideal product launch site as its location in one of the USA’s major cities, its proximity to quality hotels and entertainment and its unique facilities do not exist at any other circuit in the country.”

Arizona Motorsports Park will be the fifteenth race facility designed by Wilson Motorsport. Two WilsonDesign tracks have already opened in 2002 and three more are scheduled.