Grand Prix du Mardi Gras

The Grand Prix du Mardi Gras was an IMSA GT Championship street race held in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1991, 1992 and 1995.[1]

Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
Time zoneUTC-6 CDT (UTC-5 DST)
Coordinates29°57′9.35″N 90°4′48.82″W / 29.9525972°N 90.0802278°W / 29.9525972; -90.0802278
Opened1991
Closed1995
Major eventsIMSA GT Championship
(1991–1992, 1995)
Barber Pro Series
(1991–1992, 1995)
Grand Prix Circuit (1992, 1995)
SurfaceAsphalt and concrete
Length1.430 miles (2.301 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:05.217 (United States Davy Jones, Jaguar XJR-14, 1992, IMSA GTP)
Original Circuit (1991)
SurfaceAsphalt and concrete
Length1.300 miles (2.092 km)
Turns10
Race lap record1:01.363 (United Kingdom Perry McCarthy, Spice SE90P, 1991, IMSA GTP)

The 1991 IMSA GTP/Lights race was held on June 16, 1991 using a 1.300 mi (2.092 km) circuit near the Mississippi River. The winner of 105.30 mi (169.46 km) 81 lap race was Wayne Taylor with Geoff Brabham finishing second and Jeff Purner and Tim McAdam finishing tied for 3rd place.[2]

On June 14, 1992, the IMSA GTP/Lights street race was moved to a 1.430 mi (2.301 km) circuit around the Louisiana Superdome. The winner of 127.27 mi (204.82 km) 89 lap race was Juan Fangio II with Geoff Brabham and P.J. Jones finishing 2nd and 3rd.[3]

In 1995, the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras IMSA GTS-2 street race was run on the 1.430 mi (2.301 km) circuit around the Louisiana Superdome on October 8. The winner of the 41.47 mi (66.74 km) 29 lap race was Bill Auberlen with Kevin Buckler and Jorge Trejos finishing 2nd and 3rd.[4] This would be the last major race in the New Orleans area until the 2015 Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park.

Lap records

edit

The fastest official race lap records at the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras (New Orleans) are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 2.301 km (1992, 1995)[5]
IMSA GTP 1:05.217[6] Davy Jones Jaguar XJR-14 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
WSC 1:08.948[7] James Weaver Riley & Scott Mk III 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min
IMSA GTP Lights 1:09.429[6] Fermin Velez Kudzu DG-2 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
IMSA GTS-1 1:11.726[7] Darin Brassfield Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min
IMSA GTS-2 1:12.514[8] Bill Auberlen Porsche 911 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min
IMSA GTS 1:16.801[9] Darin Brassfield Oldsmobile Cutlass 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
IMSA Supercar 1:16.875[10] Martin Snow Porsche 911 Turbo 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min
IMSA GTO 1:21.242[9] Irv Hoerr Oldsmobile Cutlass 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
IMSA GTU 1:21.738[9] Butch Leitzinger Nissan 240SX 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
Original Circuit: 2.092 km (1991)[5]
IMSA GTP 1:01.363[11] Perry McCarthy Spice SE90P 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours
IMSA GTP Lights 1:06.997[11] Parker Johnstone Spice SE90P 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours
IMSA GTO 1:08.672[12] Price Cobb Mazda RX-7 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours
IMSA GTU 1:13.701[12] John Fergus Dodge Daytona 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours
IMSA AAC 1:14.081[12] Anthony Puleo Chevrolet Camaro 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours

Winners

edit
Year Driver Entrant Car Race Title
1991   Wayne Taylor   MTI Racing Intrepid RM-1 Nissan Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
1992   Juan Manuel Fangio II   All American Racers Eagle MkIII Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
1993

1994
Not held
1995   James Weaver   Dyson Racing Riley & Scott Mk III Acxiom Grand Prix du Mardi Gras

References

edit
  1. ^ "New Orleans".
  2. ^ "Nissan Grand Prix du Mardi Gras 1991". Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Grand Prix du Mardi Gras 1992". Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Grand Prix du Mardi Gras 1995". Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "New Orleans - Motor Sport Magazine". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "IMSA GTP New Orleans 1992". June 14, 1992. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "1 h 45 min New Orleans 1995". October 8, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "New Orleans 1 Hour - GTS-2 1995". October 8, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "New Orleans 1 Hour IMSA GTS 1992". June 14, 1992. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  10. ^ "IMSA Supercar New Orleans 1995". October 8, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "2 h New Orleans 1991". June 16, 1991. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "New Orleans [GT] 1991". June 15, 1991. Retrieved January 29, 2023.