GRIDLIFE is Returning to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for Second Year

Sylas Montgomery leads the Daily Driven Exotics duo down the famous Corkscrew at Laguna Seca in NOS TrackBattle.

Salinas, CA - GRIDLIFE visits WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the second time on September 27-29, 2024, marking its return to California with a variety of competition series and music for drivers and spectators alike. The event is the second leg of three in the FCP Euro Pacific Championship, a regional points competition for drivers in GRIDLIFE’s Touring Cup Series (GLTC) and the NOS Energy TrackBattle Championship. Over 300 cars are expected to be on track over the course of the three-day weekend. In addition to GLTC and NOS Energy TrackBattle, fans will also experience the spectacle of drifting around the entirety of the 2.238-mile course, and watch YouTube sensations T.J. Hunt, Grant Anderson take on drift legends Chris Forsberg and Nate Hamilton in the GRIDLIFE RUSH SR Series. For those seeking to drive the racetrack, touring laps at pace speed and beginner track driving sessions are available for purchase on Sunday.

GRIDLIFE brought full-course drifting to GRIDLIFE Laguna last year, and the spectacle returns for 2024.

NOS Energy TrackBattle Series Drivers Eye Laguna Seca Records

GRIDLIFE’s time attack series, the NOS Energy TrackBattle Championship, is a race against the clock, where drivers compete for the fastest lap time across eight unique classes. Cars range from the venerable Honda Fit in the Falken Sundae Cup category, all the way up to open-wheel or factory racecars in classes like SuperUnlimited. For GRIDLIFE’s second visit to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, competitors now take aim at the track records set last season, with points on the line for position in class and for breaking records within them.

Among the TrackBattle competitors making the 2,000 mile journey from the midwest and east coast are Jackie Ding, who competes in his #687 BMW M2 in Track Mod, Andy Voelkel, who has already clinched the Street GT title in his C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette, and Lucas Schaar, who competes in Sundae Cup with his 2006 Toyota Yaris. Peter Granberg, whose #511 Subaru BRZ is second in Falken ClubTR points, is also amongst those slated to compete in California.

Last year, the event became a proving ground for drivers eyeing the track’s lap time record, including Pikes Peak Hillclimb veteran Robin Schute. Though Schute is not currently on the entry list, Mike Dusold’s 200 MPH-capable Chevrolet Camaro is set to take to the 11-turn course, and is capable of resetting the Unlimited class record. The 70-car field rolls into Laguna Seca for the Podium Sprint style competition on Friday and Saturday.

Kyle Magnusen rounds turn 5 at Laguna Seca in his Street GT class Porsche Cayman.

GRIDLIFE Touring Cup Field Nears 40 Entries

GRIDLIFE’s wheel-to-wheel racing series, GLTC, is also back for a second go at the famed Californian circuit. This year, 38 entries are set to take the green flag in the single-class, sprint racing format that has drawn some of the best in grassroots racing. Spectators will see four fifteen minute races, in addition to practice and qualifying sessions.

Though most of the field consists of drivers who are local to California, some drivers, like the current runner up in the championship standings Matan Rosenberg, will be present, alongside others like Nick Stentiford, Tony Marchev, Colton Wade, and Kevin Bandy. Larry Moore, who won the final race of the weekend last season at this event, is also set to join the grid. With these drivers still vying for points in an uncertain field, the racing is bound to be fierce and entertaining as it was last season.

Rosenberg, who drives the #484 Chevrolet Corvette with an ALMS Corvette Racing inspired livery, is on the heels of championship leader Luke McGrew, who will not be present at Laguna Seca. If Rosenberg earns three more wins across his last two planned events at Laguna Seca and Pittsburgh International Race Complex, the championship might fall into his hands. 

Matan Rosenberg (black Corvette) leads the GLTC field into the Andretti Hairpin at Laguna Seca.

RUSH SR Series to Entertain with Star Drivers Behind the Wheel

GRIDLIFE RUSH SR, a wheel-to-wheel racing series utilizing the popular RUSH Autoworks sports racer, is back for a second time at GRIDLIFE Laguna. The series has seen massive growth since its debut at this event last season, with a field of over 40 cars present at GRIDLIFE Summer Apex at Road America in July. The cars feature a 145 HP GSX engine mounted behind the driver, with a pneumatic sequential paddle shift gearbox, all mated to a lightweight chassis. The low barrier to entry for both experience and cost has allowed some familiar faces from the car community to get acquainted with it to race wheel-to-wheel for the first time. 

Formula Drift legends Nate Hamilton and Chris Forsberg entered in GRIDLIFE RUSH SR at Circuit Legends in August, tackling the 1.5-mile Lime Rock Park together in their Sunoco-sponsored cars. Both had no, or very little, experience in wheel-to-wheel racing but quickly became accustomed to the car and scored top 5 finishes in the final race of the weekend. For the race weekend at Laguna Seca, YouTube stars Grant Anderson and TJ Hunt will join Forsberg and Hamilton after testing last month. While both are experienced drifters, neither have raced in a setting like the RUSH SR Series before, so fans from around the world will be waiting to watch them battle for bragging rights and champagne at one of the most well-known circuits in the world. 

GRIDLIFE RUSH SR runs a 4-race format that appears similar to GRIDLIFE Touring Cup at first glance, but the sports racer series qualifies twice - once on Friday, once on Saturday, with finishing orders from races 1 and 3 setting the stage for races 2 and 4.

RUSH SRs drop through the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca in 2023.

The crowd enjoys music after a Saturday of on-track entertainment at GRIDLIFE Laguna last year.

GRIDLIFE Laguna is expected to draw even more spectators this year than last, with additional on-track action on Sunday featuring the tail end of the NOS Energy TrackBattle Championship format, HPDE, beginner-focused on-track sessions, and touring laps for spectators to drive their own car on course behind a GRIDLIFE pace car. The music lineup for Saturday night includes DJ MADEON, San Holo, Devault, and more, to cap off the off-track activities. Drifting returns this year with dozens of pro drivers attacking the storied corners of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in style, and plenty of vendors, merchandise, and food will be present for attendees to enjoy. Tickets are available now, and the event will be live broadcast for free on YouTube and Twitch.

More information on the event and music lineup, tickets, and experience are available at gridlifelaguna.com.