Events

The Arc Audi Racing Program

Professional race team owner Don Istook and his wife Laurie share The Arc’s commitment to ensuring that people with I/DD have the opportunity to be fully included, especially when it comes to having employment opportunities. Two of Laurie’s brothers, Mark and Tyson Heitt, both were diagnosed with Fragile X, but that has not stopped them from working as an integral part of Don’s race team. Don and Laurie wanted to give other people with I/DD a taste of what it might be like to be part of a fast-paced race crew and came to The Arc with a unique idea to include individuals in the excitement of race day as the team moves from town to town to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.

The Arc is excited to continue our partnership for a second year with RS Werkes (formerly Istook's Motorsports) to bring together the intellectual and developmental disability community and the racing world. The Arc Audi Racing Program for the Pirelli World Challenge Series will invite 20 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their support staff and staff from select chapters of The Arc to be honorary crew members at nine races across the country in 2013, giving them a unique race day experience and helping to raise awareness of The Arc and I/DD among racing fans everywhere.

Follow The Arc Audi Racing Program as we take this exciting ride with Don and his team. The Arc will be posting updates from the races on Facebook, Twitter and our blog in the coming months. And you can see the races live online and on later broadcasts by NBC Sports (full broadcast schedule).

About the Cars

The Istook’s team has been involved with racing VW’s and Audi’s since 1984. Their Audi TT RS is the first model to be sold in the United States in several years. It forwards Audi’s commitment in not only producing a world class quality automobile, but also one that has the power and handling capabilities to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge series, one of North America's top production car-based racing championship. This return by Audi to a 2.5L Turbocharged engine utilizes Audi Quattro and Audi Space Frame (ASF) aluminum technology. Power from the REVO tuned TT RS is in excess of 400hp with a top speed of over 175 mph. The team will compete with two Audi TT RS cars in 2013 under the banner of The Arc Audi Racing Program.

The Pirelli World Challenge, sanctioned by SCCA, is the premier race series of North America. For more information, go to www.world-challenge.com.

Team Sponsors

REVO Technik, STOPTECH Brakes, Forge Motorsports, Enkei Wheels, JRZ Shocks and MILLTEK Exhaust Systems