International Race of Champions (IROC) is an auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an All-Star Game or The Masters. Driver race identical stock cars set up by a single team of mechanics in a effort to make the race purely a test of driver ability. It is run with a small field of invited drivers (6-12). It was created in 1973 by Riverside International Raceway President Les Richter and Roger Penske with Mark Donohue being the first driver to win the championship, in 1974. The cars used that year were Porsche Carrera RSRs. Donohue's win in the fourth and last race of that season was his last win as he died in a Formula One practice the next season. The series was not run in 1981, 1982 or 1983.
Due to its similarity to NASCAR in tracks and cars, the series is dominated by NASCAR drivers. The last non-NASCAR winner of the series was Al Unser, Jr. in 1988. Although open wheel drivers have had successes, as of 2003, drivers from road racing series had only won two races in the history of IROC.
International Race of Champions (IROC) is an auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an All-Star Game or The Masters. Driver race identical stock cars set up by a single team of mechanics in a effort to make the race purely a test of driver ability. It is run with a small field of invited drivers (6-12). It was created in 1973 by Riverside International Raceway President Les Richter and Roger Penske with Mark Donohue being the first driver to win the championship, in 1974. The cars used that year were Porsche Carrera RSRs. Donohue's win in the fourth and last race of that season was his last win as he died in a Formula One practice the next season. The series was not run in 1981, 1982 or 1983.
Due to its similarity to NASCAR in tracks and cars, the series is dominated by NASCAR drivers. The last non-NASCAR winner of the series was Al Unser, Jr. in 1988. Although open wheel drivers have had successes, as of 2003, drivers from road racing series had only won two races in the history of IROC.
IROC is motorsports' version of The Masters, where the skill of the driver -- not his mechanics or pit crew -- determines the winner.
The hidden heroes of the IROC driver roster are the test drivers: Dave Marcis, George Follmer, Jim Sauter, Dick Trickle, and Andy Hillenburg have all been regulars throughout the years, logging considerable miles setting up and equalizing the field of IROC cars.
Test driver for IROC since 1986, fellow Wisconsin native, Jim Sauter has done it all from making great race cars to making great race car drivers, which is evidenced by the seemingly never ending list of Sauter's sons garnering championships, race wins and recognition attributed to their driving abilities.
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