WC Vision announced Tuesday that Portland International Raceway will play host to the series on July 13-15 as part of the 58th Rose Cup Races.

The return to the popular 1.967-mile, 12-turn Delta Park road circuit near the Columbia River marks an important swing to the Northwest for PWC. The last event held at Portland was in 2005.

All seven of its classes will compete in doubleheader races including GT, GTS and Touring Car categories. The popular SprintX two-driver, 60-minute format will be a part of the PWC weekend at PIR.

Portland’s vast history includes some of the world’s greatest drivers and racing machines dating back to 1961 with the inaugural Rose Cup Races.

“We are very pleased to bring our entire Pirelli World Challenge field to the famed Portland International Raceway and the racing fans in the Northwest,” said Greg Gill, President and CEO of WC Vision.

“The tradition of the Rose Cup races has been a staple in the Portland area for nearly 60 years and we believe the PWC weekend will be another exciting chapter to the legacy of road racing at PIR.

“With many of the iconic automobile marques in our series, fans will see some outstanding competition at a great race track. We can’t wait to get back to Portland next July.”

The circuit was redesigned in selected corners (turns 5-7) in 2007 and 2008 and the entire track was repaved the same year.

The Rose Cup Races are now operated by the Friends of PIR, a 501(c3) nonprofit committed to the preservation and enhancement of the racing facility. PIR is financially self-sustaining and does not receive public funding.

“The Pirelli World Challenge road racing series is one of North America’s premier racing series and we are very excited to have many of the world’s top sports cars and drivers return to Portland International Raceway,” said Gary Bockman, president, Friends of PIR.

“The variety of PWC machinery that will come to PIR for the 58th Rose Cup Races will make for a great addition to the three amateur race groups forming a very attractive motorsports weekend in the Rose City. Our fans will enjoy the PWC action.”

PWC has been held at Portland on three occasions, with events in 2001, 2004 and 2005. Past race winners include Michael Galati (GT) and Neal Sapp (TC) in 2001, Tommy Archer (GT) and Pierre Kleinubing (TC) in 2004 and Dino Crescentini (GT) and Randy Pobst (TC) in 2005.

The Portland PWC weekend will have practice and qualifying on Friday, July 13, and racing events on Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15.

More information on the event will be announced in the near future.