Singer is helping save Willow Springs

California's more accessible trackday spot switches ownership, with Singer helping decide its future

Singer is the new co-owner of Willow Springs International Raceway. It’s helping secure the future of the oldest permanent road course in the USA, which sits 80 miles north of Los Angeles and may be familiar to Gran Turismo or Forza gamers on our shores.

The announcement should bring sighs of relief to local petrolheads; they may have feared for the worst when news broke in February that 62 years of family ownership was coming to an end as the track was sold to a private equity firm. While the exact ownership split between CrossHarbor Capital Partners and Singer Vehicle Design isn’t being divulged, it appears the latter – thankfully – has a good dollop of creative control over what happens next.

“Existing tracks, including all three road courses, will remain open to the public and undergo enhancements to improve safety,” reads the official release, adding that “Singer will partner with CrossHarbor to create its first private member’s club.

“Membership will be open to Singer’s clients as well as other like-minded enthusiasts and will enable drivers to bring their vehicles for trackdays and related experiences.”

If that sounds like Willow’s affordability is in danger of ascending into the stratosphere – lifting access out of the hands of folk letting off steam in their Miata at the end of the working week – there’s no official word on whether such simple pleasures will continue at the Kern County circuit. But Mawan Fawaz, Chief Strategy Officer at Singer, is certainly talking the talk.

“Willow Springs is an important part of California’s motorsport heritage for enthusiasts,” he says. “Singer has two decades of trackdays, racing, and development at Willow’s circuits. We are delighted to help make sure that it’s in safe hands and can be an even more impressive part of California’s car culture for the next seventy years.

“Its custodianship is a responsibility we are not taking lightly, and our partners could not be better suited to see it through.”

Willow Springs has a place in locals’ hearts, but they’re all too aware it’s needed spruce up of late. Motor1 has asked the hard questions, though, and while CrossHarbor’s spokesman was careful to not commit in detail to what happens next, Singer’s Fawaz talked up improving the circuit’s useability without guillotining its character. "We use this idea for our cars, but reimagining also works here," Fawaz told the US website. "We want to set up annual events, think Goodwood, and really let our motorsport nerd shine here."

What CrossHarbor is happy to divulge is how it will improve Willow’s safety score. Le Mans winner and F1 podium finisher Alex Wurz is the track’s new safety commissioner and will be involved in the improvement of kerbing and run-off areas. Facilities such as food and vending will also be transformed – perhaps to help pay off the invoices incurred elsewhere…

“CrossHarbor and Singer do not intend to ever sell Willow Springs and have brought together a group of passionate motorsport enthusiasts to join as co-owners in the facility, all with a long-term, multigenerational goal of preservation and improvement,” concludes the official messaging. Fingers crossed it will still welcome those without a Singer DLS budget…

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je777

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