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History
 
   
 

Opened in 1972, the track was named "Dagoberto González" after the infrastructure minister of Rafael Caldera first government.

The layout had an original length of 1800 meters (1.12Miles) then it was lengthened up to 2300 mts (1.42 miles) moving the pits to the longest straight of the circuit. Located beside a mountain that serves as a natural grandstand, it features close turns and average speed of just 120mkh (75 mph).

Almost every type of motorsports were raced there, from cars to motorcycles and in 1976 it hosted a date of the LatinAmerican Motorcycle Championship which was the first international event held in Turagua.

In the early 80's Fórmula Ford 1600cc events were ran with north American drivers and a full house occurred in 1982 when Johnny Cecotto drove, who then was runner up of the European F2 Championship. In the late 80's Venezuelan motorsports was strong and Turagua became the center of this activity, even the track was lengthened back again to 3800 mts (2.3miles) and received its actual name of “Pancho Pepe Cróquer” honoring a big Venezuelan sports commentator who died during a race in Colombia on 1955.

The new dimensions allowed for bigger series and in 1992 held the first international event of the GT cars, this events ran until 1996, four "Marlboro GT of the Americas" where ran, the most important racing series of the Caribbean. On two wheels, LatinAmerican championships were ran on seasons 1983, 1988, 1992 y 1995 and also, drag racing held mayor events there. A new layout change happened in 1995, back again to the short layout of 2350 meters that receives international homologation from the FIM, the first four turns were changed making Turagua a more modern and safer track.

Over three decades of history, races at Turagua were run by different event organizers and entrepreneurs like Heduardo Rodríguez, Attilio De Guglielmo, Vicente D’Alessandro and Tury Agüero, today. Escudería 97, manages the place with names like Germán Oliveira, Domingo Yanes, José Luis Cid and Antonio Betancourt, all with background in local motorsports.

Along motorsports, Turagua also holds different events related to the auto industry as test track for new models.

Source: Escudería 97, C.A.
(http://www.escuderia97.com/public/index.php?dir=turagua&sec=historia)
 
   
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