The all-new 2012 Buick Regal GS will run against the clock in Nevada's Silver State Classic Challenge this Sunday, (Sept. 18), with Bill Rietow, GS lead development engineer, driving and John Townsend, GS drive quality powertrain engineer, navigating.

 

The Silver State Classic Challenge, now in its 24th year, is a bi-annual open road rally that runs on a remote, two-lane, 90-mile-long section of Nevada State Highway 318, where specially prepared cars often reach speeds exceeding 200 mph.

 

The Regal GS is running the course competitively and to help engineers gain insights about vehicle and engine performance.
Rietow, a Sports Car Club of America and Corvette Club of Michigan autocross racer, and Townsend will push a Regal GS test car to its limits, competing against 30 to 40 other cars in the 120-mph speed class. Top speed for the class is 140 mph.

 

Rietow and Townsend will pilot a stock Regal GS, with its only modifications being required safety equipment such as a roll hoop and five-point harness seat belts, as well as computational equipment for data collection. Photos, video and results will be updated on http://www.facebook.com/Buick.

 

"The GS is the most performance-oriented Regal in Buick's sport sedan portfolio, and the Silver State Classic will be the perfect venue to test its mettle," Rietow said. "As a racer, I know how thrilling this event will be, but it also serves as an opportunity for us to gain invaluable insights about vehicle and engine performance that directly benefit our customers."

 

Regal GS, which arrives at dealerships this fall, is built for high-speed driving with its athletic chassis and SAE-certified 270 horsepower (201kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400Nm). Regal GS's top speed is not electronically limited and during development testing at the Milford Proving Grounds, it has been clocked at 152 mph - the highest top speed of any production Buick in history.

 

Be sure to read our First Drive of the Regal GS for our personal impressions of Buick's hottest vehicle to-date.