The Arc Audi Racing Program kicks off our second season at the Pirelli World Challenge Series at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix in Florida March 23.

Although car owner and driver Don Istook will be sidelined for this particular race, The Arc Audi Racing team will still be at the track to host 20 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, support staff and chapter staff from UPARC, a chapter of The Arc in the St. Pete area.

These individuals will serve as “honorary pit crew” members for a day and get hands-on in the paddock with drivers and crews as they prepare for the races and then get to cheer on their favorites as they compete for points in the Pirelli World Challenge Series. And The Arc will be working to raise awareness among race fans and the media of the valuable contributions people with IDD can make if given a chance. Check out this video from award-winning documentary filmmaker Heidi Reinberg, who captured the excitement of the program in Sonoma, CA last year.

Team owner Don Istook and his wife Laurie share The Arc’s commitment to ensuring that people with IDD are fully included, especially when it comes to employment opportunities. Laurie’s brother, Mark Hiett, was diagnosed with Fragile X, but that has not stopped him from working as an integral part of Don’s RS Werkes race team. Don and Laurie wanted to give other people with IDD a taste of what it might be like to be part of a fast-paced race crew and came to The Arc with a unique idea to include individuals in the excitement of race day as the team moves from town to town to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge Series.

Follow The Arc Audi Racing Program as we take yet another exciting ride with Don and his team. The program has expanded to include 9 races with chapters of The Arc in 5 states plus Toronto, Canada, where we will be partnering with Inclusion International to bring Canadian guests to the track. The Arc’s national office will be posting updates from the races on Facebook and Twitter in the coming months. And you can see the races live online and on later broadcast by NBC Sports.