Belle Rose raceway course sold

A road-racing course in Belle Rose has been sold for $1.5 million to a group that plans to beef up the track’s offerings and make it a premier motorsport resort. The Circuit at Grand Bayou bought the track and more than 100 acres of land from its original owner, No Problem Raceway. The track operates as a country club, selling memberships that allow people to go and drive high performance sports cars. Kent Broussard, president of the Circuit at Grand Bayou, says plans are in the works to hold a number of events at the track, including Porsche Club of America meetings and driving lessons. Construction will start on an adjacent 2.5-mile track next summer; it will be open by the end of 2010. “We’re going to start selling lots out there and 16 garages with viewing decks,” Broussard says. The sale allows No Problem Raceway to concentrate on drag races and its new outdoor concert stage. Broussard and Pat Joffrion, president of No Problem, say the projects should boost the Baton Rouge economy, since Belle Rose is about 40 minutes away. “That will bring people into the hotels,” Broussard says. For a 225 magazine story about the racetrack, click here.—Timothy Boone