GRAND-AM Announces 2013 Schedules; Adds Austin, Kansas, Road Atlanta Events

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAND-AM Road Racing announced the most dynamic schedules in its history today, highlighted by three new events and a unique combined weekend with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron.

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Both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge schedules will feature inaugural races at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Tex.; Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga.; and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. In addition, GRAND-AM will partner with the American Le Mans Series on a combination weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; the two organizations are in the process of merging and will operate as one, new sports car entity beginning with the 2014 season.

"Last year we raced for the first time at Indianapolis and Detroit, and GRAND-AM will continue to break new ground in 2013," said Ed Bennett, GRAND-AM president and CEO. "We're excited about going to historic Road Atlanta – plus the new road courses at Austin and Kansas City – for the first time. And with the combined event at Road America, sports car fans will get a glimpse of the future."

GRAND-AM's flagship race – the 51st running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona – opens the 2013 schedule Jan. 26-27 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Rolex 24 also opens the second annual North American Endurance Championship presented by VISITFLORIDA.com, a special three-race Rolex Series competition that includes the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 30 and the Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26. GRAND-AM will again lead off IMS' "Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard" that also will include the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

GRAND-AM's first races at the new Circuit of the Americas facility will be March 2. The Road Atlanta event is set for April 20, while the debut on the new 2.36-mile Kansas Speedway circuit will be Aug. 17.

The combined GRAND-AM/ALMS weekend at Road America will be Aug. 10-11, with GRAND-AM competition the first day. GRAND-AM will join the IZOD IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. on April 6 and at Detroit Belle Isle on June 1.

Other returning events include Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on June 15; Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. on Sept. 8; and Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. on Sept. 27-28.

The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will expand to 11 events in 2012. On nine of those weekends, the CTSCC will run on the same day as the Rolex Series, with the exceptions being Daytona (CTSCC on Jan. 25) and Watkins Glen (June 29). Also, the CTSCC will have two days of competition at Lime Rock, with the Street Tuner class on Sept. 27 and the Grand Sport class race joining the Rolex Series race on Sept. 28.

GRAND-AM ANNOUNCES 2013 SCHEDULES

SOURCE GRAND-AM Road Racing