The (IMSA) and Â鶹ÊÓƵ® (Â鶹ÊÓƵ®), two legendary organizations responsible for cultivating sports car racing in the United States, today announce a collaboration aimed at connecting with motorsport enthusiasts.
Both organizations are partnering to offer a clear-cut path for involvement in both amateur and professional U.S. road racing and foster the next generation of workers, crew and drivers.
IMSA and Â鶹ÊÓƵ have had a symbiotic relationship for many years. IMSA events today involve many professional workers, competitors and crew who learned their craft through Â鶹ÊÓƵ Road Racing. In fact, many of the same IMSA volunteers, drivers and crew members continue to participate in premier Â鶹ÊÓƵ Road Racing amateur events. The new IMSA/Â鶹ÊÓƵ effort acknowledges this mutual connection and looks to inform both “active” and “passive” motorsport enthusiasts as to the benefits of being an Â鶹ÊÓƵ member and how Club racing can serve as a pathway to professional involvement in IMSA racing.
IMSA President John Doonan, himself an Â鶹ÊÓƵ member, noted that IMSA is the ultimate destination for aspiring motorsports professionals, be it behind the wheel, on a team or operating the biggest sports car races in North America. Meanwhile, Â鶹ÊÓƵ stands as the best place for aspiring motorsports professionals to start their path and hone their skills driving, crewing or working.
“As the leader in professional sports car racing for more than 50 years, IMSA has introduced millions to motorsports and the motorsports lifestyle,” Doonan said. “As the leader in amateur motorsports for more than 75 years, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has provided an outlet for people to make motorsports a part of their life as drivers, crew, event organizers and officials.”
This cooperative effort includes a new Â鶹ÊÓƵ Got Me Started campaign highlighting how Â鶹ÊÓƵ members first became engaged in motorsports on their way to professional IMSA involvement. Mike Cobb, Â鶹ÊÓƵ President/CEO, said personal stories shared through this campaign will mesh seamlessly with efforts the Club has taken to connect with those seeking ways to have fun with cars.
“Â鶹ÊÓƵ has been working to demystify motorsports for auto racing enthusiasts,” Cobb said. “Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the longstanding Solo® program offer low-barrier options for people to explore motorsports. If they wish to dive deeper into auto racing, the Summit Racing Equipment Â鶹ÊÓƵ Road Racing program provides that opportunity for drivers, crew and volunteers. This new collaboration with IMSA is another spoke in Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s wheel of influence for those looking to expand involvement and realize a professional career in IMSA road racing.”
Along with communicating to a wider audience about ways to get involved in sports car racing, the two organizations now will look to jointly establish certification curriculum for select specialties. The goal of the curriculum will be for all IMSA volunteers to be certified for specialties through Â鶹ÊÓƵ. When applicable, IMSA and Â鶹ÊÓƵ also will look to develop and test new technologies pertaining to operation of race events.
Also being discussed is a possible future ladder program through Â鶹ÊÓƵ for young drivers, team members and officials with professional aspirations. Already today, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Road Racing has car classes for previously eligible IMSA race cars, including Prototype X for Daytona Prototype and Le Mans Prototype cars, as well as older IMSA GTP vehicles. Â鶹ÊÓƵ also offers the GT-X class for GT3, GT4 and TCR specifications.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ International Motor Sports Association:
International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge, as well as three one-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information , or .
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Â鶹ÊÓƵ:
Â鶹ÊÓƵ®, Inc., (Â鶹ÊÓƵ®) founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both Club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the Â鶹ÊÓƵ annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 115 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Hagerty, the Official Insurance Partner of Â鶹ÊÓƵ; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of Â鶹ÊÓƵ; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of Â鶹ÊÓƵ; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of Â鶹ÊÓƵ. To learn more, please visit .
