Unified GRAND-AM/American Le Mans Series Leadership Team Meets With ACO And WEC At Le Mans

Unified GRAND-AM/American Le Mans Series Leadership Team

Meets With ACO And WEC At Le Mans

Members Of New Board, ACO And WEC Discuss The Future Of Sports Car Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2012) – Following the recently announced merger of GRAND-AM Road Racing with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, members of the new organization’s board of directors met in Le Mans, France, last weekend, with the executive teams of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

ACO President Pierre Fillon welcomed Board Chairman Jim France and Vice Chairman Don Panoz and their leadership staffs for meetings to address the future of endurance racing. In particular, France, Panoz and their teams reflected their perspective on the combined GRAND-AM/ALMS series, the WEC, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the various technical aspects that will define the unified series’ debut in 2014.

“What a great opportunity to meet the ACO and WEC leadership face-to-face – and what an honor it was to meet them on their ‘home field’ so to speak,” said GRAND-AM President and CEO Ed Bennett. “Just as Daytona and Sebring is ‘hallowed ground’ when it comes to sports car racing, so is Circuit des 24 Heures in Le Mans.

“This meeting underscored the significant potential that now exists for the future of sports car racing in North America.”

“The warm reception and hospitality by the ACO provided a positive and productive first impression,” added ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton. “The meeting also served to establish a dialogue regarding a number of things on the horizon for GRAND-AM and the ALMS for the remainder of this year and next, and a look ahead expectantly to our unified series in 2014. The ACO and WEC also provided overviews and perspectives on our current relationship and their priorities for the future. We concluded with a joint discussion of the opportunities for future collaboration. For a first meeting, it couldn’t have gone better.”

The unified series leadership and those of the ACO and the WEC will convene additional meetings, with the next to be in the United States in the near future, to continue the development of their strong partnership and its impact on premium sports car endurance racing in North America and abroad.

GA_ALMS092612.pdf