Grand-Am announces 2012 schedule
The inaugural North American Endurance Championship will feature the 50th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 29-July 1 and the Rolex Series' three-hour debut race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27 during the inaugural "Super Weekend at the Brickyard."
The 13-race schedule also includes GRAND-AM's first visit to Detroit – the automotive capital of the world – on June 2, and the return to many of North America's premier circuits, including Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal; Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio; Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.; Homestead-Miami Speedway; New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.; and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.
"This is without doubt the strongest schedule in GRAND-AM history," said GRAND-AM President Tom Bledsoe. "Highlights are everywhere you look … new races, new places – and a new three-race championship. We're going to make a lot of sports car history in 2012."
Teams in both the Daytona Prototype and production-based GT classes will compete in the North American Endurance Championship. Point structure and purse for the championship will be announced in the near future. Awards for the championship will be presented at dusk on the Victory Podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, following the historic race on the 2.605-mile road course.
In addition to featuring GRAND-AM's solid lineup in both classes, several top teams have indicated they will field additional cars with all-star drivers to compete in the three endurance races.
"I think the North American Endurance Championship adds more excitement to an already exciting schedule," said four-time Rolex Series Daytona Prototype champion Scott Pruett. "The Rolex 24 is clearly the highlight of our season, and I'm very excited with the addition of Indianapolis. The new championship gives further emphasis on our three endurance races."
The Rolex Series will combine with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series twice – on Indianapolis' historic tripleheader weekend (July 26-29) and at Watkins Glen International – and with the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Road America and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Two Rolex Series events will be in companion with IndyCar, at Detroit and Barber.
Following the season-opening events at Daytona and Barber, the Rolex Series moves to Homestead-Miami Speedway, followed by a visit to New Jersey Motorsports Park. Following the Detroit Belle Isle race, the series returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In addition, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca's event shifts to September.
The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will run in conjunction with the Rolex Series at 10 of the 13 weekends, including Indianapolis.
Potential season-ending events for both series are still to be announced.
(Note: Dates listed below are for event weekend, excluding the Daytona, Indianapolis and Detroit Belle Isle races. Remaining specific race days for each series will be announced in the near future.)
GRAND-AM Rolex Series 2012 Schedule of Events
Jan. 28-29 Daytona International Speedway
Mar 30-April 1 Barber Motorsports Park
April 27-29 Homestead-Miami Speedway
May 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park
June 2 Detroit Belle Isle
June 8-10 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 22-24 Road America
June 29-July 1 Watkins Glen International
July 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug 10-12 Watkins Glen International
August 17-19 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Sept. 7-9 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Sept. 28-30 TBA
GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge 2012 Schedule of Events
Jan. 27 Daytona International Speedway
Mar 30-April 1 Barber Motorsports Park
April 27-29 Homestead-Miami Speedway
May 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park
June 8-10 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 22-24 Road America
June 29-July 1 Watkins Glen International
July 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sept. 7-9 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Sept. 28-30 TBA