Skip Barber, Panoz and Road Atlanta announce deal
Under the agreement, Skip Barber will partner with and assume operational management of the Panoz Racing School at Road Atlanta, and will become the exclusive provider of driving and racing schools at Road Atlanta. Skip Barber will lease over 20,000 square feet of classroom, shop and equipment storage facilities at the track to conduct its business operations, and will become the single largest renter of track and support paddock days at Road Atlanta.
Panoz Racing School is currently owned and operated by the Panoz Motor Sport Group, LLC, owner of Road Atlanta. Beginning July 1, 2007, Skip Barber will execute previously scheduled Panoz Driving School and racing programs, utilizing Panoz GTRA cars but under the Skip Barber brand. Previously scheduled 2007 Panoz Racing Series events will use Panoz vehicles and will follow existing Panoz Series competition rules and regulations. Customer reservations and deposits for all aforementioned Panoz Racing School programs will be honored and managed by Skip Barber Racing School. In the future, programs will use Skip Barber vehicles and a combination of Skip Barber and Panoz Racing School staff and equipment.
Skip Barber rental of Road Atlanta track and paddock days will also commence July 1. The Company will rent approximately 100 days per year to be used for the operation of Skip Barber Racing and Driving Schools, amateur races, track days, and other programs including OEM (Ride & Drive) events and corporate events. Under the agreement terms Skip Barber will become the exclusive provider of OEM events at Road Atlanta.
“Today marks a historic day for both the Panoz Racing School and Skip Barber. The resources of both organizations – personnel, facilities and equipment – based at Road Atlanta will provide unprecedented opportunities for our customers, staff members and the surrounding community," said Geoff Lee, president of Panoz Racing School and Road Atlanta. “Skip Barber Racing School is unquestionably the largest and most dynamic racing school and represents a very complimentary “fit" with the Panoz Racing School which is also highly regarded for its position within the industry. Today’s announcement enables both companies to benefit from each other’s core strengths, creating an unmatched offering of courses, equipment and professional expertise. I am confident that these broad offerings, coupled with the allure of Road Atlanta and the outstanding accommodations that surround us, will soon make this the destination of choice for corporate event planners, aspiring race car drivers and seasoned veterans alike."
“We are extremely fortunate to be partnering with Road Atlanta and in particular, with the Panoz Racing School," said George Ayres, President of Skip Barber Racing School. “This agreement enables Skip Barber to serve a new, major metropolitan market and region of the country that is growing. People here are enthusiastic about motorsports. We believe our Racing School, Driving School and Race Series customers will be thrilled with the experience that the Road Atlanta track and facilities offer."
Ayres continued: “To have the Panoz Racing School staff and instructors as partners is of particular benefit to Skip Barber. They have been experts in the world of sportscar racing for many years and will bring a high level of professionalism to our programs, especially our newly- launched sportscar racing program, the Mazda MX-5 Cup Racing School. Together, we are going to deliver a first-class customer experience."