IMSA Returns

[Craig]

IMSA RETURNS!
ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAMES IN MOTORSPORTS IS BACK

CLEARWATER, Fla. (October 5, 2001) -- One of the most recognizable
names in the history of American and International auto racing will live
again in 2002 and beyond as Professional Sports Car Racing, Inc., (SPORTS
CAR) returns to its original name, the International Motor Sports
Association (IMSA). The Clearwater, Fla., organization is the sanctioning
body for the highly-acclaimed American Le Mans Series, as well as other road
racing series.
The regeneration of the IMSA name is part of a new direction and expansion
for the organization. "The IMSA name is immediately recognizable both in the
United States and abroad," said Dennis Huth, who became president of
Professional Sports Car Racing, Inc., in June. "Through the hard work of the
founders of IMSA, road racing enjoyed a great deal of success in the 1970s
and 1980s, and the path to the top level of professional endurance racing in
the United States became clearly linked to the IMSA brand.
"As our sanctioning body continues its growth, and road racing in
America continues its upward trend, it is time for the IMSA name to return
to the top level of the sport," he said.
IMSA, founded in 1969 to officiate and organize professional road
racing competitions, became Professional Sports Car Racing, Inc., in 1997
during an ownership change. The IMSA Camel GT Series is one of the most
well-known series in American racing history. The IMSA GTP and European
Group C sports prototypes were the forerunners of today's "Le Mans"
prototype category, the premier class of the American Le Mans Series where
manufacturers and privateers do battle for top honors.
Huth said that the cars running in the Oct. 6 Audi presents Petit Le
Mans at Road Atlanta for the American Le Mans Series will be outfitted with
new decals carrying a revised IMSA logo with red, white and blue colors,
rather than the previous red, white and black.
The newly-renamed International Motor Sports Association (a member
of the ACCUS-FIA, the national sporting authority for motorsports in the
United States) will continue to work in close consultation with the
Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to
organize and conduct "Le Mans Series" races in both North America and
internationally.
In addition to the American Le Mans Series, the organization also
sanctions events for the Panoz Racing Series, the Star Mazda Series and the
Neon Celebrity Team Challenge. Beginning in 2002, it will sanction events
for the Super Truck Racing Association of North America.

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CONTACT: IMSA (727) 533-0503

[paulzinho]

Can we have Group C back as well please?