The North American sports car landscape will become a little less cluttered in 2014, when the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and American Le Mans Series merge.That announcement was made today by officials of both series. Grand-Am is owned by NASCAR, with ALMS founded and overseen by veteran race organizer and team owner Dr. Don Panoz.
"This merger will strengthen professional sports-car racing beyond what either of our organizations could have achieved separately," said Panoz today. He and NASCAR executives Jim France and Lesa France Kennedy will all serve on a new board of directors tasked with running the newly merged sanctioning body.
Grand Am currently headlines exotic, Daytona Prototype cars in a schedule of events that includes the historic Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. ALMS showcases open cockpit LMP1 cars as its showcase division, in a schedule headlined by the Indy Car Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
DIS President Joie Chitwood III called today’s announcement, “a very special day for the sport and an incredibly exciting time as we look ahead. I applaud the leadership of both organizations for this bold move that ultimately benefits the great fans of sports car racing in the North America. I am especially pleased to have Daytona International Speedway host the 2014 Rolex 24 – the first unified race of this new sports car series.”
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