Official '13 Racing Thread

[Swarley]

ACO and United SportsCar Racing Reach Licensing Agreement
"Global Strategic Agreement" reached between unified North American sports car championship, Automobile Club de l'Ouest...

One day following the reveal of the new series name and branding, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest has confirmed it has reached a "global strategic agreement" with the new United SportCar Racing championship, set to debut with the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The two-part agreement between the organizations involves a licensing agreement to allow the continuation of the Petit Le Mans name, the approval of select competitors to have entries to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the provision to explore and develop new avenues for endurance racing together in North America.

"The ACO is delighted through this alliance partnership that goes beyond a simple licensing agreement, to continue our collaboration that started 14 years ago, with Don Panoz and the creation of ALMS, and that has been of great benefit to both partners," said ACO President Pierre Fillon.

"This Strategic Alliance will lead to a close collaboration between the ACO and United SportsCar Racing to promote, develop and reinforce endurance racing in North America. Through this global agreement, I am convinced endurance racing will continue to be in safe hands in North America for many years to come.”

Under the current ACO regulations, select cars from no fewer than two USCR classes will be eligible to compete at Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The "GTLM" category for ACO-homologated GT cars and LMP2-spec cars in the new combined "Prototype" class are planned to be embraced.

“A key component in the unification of the GRAND-AM Rolex Series and the American Le Mans Series was the ability to continue a relationship with Le Mans and the ACO," said GRAND-AM founder Jim France. "My family has admired the 24 Hours of Le Mans for decades, and we hold it in the same high regard as the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

"The opportunity to maintain a link to Le Mans is as important to me as it is to all United SportsCar Racing manufacturers, teams and drivers.”

No word has been given on the possibility of Daytona Prototypes competing at Le Mans in the future.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/le-mans-aco-uscr-reach-licensing-agreement/

[Price]

Going to the ALMS race tomorrow.

[Swarley]

Going to the ALMS race tomorrow.

You lucky SOB lol. You sticking around for the IndyCar race there tomorrow?


What a great weekend of racing. Grand-Am at Road Atlanta and ALMS at Long Beach today, F1 in Bahrain and IndyCar at Long Beach tomorrow.

[Price]

No, I will be at the Angel game.

Holy shit the Vettes, BMWs, and Vipers sound amazing.

The Rebellion Lotus looked amazing too. Love that car.

[Swarley]

No, I will be at the Angel game.

Holy shit the Vettes, BMWs, and Vipers sound amazing.

The Rebellion Lotus looked amazing too. Love that car.

I couldn't believe the RLL BMW team took 1/2 after only having those cars for what, a couple months at most? Crazy. Loved watching the Lizards take 2/3 in GTC, though.

[Price]

I know. I sat at Turn 1 the whole race and everyone went crazy when the Falken Porsche hit the 93 Viper.

[Price]

[Swarley]

I know. I sat at Turn 1 the whole race and everyone went crazy when the Falken Porsche hit the 93 Viper.

So jelly that you got to go. Really wish the ALMS came somewhere closer to me. Best I get this summer is Grand-Am at Kansas Speedway.

[Price]

That's a bummer. I can't wait to hear the DPs in person next year.

[Swarley]

That's a bummer. I can't wait to hear the DPs in person next year.

Yeah, I mean I love Grand-Am (not as much as ALMS), but I'm not too excited about watching them on a roval. Yeah next year for the merger I'm definitely going to get away to one of the big races. Definitely going to have to be one of the endurance ones.

EDIT: Oh, had the random thought today while watching Grand-Am at Road Atlanta: that would be a fantastic track for an IndyCar race.

[Swarley]

After watching yesterday's ALMS race and the IndyCar race right now, I forgot how much I love the Long Beach street circuit. They need to get this track into Forza Motorsport 5.

[Swarley]

2014 Corvette Stingray set to pace the field for the Indianapolis 500:

[Swarley]

Man, I hope I wasn't the only one watching the IndyCar race in Sao Paulo. Sato tried to block Hinch and Newgarden multiple times on the back straight at the end. Hinch, on the final corner pulled an incredible over/under pass to take the victory. What an incredible final 5 laps. Some of the best racing I've ever seen.

Hinch/Andretti both on the podium!!!

[Golden Taters]

2014 Corvette Stingray set to pace the field for the Indianapolis 500:

I LOVE the look (besides the rear) of the new Corvettes. I can't wait to see the ZR1 version.