Grand-Am, not ALMS, not IndyCar, lands Austin date
Established in 1999, GRAND-AM Road Racing has a large U.S. fan base, with nearly 20 million adults following the series. GRAND-AM sanctions the Rolex Sports Car Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, which deliver professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America. Both series are televised in the United States and Canada on the SPEED network and distributed globally through ESPN International. GRAND-AM’s popularity with television audiences has been growing, and it’s enjoyed the highest percentage growth of any major motorsports series on television over the past five years.
GRAND-AM Road Racing showcases emerging and legendary drivers from around the globe and sophisticated racing machines from the industry's leading constructors and the world's top automobile manufacturers. The Rolex Series is also home to some of the best and most recognized names in motorsports, such as Scott Pruett, Max Angelelli, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, David Donohue, Darren Law, Andy Lally and more.
“Circuit of The Americas is thrilled to be included in what has clearly become one of the top road-racing series in the world," Circuit Executive Vice President Bruce Knox said. “GRAND-AM features some of motorsport’s most accomplished drivers and iconic U.S. racing venues, including Daytona, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen. We are honored to be part of the series’ 2013 schedule, and we appreciate the efforts of the Austin Sports Commission in working with us to help secure this event for our city and venue."