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United front: ACO, United SportsCar Racing maintain relationship

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.

Unified Sports Car Series press conference: American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton, GRAND-AM President and CEO Ed Bennett, SME Branding Ed O'Hara

Unified Sports Car Series press conference: American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton, GRAND-AM President and CEO Ed Bennett, SME Branding Ed O'Hara

Eric Gilbert

SEBRING, Fla. – ACO and United SportsCar Racing are pleased to announce a global strategic agreement to continue a relationship that started between ACO and ALMS 14 years ago to promote endurance racing in North America and the link with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This global agreement is made of two parts.

The first part is a specific licensing agreement that will allow selected competitors in United SportsCar Racing to have entries in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The agreement also allows the use of the name ‘Petit Le Mans’ for the Road Atlanta event.

The second part is a Strategic Alliance agreement between the ACO and United SportsCar Racing to explore and develop new avenues and horizons for endurance racing together in North America.

Scott Atherton (ALMS President and CEO), Frédéric Lénart, (ACO General Manager), Don Panoz (ALMS Founder and Vice Chairman of the Board of the ALMS Grand-Am merger), Gérard Neveu (FIA World Endurance Championship General Manager), Pierre Fillon (Automobil
Scott Atherton (ALMS President and CEO), Frédéric Lénart, (ACO General Manager), Don Panoz (ALMS Founder and Vice Chairman of the Board of the ALMS Grand-Am merger), Gérard Neveu (FIA World Endurance Championship General Manager), Pierre Fillon (Automobil

Photo by: ACO

Jim France, GRAND-AM founder and United SportsCar Racing board member, said: “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.

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.”

Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, said: “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.

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.”

United SportsCar Racing begins its inaugural season in 2014 and while the ACO is the governing body of Le Mans-style racing, United SportsCar Racing remains independent from the ACO’s group of sanctioned series around the globe.

The opening round of the 2014 United SportsCar Racing season is the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

ACO, United SportsCar Racing

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