The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Continental Tire Rolls Into The Future With IMSA


continental (select to view enlarged photo)

Continental Tire Rolls Into The Future With IMSA

-- Continental Tire to be exclusive tire supplier in three United SportsCar Racing classes.

-- Title sponsorship, supply exclusivity retained for IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series.

-- IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge tech specifications virtually unchanged in 2014.

-- GTLM class to have open tire competition.

Fort Mill, SC -- July 31, 2013. The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Continental Tire have reached a multi-year partnership agreement that will make Continental Tire the exclusive tire supplier in three classes during next year's inaugural United SportsCar Racing season. Starting with next January's Rolex 24 At Daytona -- the season-opening United SportsCar Racing event -- Continental's exclusivity will extend to the new series' Prototype (P), Prototype Challenge (PC) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes. The GT Le Mans (GTLM) category will be open to multiple tire manufacturers.

Continental Tire also will return as title sponsor and exclusive tire supplier of the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC), a developmental series currently sanctioned by GRAND-AM Road Racing. In addition, technical specifications in the CTSCC will be unchanged. Starting next year, the CTSCC and United SportsCar Racing will run under IMSA sanctioning, resulting from the merger of GRAND-AM, IMSA and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Presented by Tequila PatrĂ³n.

"We are extremely proud to be a part of United SportsCar Racing, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the future," said Travis Roffler, director of marketing for Continental Tire. "Our team has worked hard over the last several years to help bring competitive, action-packed racing to sports car fans at every track we visit. And we are thrilled to continue our commitment to IMSA, United SportsCar Racing and all the manufacturers, teams and drivers in 2014 and beyond."

"This is a proud day for the future of United SportsCar Racing as we solidify a partnership that already has roots in both GRAND-AM and the ALMS," said Ed Bennett, who will serve as chief executive officer of IMSA.

"And in solidifying this partnership we also are introducing the important element of stability across three classes in United SportsCar Racing -- and the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Continental Tire's partnership and support, vital to the business of the ALMS and GRAND-AM this season, will be even more so in 2014 and beyond." Continental Tire will continue to use their exclusive racing tire from the ExtremeContact line of tires. Continental has incorporated a variety of technologies into a tire that is durable and provides the performance that professional teams and drivers demand and have come to trust. Continental Tire will continue to provide full, first-class at-track support at all United SportsCar Racing and CTSCC events as well. As part of the agreement, Continental Tire will receive logo placement on cars and will continue to activate at-track via hospitality, signage, event entitlements and other marketing initiatives. Continental Tire will also support the series off-track through a variety of promotions, marketing events and TV.

Continental Tire debuted as the title sponsor and exclusive tire supplier for the CTSCC in 2010. In 2011, the global company became the official tire of GRAND-AM as well as exclusive tire supplier to both the CTSCC and Rolex Series. At the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, in March, Continental Tire debuted as the presenting sponsor and exclusive tire provider for the PC class in the ALMS. To date, the PC Class has set two new track records and has been running competitive lap times with the P2 Class on Continental Tires.

Go inside the garage with us on Twitter @continentaltire and on Instagram @continental_tire.

With sales of €32.7 billion in 2012, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has approximately 173,000 employees in 46 countries.

Based in Fort Mill, S.C., Continental Tire the Americas, LLC manufactures and distributes a complete premium line of passenger, light truck and commercial tires for original equipment and replacement markets. Our ultra-high performance tires include award-winning technologies that focus on safety, help save money and reduce CO2 emissions. The ProContact EcoPlus and CrossContact LX20 were also awarded a Consumer's Digest Best Buy award in 2012. Continental's premium products are available at leading independent tire dealers, car dealers, and mass retail companies across North America. Continental Tire is a proud supporter of the GRAND-AM Road Racing Series, ALMS, Major League Soccer (MLS), West Coast Customs, the Las Vegas Invitational and Las Vegas Classic, Wendy's 3 Tour Challenge, Chris Rado, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, NSCAA, Petty's Garage, UNC Athletics, and Duke Athletics.

Beginning in 2014, the new International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) will be the sanctioning body of United SportsCar Racing -- the highly anticipated road-racing series resulting from the merger of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila PatrĂ³n and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series -- as well as the developmental series: Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda. In addition, IMSA also plans to continue sanctioning the following single-make series: Ferrari Challenge, IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin and Lamborghini Super Trofeo.

IMSA is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected United SportsCar competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.