CART establishes promoter relations department; Rena Shanaman to serve in key role
16 November 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
DETROIT - As part of its ongoing effort to enhance
service to its various constituencies, Championship Auto Racing Teams
announced today it has established a Promoter Relations department
designed
to provide dedicated, high-quality service to the 22 event promoters on
the
2001 FedEx Championship Series schedule.
The announcement was made by interim CART president and CEO Bobby Rahal.
"The promoters of our races are one of our most significant audiences and it is extremely important that we provide them with a top-notch level of commitment and service," said Rahal. "During my brief tenure at CART, we have made a concerted effort to become more communicative and more willing to work hand-in-hand with our partners and this change in our working structure is a further reflection of our dedication to that commitment."
The new department will be managed by Rena Shanaman, CART's Vice President of Promoter Relations. Shanaman's focus will be to build upon current relationships with CART's race promoters while striving to meet strategic and tactical objectives in the presentation of its events to fans. As the primary liaison between CART and its race promoters, the new department will actively participate in the planning of each race weekend, working alongside CART's Racing Operations and Marketing departments to develop consistent standards for marketing communications and on-site event presentation.
The newly created department will assist in various projects and race weekend events, including pre-race and victory ceremonies, fan appreciation activities, the CART Champ Club hospitality program and the annual awards banquets for the CART, Indy Lights and CART Toyota Atlantic racing series.
The Promoter Relations staff will also work closely with CART Administration and Competition, assisting with promoter sanction agreements, track safety improvement programs and in creating a more unified credential system. In addition, Promoter Relations will conduct pre-event site visits and post-event debriefing meetings with each promoter to address and evaluate all operational, facility and marketing issues.
Two positions will help meet CART's new promoter-based objectives. A manager and an administrative assistant will be appointed in the Promoter Relations department to aid in the development and implementation of promoter-driven programs.
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to work more closely with each of our race promoters," said Shanaman, who was previously general manager for CART's Molson Indy Vancouver event as well as the general manager for the inaugural U.S. 500 in 1996 at Michigan International Speedway, which was promoted by CART. "I believe it makes a great statement to the racing community and the sport in general that CART is willing to devote resources to make certain that the needs of our promoters are being realized."
The 2001 FedEx Champ Car Series schedule includes four new venues - the March 11 season opener at Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico; Texas Motor Speedway near Fort Worth/Dallas; the new EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, Germany; and the Rockingham Motor Speedway in Corby, England. The 2001 schedule includes a CART-record number of events and will be contested in eight countries on five continents and concludes Nov. 4 at the California Speedway.
Text Provided By Lisa Ramsperger
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos
and art, visit
The Racing
Photo Museum and the
Visions
of Speed Art Gallery.