ALMS: New Sponsors added to San Diego Grand Prix; Turner Named CEO
30 July 1999
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (July 30, 1999) – Local business and city
officials, new sponsors Xerox and Mesa Distributing, and leadership from
the San Diego Grand Prix Association and the American Le Mans Series
were among those gathered today to signal beginning of site preparations
for this fall’s inaugural San Diego Grand Prix at the Naval Training
Center.
Xerox and Mesa Distributing come on board as associate sponsors of
the Nov. 5-7 sports car racing weekend, it was announced by newly named
San Diego Grand Prix chief executive officer Brian Turner. The Mesa
Distributing family of products include Heineken, Miller, Tecate and
Gordon Biersch. SDGP media partner KNSD-TV (Channel 7/39) also joins
the fold as an associate sponsor, and event organizers are close to
finalizing a deal with Clear Channel Communications and its local radio
affiliates – XTRA Sports 690 AM, 91X, KGB-101.5 FM, KOGO-600 AM, and
KCBQ-105.3 FM.
“We’re off and running for what will be an historic racing event,”
Turner said. “All eyes of the world motorsports community will be on
San Diego for the American Le Mans Series season finale. We welcome our
new sponsors to the family as world-class sports car competition returns
to Southern California.”
Local spectators and a worldwide television audience will for the
first time see exotic sports prototypes and GT race cars – representing
manufacturers such as Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW, Panoz, Porsche, Audi and
Lola – take to the brand new 1.58-mile, tree-lined, waterfront road
course at the Naval Training Center.
Some 80 teams and top-name drivers in U.S. and international road
racing will compete for $180,000 in prize money, as well as $1.5 million
in bonus payouts to season-ending points champions. CNBC will provide
the live national cablecast to more than 73 million households, while
Eurosport will carry the event live in 47 countries around the world.
“We’ll have the teams and drivers who have been making headlines at
the 24 Hours of Le Mans year after year, including this year’s
race-winning BMW.” Turner said. “Our beautiful waterfront setting
framed by the downtown San Diego skyline. What more can you ask for?”
Construction of the 10-turn road course is set to begin in early
August. Paving is expected to take two weeks, after which begins the
process of placing 1,600 concrete barriers all the way around the inside
and outside of the track. And that’s just the racecourse, stretches of
which will allow the high-powered racing machines to reach speeds in
excess of 170 mph.
The American Le Mans Village Expo, with more than 150 displays
featuring automotive, home and entertainment products and services, is
expected to be a prime attraction for fans and series participants
alike. There will be grandstand seating for 25,000 spectators
surrounding the course, as well as pit row suites facing the scenic
front straight along Chaucey Road, a corporate hospitality suite
compound, and recreational vehicle parking inside the course.
“We’ll have all the bells and whistles to make this a family event
to remember,” Turner said. “San Diego is in for a treat. And, with our
beautiful Southern California fall weather, so are all the people who
will be flying in from faraway places. We can’t wait for race weekend!”
Tickets for this inaugural event go on sale Aug. 2 at all
Ticketmaster locations. For further information, including suite rental
and expo exhibit space, please call the San Diego Grand Prix office at
619-233-3278.