WC Vision President and CEO Scott Bove announced today that the Pirelli World Challenge Championships series will be joined by the European-based Blancpain GT Series for the 2016 season opener at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
This global premiere of North America’s top production car-based sprint racing championships and the SRO Motorsports-owned International Blancpain tour will take place at the state-of-the-art 3.427-mile, 20-turn circuit on March 4-6, 2016.
This action packed event will mark the first time that the two premiere production car-based sports car series will compete on the same weekend giving the fans in attendance and viewers at home world-class racing never seen on the same event weekend. In addition, this partnership invites the Pirelli World Challenge Championships to compete at a Blancpain GT Series event weekend in Italy in 2016, marking the first time the PWC series will compete outside North America in its 26-year history.
“The Pirelli World Challenge and Blancpain GT Series share similar desires to expand their product outside their existing markets,” said Bove. “Pirelli is the common denominator being the Official Tire for both series. PWC has developed a strong worldwide presence with international drivers, teams and manufacturers competing in our series. It’s now time to take our brand of racing to the global stage as a true World Challenge.”
“For 2015, the top three GT drivers in the PWC GT Championships will be invited to participate in the Blancpain GT Series finale at Baku. And then for 2016, we open our season again at Circuit of the Americas with the Blancpain GT Series. Towards the end of 2016, our GT class will be competing at one SRO Blancpain Sprint race either at Misano or Vallelunga.”
“Getting an American circuit on the Blancpain GT Series’ calendar has always been one of my pet projects,” said Stephane Ratel, CEO and Founder SRO Motorsports Group. “The best way to do that is to work together with people who know the ins and outs of racing in the United States. The organizers of the Pirelli World Challenge and the people at SRO Motorsports Group share the same philosophy on GT racing: it should be competitive, spectacular and entertaining for the fans. It is no use for each of us to do our own thing in our own corner, when sharing our knowledge could produce far better results.”
Both North American and international sports car series exclusively utilize Pirelli tires. Pirelli & C. SpA, established in 1922, is a multinational company based in Milan, Italy and is present in over 160 countries. Pirelli has 19 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers. Pirelli has been involved in motorsports since 1907 and is currently the exclusive tire supplier for the Formula One Championship.
“We couldn’t be happier to see this relationship come together,” said Rafael Navarro, Vice President, Communications, Media Relations and Motorsports, Pirelli Tire North America. “Pirelli has a very close relationship with both SRO and WC Vision and the P Zero tire is the official tire for both series. From a technical development and worldwide marketing standpoint, the cooperation between the two series makes perfect sense, and Pirelli is excited be involved as a major partner.”
Competition in the Pirelli World Challenge and the Blancpain GT Series is some of the most exciting and dramatic in all of motorsports with over 20 manufacturers battling door-to-door in multi-class action at some of the world’s most famous and legendary racing facilities.
The global doubleheader at COTA on March 4-6, 2016 will bring a global sports car presence to one site that will promise to supply non-stop action for the racing enthusiasts and worldwide television viewing audience.
NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
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