IMSA sports car racing will have its first stand-alone weekend at Circuit of the Americas this May. CREDIT: Brian Cleary/Getty Images
The Advance Auto Parts Sportscar Showdown will highlight an additional 2017 race weekend May 5-6 at Circuit of the Americas, the track announced Wednesday.
The Showdown is part of the International Motor Sports Association. The series has stopped in Austin before, including last September, but this will be the first time IMSA will feature as a stand-alone race weekend format at COTA. In the past, it has been paired with the World Endurance Challenge.
There will be support races, as well, in the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series.
IMSA’s 2017 opener was the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, where the team of former NASCAR great Jeff Gordon, Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli won the championship.
Jordan and Ricky Taylor, brothers from Florida who drive for their father’s Wayne Taylor Racing, won the IMSA WeatherTech prototype race at Circuit of the Americas last September.
COTA signed a multi-year contract with Advance Auto Parts to be the event’s new title sponsor. Advance Auto Parts is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, operates more than 5,000 stores across the country including more than 250 in Texas.
“We are thrilled to partner with Circuit of the Americas and be part of such a globally-renowned circuit,” Advance Auto Parts Marketing and Sponsorships manager Matt Davis said in a statement. “COTA is one of the top racing facilities, not only in the U.S., but the world, and we couldn’t be more excited to be involved.”
The IMSA series allows ticket holders wide access to the cars, drivers and teams in the paddock area. Two-day passes are now on sale for $79 at http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com. Individual passes for Friday are $49 and $59 for Saturday.
“We are absolutely delighted to play host to the first stand-alone IMSA race weekend here at Circuit of The Americas this coming May. Furthermore, Advance Auto Parts is the perfect choice to serve as the title sponsor of our signature sports car event,” Circuit of The Americas chairman Bobby Epstein said in a statement.
