The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and officials from sister companies Rolex Watch USA and TUDOR Watch USA announced 10-year extensions of their established partnerships to begin in 2016.

Rolex will extend its partnership with Sebring International Raceway, which is owned within the IMSA Properties group, as an official sponsor of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida. Earlier this year, Rolex announced a 10-year extension of its partnership with Daytona International Speedway as entitlement sponsor of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The relationship between Daytona, the France family—which has held a leadership role in motorsports since the 1930s—and Rolex dates back to 1959. Rolex added the name “Daytona” to the dial of its Cosmograph line in 1962 and has been the title sponsor of the Rolex 24 At Daytona since 1992.
 
From 2001 through 2013, Rolex was the entitlement partner of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Rolex’s North American motorsports involvement also extends to sponsorship of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
 
“Clearly, Rolex considers its association with IMSA and sports car racing to be an important one,” said Rolex Watch USA President and CEO Stewart Wicht. “We’re pleased that we now have aligned our business interests at Daytona, announced earlier this year, with Sebring, two of the most iconic endurance sports car races in the world that begin the IMSA season.”
 
TUDOR will become the “Official Timepiece of IMSA” for the next 10 years, beginning in 2016. With the relaunch of the TUDOR brand in the United States behind them, the company will no longer serve as entitlement sponsor of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship after 2015. Beginning in 2016, the series will be the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
 
TUDOR relaunched its brand in the U.S. in the fall of 2013 and concurrently became entitlement partner of the 2014 and 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Its motorsports portfolio also includes partnerships with the FIA World Endurance Championship and Ducati.
 
“The timing of the relaunch for the TUDOR brand in the U.S. coincided perfectly with the launch of the newly merged IMSA sports car championship. Given our companies’ lengthy history, it was a natural fit for us to take on the entitlement of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship,” said TUDOR Watch USA Brand Manager Russell Kelly. “Over the past two years, this partnership has clearly helped us establish the brand, and now that our relaunch process is complete, the timing is right for us to shift into the ‘Official Timepiece’ category and pave the way for the new entitlement partner to help continue to grow the sport, IMSA and our collective brands.”
 
“Both Rolex and TUDOR have tremendous history in sports car racing, and they have been and will continue to be outstanding partners for IMSA and the sport globally,” said IMSA CEO Ed Bennett. “Clearly, the long-term commitment that they are providing our motorsports platforms—both with the Championship and our tracks—speaks to our close historical ties as well as their confidence and belief in the future of IMSA.”

NHRA announced the rules and requirements for the 2016 Pro Stock category in its transition to electronic fuel injection (EFI).

The sanctioning body has named Holley as the sole provider of the components of the electronic fuel injection system.

The complete rules and requirements are available from NHRARacer.com for download.

The changes in the category will make the engines more relevant from a technology standpoint. In order to reduce and control costs for the race teams, an NHRA-controlled 10,500 Rev Limiter will be added to the fuel injection systems.

The change to EFI in the factory hot-rod category is among several changes to the category. NHRA required teams to back their race cars into the pits and leave engines uncovered beginning at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. A rule was also created to discontinue the practice of crew members standing beside the cars to hold them in place as they begin their burnouts. It was also mandated for teams to create automobile manufacturer identification headers visible on the race cars’ windshields up to a maximum of 4.5-inches high, but not smaller than 2.125-inches.

Beginning in 2016, NHRA also will require Pro Stock teams to remove all hood scoops and reduce the length of the wheelie bars to a length specified by the NHRA Tech Department.

Engine & Performance Warehouse named Quick Fuel as the EPWI 2014 Vendor of the Year. Marvin Benoit, President & Mark Wells, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Quick Fuel were present to accept the award.

The annual Vendor of the Year award is presented to the supplier or manufacturer based on performance scores during the prior year in seven categories. Categories include distribution/sales policies, pricing policies, inventory, returns, labor claims, office support and shipping/packaging.

Past recipients of this award include Federal Mogul, S.A. Gear, Total Seal, Pioneer, B&P Rods, COMP Cams, Cylinder Head Center, Clevite Engine Parts, Dura-Bond Bearing Co., Damper Doctor, Melling Engine Parts, Joe Gibbs Racing, Howard Enterprises, SB International, Hastings Piston rings & TopLine Automotive.

In addition, EPWI named Karen Bewley of Melling as the EPWI 2014 Representative of the Year. Karen Bewley, Western Territory Manager, was present to accept the award.

The Rep of the Year is selected annually, on a rotating basis by region, using combined votes based on performance scores during the prior year in three categories: sales support, distribution philosophies, and timely and accurate follow-through.

At the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) “State of the Series” presentation to industry stakeholders tonight in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, IMSA officials unveiled a 10-race schedule for the 2016 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge.

The schedule features a return to every venue that hosted the Continental Tire Challenge in 2015, and all events will be run as a companion to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Every race will be two hours, 30 minutes in length and will include both the Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) classes.

“The consistency from year to year in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge schedule speaks to the depth and quality of the racing in the series,” said IMSA President Scott Atherton. “The Continental Tire Challenge plays an important role in many of our event weekends as the featured race on the day before our IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship headliner. IMSA fans love the nonstop action provided by the Continental Tire Challenge.”
 
The 2016 Continental Tire Challenge schedule follows its traditional configuration and opens with a race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, January 29 as part of the Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend. The 2016 event takes on added significance as it will be the showcase for the debut of the new Daytona International Speedway motorsports stadium after the completion of the $400 million DAYTONA Rising project.
 
From Daytona, the Continental Tire Challenge moves to Sebring International Raceway on Friday, March 18 as part of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida event weekend. The series then heads west for its lone California race of the season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, April 30.
 
Watkins Glen International again will host the Continental Tire Challenge on Saturday, July 2, followed by the lone trip north of the border for the series to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park one week later on Saturday, July 9. Lime Rock Park hosts the series on July 22–23, followed by Road America on Aug. 6 and VIRginia International Raceway on August 20.
 
Circuit of The Americas will host the penultimate round of the Continental Tire Challenge on September 16, and the 2016 season wraps up at Road Atlanta on Friday, September 30. As has been the case for the past several years, the Continental Tire Challenge also will participate in the annual three-day Roar Before The Rolex 24 At Daytona test session, scheduled for January 8–10, 2016.
 
Every race in 2016 again will be televised by FOX Sports on a tape-delayed basis, and will be streamed live on IMSA.com and the IMSA mobile app.
  
2016 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Schedule:
 
Date - Event Venue
Jan. 29 - Daytona International Speedway
March 18 - Sebring International Raceway
April 30 - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
July 2 - Watkins Glen International
July 9 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
July 22-23 - Lime Rock Park
Aug. 6 - Road America
Aug. 20 - VIRginia International Raceway
Sept. 16 - Circuit of The Americas
Oct. 1 - Road Atlanta

The Motorsports Safety Education Foundation has spent the last 18 months designing and building its website and the first set of interactive safety classes. Since it’s launch, the organization has been receiving inquiries left and right to add more content on more topics for more racing classes.


So MSEF has set a goal of raising $50,000 in 50 days to pay for the new content.

Help the Motorsports Safety Education Foundation create interactive racing safety classes that save lives by donating. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1909434382/live-to-race-interactive-racing-safety-platform

The UK-based Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) will host an all-new International Business Sales and Trade Workshop at the 2015 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

Scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2015, the workshop is designed to introduce business professionals who wish to learn more about international commerce to one another, using case studies and real-world examples to support the knowledge that is required to succeed overseas. Attendees will hear firsthand from major industry representatives about the opportunities and challenges of international trade.

Those who are interested in expanding their current customer base into overseas markets are invited to attend this free event, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 211 of the Indiana Convention Center. Among its featured speakers will be Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA.

For more information or to register, contact Carly Latcham at +44 (0)2476 692600, or by email: carly.latcham@the-mia.com. 

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will have at least one slight change in their entries for this weekend's Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

On Wednesday, the sanctioning body issued a bulletin that, among other things, calls for the installation of an additional NACA duct to be mounted in the right-side window.

Such ducts, used for cooling purposes, are currently installed in other window areas, and allow for airflow inside the car.

The change was made in reaction to high heat build up inside the car generated by the high drag package when it debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month. The same package is scheduled to be used this weekend at MIS.

The platform includes a nine-inch spoiler with a one-inch wicker bill; a two-inch leading edge on the splitter, a 43-inch splitter extension panel (often called the radiator pan) and a rear fascia extension panel similar to those currently used for superspeedway events.

Excessive heat build up created by the package is a concern for the toll it can take on the drivers as well as the cars according to 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski.

"I would not be surprised to see a lot of car failures this weekend, specific to heat relation as it pertains to the aero package and its kind of cause and effects," he said during a national teleconference Tuesday.

"And inside the car I would not be surprised to see a lot of hot and worn out drivers after the race. We all know we’re in for a handful of the race."

Keselowski said the new package is expected to create more drafting, and that time lined up nose to tail will lessen the amount of air going over and around the car.

"And the speeds at Michigan are higher than they are at Indianapolis, which means the parts, specifically the drivetrain are going to be even hotter," he said. "I know the team is very, very concerned about the drivetrain, everything from the engine all the way back to the axles because they're really not made for these temperatures."

Following the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Indy, at least three drivers received treatment for heat-related issues following the event, including race winner Kyle Busch.

Wednesday’s bulletin also states that one additional NACA duct may be used to provide air to the engine control unit (ECU).

Drivers with concussion could have their licence temporarily confiscated in the UK if a plan for the Motor Sports Association to provide firm guidelines on head injuries is successful.

The MSA Motor Sports Council, Safety Advisory Panel and Medical Advisory Panel are assessing the potential need for a concussion directive, and that the MSA is also liaising with the Rugby Football Union on the topic.

FIA series such as Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship put their drivers though an ImPACT test, which examines a driver's brain function and performance through a series of questions and tasks.

This is a reference if a driver is concussed, and they are not allowed to resume competition until they pass.

It is thought the ImPACT test is not something that could be rolled out on a national level because it is expensive and time-consuming.

The MSA is, therefore, open to an official protocol to help a wider range of drivers, although no firm plans have been agreed.

One option on the table is to suspend a driver's license for a period of time—possibly around three weeks, which is the period in which most concussions are believed to clear up—if medical staff agree they are concussed.

This would ensure most drivers are fully fit before they return to testing or racing, if they do not wish to undertake a scan or professional evaluation to be cleared to return sooner.

During last weekend's British Touring Car Championship round at Snetterton, Aiden Moffat crashed at Montreal corner in practice and suffered a concussion. He was withdrawn from the event.

TOCA medical officer Paul Trafford said, "Rather irritatingly, every sport has some regulations on concussion except motorsport: if you're concussed, you're out for a period.

"Drivers try hard to convince themselves they are all right.

"Now we [at TOCA] are being more cautious - if you've had a period of concussion we won't let you out that weekend.

"We have their licences, so we can control what they are doing.

"If you're the 750MC and go to a different circuit, unless you tell that circuit or someone's taken your licence off you, nobody's got a clue what's happened."

Andrew Jordan's BTCC title defense unravelled last year when, like Moffat, he was concussed in a practice crash at Snetterton, and he had to start at the back of the grid on race day before withdrawing from the finale.

"It's definitely worthwhile having something," Jordan said.

"Traff took one look at me after race two last year and said I was done for the day, and I was glad he said it. I was absolutely gone.

"The thing that surprised me was the shunt wasn't big, and it opened my eyes to the potential risks.

"It's not just you out there. You need to think about what might happen."

Martin & Company Advertising announced the recent hire of Matt Collins as VP of Sales & Marketing. He brings over 25 years experience in email operations, website development, public relations and sales and marketing on a global basis.

As Vice President, Collins supports the President and CEO with management of Sales and Marketing at M&C, works with the Digital Marketing Director to help manage content and advertising for all clients, and has implemented a state of the art email marketing program on behalf of all M&C customers.

The company also announced the promotion of Jeff Lee to Digital Marketing Director. He has served as Director of Internet and New Media at the International Hot Road Association (IHRA). He also recently co-founded an aftermarket company with his father called Hammerhead IRS and is launching that company with the help of Martin & Company.

As Digital Marketing Director at M&C, Lee applies his knowledge of traditional and digital marketing to help all clients connect with and find new customers through the latest technologies including web site optimization, email, mobile, search, as well as social media and content marketing strategies.

“We are seeing a refreshing surge of growth both with our agency, and the automotive  industry as a whole. Because of digital marketing’s prominence in today’s marketing climate, it was important for us to bring these two experts on board to help fully orchestrate this transition for our firm and for our clients. In all of my years as an advertising professional, I have never seen a more seismic shift in the marketing landscape,” stated Zan Martin, President and CEO of the agency. “We’ve developed marketing plans for some of the industry’s most successful manufacturers for decades by developing feature and benefit messaging and branding. But today, it’s not at all about what we want to promote, but what customers want to know about and will share. That’s a major change in strategy, and both Matt and Jeff are powerhouses in building marketing strategies rooted in traditional techniques and optimized for today’s trends.”

Wayne Estes was named President and General Manager of Sebring International Raceway.

“We are thrilled to have Wayne Estes take the helm at Sebring,” said Rick Humphrey, Vice President of International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Properties. “His extensive and varied industry experience makes him ideal to lead Sebring into the future.”

Estes joins Sebring after serving on the staff at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for 17 years.

Estes replaces Tres Stephenson, who announced earlier in the year that next season’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida will his final race.

While at Bristol, Estes had many roles, ranging from Communications Director to Vice President of Events. He was previously a Public Relations Manager at Campbell & Co. (now known as Campbell Marketing & Communications), where he handled the Ford Motor Company’s motorsports accounts for NASCAR.

“I am honored to accept this position, especially at such a historic and iconic venue,” stated Estes. “Sebring’s legendary status in motorsports is something I cherish and will enthusiastically uphold. Together with Sebring’s experienced staff, I know we can continue to add many chapters to Sebring’s storied history.”

Sebring hosts the 64th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, March 16-19, 2016. The race will be the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup.