DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (June 8, 2017) - Officials from IMSA and Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) today announced that IMSA will return as presenting sponsor of HSR's 2017 Classic 24 Hour at Daytona, slated for November 11 - 12 at Daytona International Speedway.
Debuting in 2014, the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA will feature six groups of historic and vintage sports cars racing on the high banks and challenging turns of Daytona International Speedway's 3.56-mile road course. The event weekend is set to take place on November 9 - 12, 2017, with practice, qualifying and Daytona Historics HSR Sprint and Enduro races preceding the Classic 24 Hour, which starts at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 11.
IMSA previously served as presenting sponsor for the event in 2015. The race shines a light on many vehicles from throughout IMSA's own history with Daytona International Speedway, which dates to when some of the race cars featured in HSR's Classic 24 Hour were the stars of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
'Our long history is a source of great pride for all of us at IMSA,' said IMSA President Scott Atherton. 'Over the years, IMSA races have featured some of the most impressive and recognizable race cars in the world that have left an indelible mark with race fans. It is an honor for IMSA to partner with HSR and lend its support for the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to see many of these great race cars on the high banks once again this fall.'
With the alliance, HSR will receive additional marketing support from IMSA's website, social media channels, and other resources leading up to the event, including 'Throwback Thursday' features and other published content about the participating cars.
'It's truly an honor to have IMSA return to the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona as our presenting sponsor for the third edition of what has quickly become one of the premier events on the international vintage and historic racing calendar,' said David Hinton, HSR President. 'The Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA pays tribute to not only the famous 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway but also celebrates the nearly 50-year history of IMSA. As the current and a past sanctioning body of the 24-hour race at Daytona, IMSA has been at the center of the race's success and prestige at various important points in its half century of history.'
The returning support of IMSA for the 2017 Classic 24 Hour at Daytona takes on added significance with the legendary machines of the IMSA GTP era, and their international Group C counterparts, having been named the featured run group of this year's race.
The premier sports cars on the planet for the majority of the 1980s through the early 1990s, the GTP/Group C class will have the honor of starting the HSR Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA when the green flag waves at 1 p.m. ET on November 11.
'The third edition of the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA will have the legendary race cars of the IMSA GTP era and Group C as the featured run group. These amazing GTP machines represent what many considered the last century's golden era of sports car racing, and we look forward to joining IMSA in paying tribute to the race cars that are such an important part of their history and motorsports DNA.'
Spectator tickets for the 2017 Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA are available at http://www.hsrtickets.com and those interested in participating in the event can apply at http://classic24hour.com/entryforms.html
About HSR: Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from the past. As a 'time machine' of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world's most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR's website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter and Instagram at @HSR_race. A dedicated website for the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA is available at www.Classic24hour.com.
About IMSA: The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda, as well as four one-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA - a company within the NASCAR family - is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, visit www.IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/IMSA or www.facebook.com/IMSA.