Michelin to Sponsor “Michelin GT Challenge” at VIR

April 29, 2016

Global Technology Leader Becomes Title Sponsor for IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Race at VIR

Danville, Va. – April 19, 2016 – Michelin North America and VIRginia International Raceway today announced that Michelin will become the title sponsor for the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, the track’s largest race of the year. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race takes place as the culmination of a premier racing weekend at VIR, Aug. 26 to 28.

“VIR has become one of the top racing venues in the country,” said Sarah Robinson, Motorsports Marketing Manager at Michelin North America. “Fans enjoy seeing production-based cars from the world’s top manufacturers race on one of the most challenging circuits.”

“VIR isn’t just a place we go racing but we also utilize the track to test street tires,” said Robinson.  “Collaborating with VIR is a great fit for a GT-only race weekend. The car clubs and fans from across the region all gather here for the fierce competition and the opportunity to see an incredibly diverse field of top drivers and teams compete in the WeatherTech Championship.”

VIR is the only track in the greater Mid-Atlantic area and one of only 12 tracks nationwide selected to host the WeatherTech Championship in 2016.  The race weekend will feature GT Le Mans and GT Daytona classes, serving as the only race of the year featuring only GT cars.

The GTLM class is the only class featuring open tire competition and is widely recognized as the most competitive in the world. Based upon manufacturers’ top production models, the class features factory-backed teams from Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari, Ford and BMW, all of which have chosen Michelin as their technical partner.

The GTD class, which features a Pro-Am format, includes – Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Dodge, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus and Porsche.

“The partnership with Michelin is a perfect match with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at VIR,” said Connie Nyholm, owner and CEO of VIR. “This is going to be a weekend of premier class racing. The GTLM teams can pick their own tires, and all of those teams choose to run on Michelin. The brand offers trusted, exceptional tires with a dedication to both innovation and sustainability. We look forward to welcoming back our Michelin friends for a fun, family-friendly race weekend done right with southern hospitality.”

Fan festivities during the race weekend include testing, qualifying, car corrals, driver autograph sessions, team chats and technology talks. Guests can also take advantage of VIR’s many onsite amenities, like karting, off-roading and shooting sports. Advanced tickets for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship weekend at VIR are available online starting at $40 for Friday-only and go up to $75 for a three-day ticket. All purchases are an additional $10 at the gate. Children 16 and under are admitted free of charge with a paying adult. To purchase advanced tickets or to learn more, visit www.virnow.com.

About Michelin North America

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, Earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,650 and operates 20 major manufacturing plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

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