Sebring - In the limelight of the season opener for the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, long-time series sponsors Yokohama and BBS of America announced today the continuance of contingency awards for the 2013 season. Competitors will be rewarded for showing speed and spirited driving during this ninth year of series competition, earning shots at the Yokohama Hard Charger Award and the BBS Pole Award.
During the 2012 rounds of competition, drivers from more than five different teams earned The Yokohama Hard Charger Award for advancing their Porsche GT3 Cup cars the most positions in class during races. In 2013, racers showing the best on-track efforts to move to the front of the field will again win a set of Yokohama's ADVAN ENV-R2 racing tires for use on their 911 cars.
"Yokohama is proud to continue as a partner of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama," said Duane Sampson, motorsports manager for Yokohama Tire Corporation. "The Hard Charger Award is given to demonstrate a driver's ability to leverage the technology of the tire to his/her advantage and maximize speed during racing conditions."
A season-ending Yokohama Hard Charger Award will also be presented to the driver who advanced the most positions in both Platinum and Gold classes during the 2013 season. 2012 saw Michael Mills of Effort Racing take the Platinum Cup award, while David Calvert-Jones from Competition Motorsports landed the Gold Cup award.
Wheel supplier BBS of America has been a partner of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge since its inception in 2005. BBS will validate that history by extending their sponsorship of the BBS Pole Award for the 2013 season. Their legacy is second only to Porsche Motorsports in longevity. The Pole Award tradition is representative of BBS of America's continued pursuit of competitive excellence supported by their leading edge technology.
The fastest qualifying lap recorded on event weekends by a competitor in each of the two classes will be awarded a BBS certificate toward the purchase of BBS products.
"BBS has a tradition of supporting excellence and is a long-time partner of IMSA and Porsche Motorsport," said BBS of America President John Slagle. "We will continue to enjoy being a part of the racing competition and in qualifying rounds where the competitors must push themselves to find the overall speed to win the BBS Pole Award."
BBS Pole Award winners also earn points toward the year-end grand prize of a BBS wheel table with the driver's name etched in the glass, or a certificate toward the purchase of any BBS product. 2012 winners were Wright Motorsports' driver Sean Johnston in the Platinum Cup and Angel Benitez Jr. from NGT Motorsport.
The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama features semi-professional drivers in head-to-head competition in the largest single-make series in North America. Powered by one of the world's most successful race cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, the multi-class structure of the series provides fertile ground for drivers seeking to ascend to the top levels of GT competition worldwide.
IMSA Development Series Director Steven Sewell is honored by the continued support of such strong, long-standing series partners.
"Both BBS and Yokohama are strong supporters of IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge competition," said Sewell. "We are honored to have both partners continue their support of our competitors for the 2013 season. Having such quality partners is key to the continued growth of our series."
Presentations of the BBS Pole Award and The Yokohama Hard Charger Award will take place during the post-race podium ceremonies beginning with this weekend's celebrations at the 61st Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh From Florida.
Photo: Jordan Lenssen
