Grand Am will be adding a new class to its Rolex Sports car series for 2013: the GX class will feature cars using alternative power systems and fuels, including diesel, electricity, gas/electric hybrids.
Grand Am said in a press statement that the series caught the interest of several manufacturers who wanted a place to showcase their latest vehicles, many of which featured small turbocharged engines and hybrid propulsion. No existing series offered sufficient exposure and open enough rules to run these cars, so Grand Am decided to get creative.
“A number of OEMs have expressed their desire to field cars that wouldn’t fit within our current two-class structure, so it makes good sense for us to find a way to accommodate those desires and in the process make something that’s already great—the Rolex Series—even better,” said Grand-Am President and CEO Ed Bennett on the series website.
“When there are manufacturers looking to compete, we need to find a model that works to include them in the Rolex Series. It’s good for the fans, providing another whole group of exciting cars they can relate to. And the fact that the GX class will get to debut at the Rolex 24 just adds to the anticipation and excitement.”
The rules for the new class are still being worked out. There is no word on specifically which cars will be eligible, or what range of powerplants, not how the new class will compare in performance to the existing classes.
The new class will run alongside the existing Daytona Prototype and Grand Touring classes in Rolex events starting with the season-opening 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
