Grand Am has signed a deal with Motors TV to air Rolex Sports Car Series races throughout Europe, as part of an international distribution program that will bring North American road racing to five continents.
The distribution plan, announced Jan. 10 on the Grand Am website, features a multi-year deal with French—based Motors TV, which will bring the entire Rolex season to 21.2 million homes in 38 countries in five languages.
“With an unprecedented number of European manufacturers and competitors participating in the 2012 Rolex Series, we believe there has never been stronger interest in our series from European race fans,” said Grand Am CEO Ed Bennett on the website. “This is great timing—and a great addition to our television coverage lineup.”
“We’re delighted to welcome Grand Am as one of the flagships of our 2012 lineup,” said Motors TV Head of Programming & Acquisitions Frédéric Viger. “The series has been growing over the years, the European interest consistently building up, and we believe the series now gets the coverage it deserves this side of the ocean.”
Motors TV covers some 20 major racing series and dozens of regional series around the world, including the American Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, World Rally Championship, Formula 1, F2, F3, V8 Supercars, numerous GT series, drag racing, and road and off-road motorcycle racing, broadcasting in English, French, German, Dutch, and Greek.
Plan Brings Rolex to the World
The rest of the international distribution plan announced Grand Am includes broadcast partners in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the Middle East.
Speed Latin America and will broadcast the entire 13-race season to 42 nations.
Speed Australia and Network Ten will air the entire season in Australia.
ESPN2 Caribbean and ESPN Dos will broadcast highlight shows of every race to 14 countries each.
ESPN2 Africa will show highlights in 57 countries.
ESPN Star will broadcast highlights to 19 Asian nations.
In the U.S. the Grand Am Rolex Series airs live on Speed, which also carries tape-delayed Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series events.
