Braselton, GA, (Oct. 31, 2012)-- The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama Series announced today that it will expand its ninth year of competition to include three exciting new venues in 2013, boosting the competition to 16 rounds on eight race weekends at several of the most famous race tracks in the United States and Canada.

"We try very hard to listen to the desires and priorities of our competitors, and for 2013 we’ve assembled what we believe to be the most diverse, well balanced IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama calendar ever," said Steven Sewell, IMSA Development Series Director. "It features three new, popular venues and a summer of evenly spaced events that should make for an exciting Championship season."

The GT3 Cup Challenge Porsche 911 cars will race in conjunction with the GRAND-AM Road Racing series for the first time at Watkins Glen International June 27-30 as a preview to the historic combined ALMS and GRAND-AM weekend at Road America Aug. 8-11. The race weekend at Watkins Glen International will feature the 100th race in IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge competition since its debut in 2005.

The Road America weekend in August promises insight into 2014, with both ALMS and GRAND-AM competing with GT3 Cup Challenge on the same weekend. ALMS and GRAND-AM recently announced a merger that will culminate with unification for the 2014 season.

On August 31st, the series will make its first-ever temporary street circuit appearance in the shadows of the famous Camden Yards at the popular Grand Prix of Baltimore. A month later the GT3 Cup Challenge competitors will join the full complement of IMSA series for the inaugural American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón race at the Circuit of the Americas, which was built to host the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

A number of favorites of both fans and competitors remain on the schedule as GT3 Cup Challenge competitors will join the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón at Sebring International Raceway March 16, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca May 11, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park July 21, and Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda Oct. 19.

Jens Walther, President of Porsche Motorsport North America, Inc. is looking forward to a new year of competition with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. 

"With the exciting sprint races that this year’s IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama created, along with a crop of new drivers and interesting new venues for 2013, Porsche Motorsport is pleased to be a part of this important IMSA development series," Walther said.

The official 2013 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama calendar kicks off with testing on the demanding Sebring International Raceway circuit on Feb 5.

To learn more about the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, visit imsachallenge.com on the Web, http://www.facebook.com/gt3cupchallenge on Facebook and @GT3Challenge on Twitter.

2013 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama Schedule:

Feb. 5      Sebring International Raceway Test     Sebring, Fla.
Mar. 16    Sebring International Raceway             Sebring, Fla.
May 11    Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca             Monterey, Calif.
June 29   Watkins Glen International                    Watkins Glen, N.Y.
July 21    Canadian Tire Motorsport Park             Bowmanville, Ontario
Aug. 11   Road America                                           Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Aug. 31   Grand Prix of Baltimore Circuit              Baltimore, Md.
Sep. 21   Circuit of the Americas                            Austin, Texas
Oct. 19    Road Atlanta                                             Braselton,Ga.