Monterey, CA. May 11, 2012– BBS America is continuing their history and heritage with IMSA and the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama for the 2012 season by extending their sponsorship of the BBS Pole Award. 

A partner of IMSA since the Development Series’ inception, BBS has played no small role within the GT3 Cup Challenge program, second only to Porsche Motorsports in longevity and support.  The Pole Award tradition carries with it BBS America’s drive to develop excellence and leading edge technology. 

The fastest qualifying lap recorded by a competitor in both the Gold Cup and Platinum Cup classes in each race will be awarded a BBS certificate toward the purchase of any BBS product (lap speeds in the first race of the weekend determine the positions for the second race).

The Top 10 qualifiers 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.

BBS of America President John Slagle is proud to continue their on-going support of IMSA and the GT3 Cup Challenge series this season. 

“Along with our friends at Porsche, we are staying the course to ensure that BBS of America is cornerstone for the Series’ growth and development.  Our goal is to utilize our leading edge technology to benefit IMSA in an effort to increase competition and support our participating teams and drivers.  We enjoy our strong partnership with the Series and its constituents and look forward to continued growth and stronger competition in 2012.”

IMSA Development Series Director Steven Sewell is honored by the continuing support of such a strong Series partner. 

“BBS has a long-standing tradition of supporting IMSA sports car racing, and the BBS Pole Award program for the GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama is representative of this ongoing commitment. We are honored that quality partners such as BBS continue to recognize the importance of our ultra-competitive IMSA Development Series programs.”

The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama features semi-professional drivers racing head to head 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 teaches drivers essential skills for an eventual career in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.

The series is comprised of two classes; the Platinum Cup, featuring the more powerful 2012 - 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, and the Gold Cup, which includes 2005½ - 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. 

The award presentations will take place during the post race podium ceremonies following both race one and race two of the Series’ double header this weekend and will be applied retroactively to the start of the 2012 Season.

Drivers to retroactively receive these awards are Tim McKenzie and Kelly-Moss Motorsports for the Platinum Class, and Angel Benitez Jr. with Ansa Motorsports representing Gold, for their performances at Sebring International Raceway. Receiving the awards from the Utah Grand Prix are Madison Snow with Snow Racing/Wright Motorsports in Platinum and Angel Benitez Jr., once again representing Gold.

IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama:

The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama is one of three official Development Series sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). It is also the largest one-make series in North America. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama produces intense, exciting competition for semi-professional drivers alongside some of the most promising career-minded GT drivers in one of the world’s most successful and iconic race cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and on some of North America’s most hallowed road racing circuits.

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.

About Yokohama Tire Corporation:

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes the all-new AVID® Ascend™ – the first mass-market tire using Yokohama’s breakthrough orange oil technology – as  well as tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.