In RACER Mag: Endurance Racing Re-imagined

The world's most user-friendly endurance racing series is coming to the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, Nov. 10-12. The HANKOOK 24H COTA USA will feature a lively mix of GT3, GT4, Cup class and touring cars. The regulations of the International Endurance Series are such that entries from most GT and touring car platforms can readily be accepted, and the end result is a race that will be both highly competitive and good sporting fun at the same time.

That mix of competition and fun is the driving ethos of the event's organizers, the Dutch-based CREVENTIC Company. Highly regarded as the brains behind the very successful HANKOOK 24H DUBAI, which celebrates its 13th edition next January, CREVENTIC has built an exciting portfolio of 12- and 24-hour races across Europe in recent seasons, and COTA represents its rst foray onto American shores.

The race will be run jointly by CREVENTIC and SCCA and will pitch the best of the series' European-based teams against North American squads regularly seen in domestic series. Several U.S. drivers have been stalwarts of the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook, including Charles Putman, Charles Espenlaub and Joe Foster, who've clinched the 2017 championship in the all-Porsche Cup 991class. For COTA, Tracy Krohn is among the participants.

GT3 cars and their close cousins from other classes fall into CREVENTIC's A6 category, which is further subdivided into Pro and Am groups. Balance of Performance is achieved through the use of bracket lap times, differing fuel allotments and other measures to keep the categories as close and exciting as possible.

The SP2 class typically caters to silhouette specials and Cup cars running in a more unbridled con guration. SP3 mostly includes recent-spec GT4 cars, such as the Porsche Cayman, Ginetta G55 and Lotus Evora. BMW M3s, Hondas and Renaults are among the medium and smaller touring cars common at European rounds. Look for everything from Minis to Mustangs when the series heads to the Lone Star State.

Additionally, a very popular class is the new and exciting TCR category.

Hankook is the series’ tire supplier and it will provide extensive trackside service. The HANKOOK 24H COTA USA will provide a great intro for American teams into this unique form of endurance racing.

Among the interesting features at CREVENTIC events is the use of a common fuel depot. Pit stops are thus segregated into the service and driver change routine at the pits, with fueling done at one end of pit row. Most cars can easily be converted from dry rig to pistol grip systems and this adds an extra layer of both safety and strategy.

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Get the full version of this story in the 2017 Formula 1 Issue of RACER magazine, on sale now.

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