Endurance racing reimagined

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 first 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 991 class. 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 configuration. 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.

CREVENTIC pioneered the use of the "Code 60" system of race neutralization, which allows for safe incident response without the need for a safety car or pit closures and long wave-around procedures. Due to noise regulations, the race will be run in a split format. While the cars enter into parc ferme overnight, the teams can return to the track refreshed, again creating new opportunities for strategy within a safe environment.

The 24H SERIES powered by Hankook events have become an excellent laboratory for testing new models. Recently, the Mercedes AMG GT4, Renault RS01, Hyundai i30, MARC Cars Australia silhouettes, and a broad array of TCR brands have all had successful endurance racing debuts at the

European and Dubai rounds.

In addition to the main 24-hour race, the COTA weekend will also feature a series of shorter endurance races for prototypes such as LMP3, PC, CN, Radicals, NP01s, older DPs, P57s, and even track-day specials. It's an unmissable and exciting opportunity for teams to get a lot of great track time. There's a free practice session of 90min, two qualifying sessions of an hour, and three races each of a 3-hour duration. The feast of on-track action is divided over two whole days.

GET ON THE GRID!

The spirit of endurance awaits you. State-of-the-art Circuit of The Americas is built to full FIA F1 specs with a very challenging, undulating layout. It's centrally located in Austin, Texas, with good access from both coasts and from the Midwest.

The HANKOOK 24H COTA USA, Nov. 10-12, is a fantastic opportunity for both aspiring and seasoned North American teams and drivers to expand their horizons. Fees are reasonable and there is still plenty of time to enter and for drivers to join some of the existing teams in the series.

For information, such as entry procedures and rider board information, go to www.24hseries.com or contact Peter Freij (freij@creventic.com).