Series broadcast news 2011-01-19

GRAND-AM Announces 2011 Television Schedules on SPEED
Eight Rolex Sports Car Series Races To Be Broadcast Live

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2011)- GRAND-AM Road Racing announced its 2011 television coverage schedule today, a lineup highlighted by eight live SPEED broadcasts of the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, starting with next weekend's history-rich endurance classic, the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The Rolex 24, set for its 49th running at Daytona International Speedway's legendary 3.56-mile road course, will be showcased with 14 hours of live coverage in two comprehensive seven-hour blocks - 3-10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Jan. 29 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Jan. 30. SPEED, the nation's first and only cable television network dedicated to motorsports, is now available in more than 82 million homes throughout North America.

Other Rolex Series races to be aired live in 2011 include the Grand Prix of Miami from Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 5; Lime Rock Park's Memorial Day Classic on May 30; Watkins Glen International's events on June 4 and Aug. 13; Road America on June 25; New Jersey Motorsports Park on July 24; and the season finale, from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, on Sept. 17. Races to be aired on a delayed basis: Barber Motorsports Park on April 10; Virginia International Raceway on May 14; Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on July 10; and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 20.

In addition, nine races in GRAND-AM's highly competitive Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will be aired on a delayed basis, beginning with the season-opening GRAND-AM 200 at Daytona International Speedway, to be shown on SPEED at 3 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 5, with nearly 80 cars expected to enter.

"Our partnership with SPEED will deliver to our fans an impressive total of 64-and-a-half hours of GRAND-AM television coverage this season; included in that total will be 35 hours of live Rolex Series coverage," said GRAND-AM Vice President Kevin Hindson.

"When you consider the full race coverage, combined with the various shoulder GRAND-AM programming on tap for the season, it's clear that we have assembled a TV package that is relevant to the fans and will greatly benefit our sport."

Added SPEED President Hunter Nickel: "[It's] the absolute best live television package for fans of American sports car racing. And kicking things off with 14 hours of live coverage from Daytona is a great way to get the 2011 season started."

SPEED's broadcast team returns intact from last season, with Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish and Dorsey Schroeder in the booth; and Brian Till and Chris Neville working pit road. For the Rolex 24, that team will be joined by David Hobbs, Bob Varsha, Justin Bell and Jamie Howe.

-source: grand-am