Rémy Brouard sends shockwaves with his departure from the ACO

In a surprise move, and after the Asian Le Mans Series 2013 calendar was set in stone, Rémy Brouard handed the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) his resignation. The Frenchman’s last day will be October 31st. In 2008, Brouard was named the ACO General Manager; earlier this year in he was assigned to head up the development of worldwide events with the focus on Asia.

After spending four years with the French organization, the news comes as a shock. Brouard was the driving force behind the formation of the Asian series. His role has taken him to China, South Korea, Indonesia and Japan over the past months.

It was not an easy task to secure venues and potential teams. The Asian market is critical due to its economic potential and as the International Development Manager for the ACO; Brouard completed the first steps needed for the series. However, the Frenchman had already opened the doors in 2009 with the Asian Le Mans Series double-header in Okayama, Japan.

In early October, Brouard was pleased to announce that South Korea would host a race, and on a brand new track. The event will be held in the Inje region where the Autopia circuit is currently being built. “By programming this race in South Korea we’re also looking at the possibility of giving the start in the late afternoon between 17h00 and 20h00 to have a nighttime finish, one of the strong points of the Le Mans label events, so that we can have a podium ceremony at night and then a great Spirit of Le Mans evening,” he said.

The series will also race at Zhuhai, Shanghai, Ordos, Fuji and Sentul.

The ACO’s General Manager Frédéric Lénart will now take on the extra responsibility of the overseeing the new Asian series for now.