2011 ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA ATTRACTS LARGEST CROWD IN GRAND AM'S HISTORY

GRAND-AM Road Racing in the USA has closed its most successful season ever with increased attendance by fans; wider broadcast coverage; closer racing; and larger grids, with plenty of new plans for 2012.

With the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona® taking place on 27th - 29th January, on the back of attracting the largest crowd ever to last year's event, it is likely to start GRAND-AM's year with a real bang.  The fast-growing series has attracted new cars, new manufacturers and new sponsors and is looking strong for 2012.

SPEED TV broadcasts - the 2011 Rolex 24 averaged 305,000 viewers and reached 245,000 households for each event - a 12% increase over 2010.  The vital 18-24 year old audience increased over 40% during the year.  The Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge showed substantial increases on Speed TV, with the Birmingham, Alabama event attracting the largest audience of the season with 380,000 viewers tuning in.

GRAND-AM fans are loyal, with nearly 95% of them, who attended a race, saying they would return the next year - the result of full grids and really close racing.

GRAND-AM race broadcasts are aired live on SeriousXM and MRN, and increased its cumulative audience by 240% over the previous year - an outstanding increase.