GT racing series the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup will expand from three to seven events in 2011, its second season, with races in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Autoweekracing.com reports that the “12 hours of Sebring” race, currently part of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), is being added to the series, and will be the opening round. The 24 hours of Le Mans, the most famous race in the GT class of racing, will also become part of the series, and will its centrepiece.

ALMS boss Scott Atherton was among the figures in the motor racing industry who welcomed the changes.

"There was never any hesitation on our part to endorse Sebring as the obvious choice for the second American round of the Intercontinental Cup," he said. "We applaud the decision to include the race on what is a spectacular schedule. It is incredible news that the Le Mans 24 Hours is part of it, because in the past the ACO has been so defensive about [keeping Le Mans as its own event] in the past."