WeatherTech to serve as title sponsor for racing series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The International Motor Sports Association has announced that WeatherTech will be the new title sponsor for its top series on Saturday night. The series also announced a 10-year extension of partnerships with Tudor Watch USA and Rolex Watch USA and unveiled 2016 schedules for its top two series.

WeatherTech, part of MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd., has signed a multiyear agreement for IMSA's top series, which now will be called the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, effective Nov. 1.

Tudor Watch USA steps down from entitlement partner to “Official Timepiece of IMSA” in a 10-year extension of its partnership with the sanctioning body.

The entitlement partnership was made by WeatherTech Founder and CEO David MacNeil, and his son, Cooper MacNeil, who drives a Porsche in the series' GT Daytona class.

“I am proud to announce that WeatherTech will become the entitlement partner in 2016 for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” David MacNeil said. “We want this to be the new golden era of sports car racing in America, and I want WeatherTech to be a big part of it.

“WeatherTech is the perfect choice to serve as our new entitlement partner as we further expand the marketing activation and exposure of what now will be known as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” IMSA CEO Ed Bennett added. “David MacNeil's enthusiasm and personal passion for our sport, along with his proven success at growing the WeatherTech brand through brilliant, high-quality manufacturing and aggressive product marketing, will pay dividends for all involved.”

The 2016 WeatherTech Championship schedule will include a total of 12 events and opens with the 54th Rolex 24 at Daytona in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Jan. 30-31. It will be the first event in the new Daytona International Speedway motorsports stadium following the completion of the $400 million Daytona Rising project.

The WeatherTech Championship schedule will be anchored by four Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup events, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in Sebring, Fla., on March 19, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on July 3 and the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., on Oct. 1.

Other WeatherTech Championship events include the Grand Prix of Long Beach (California) on April 16, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., on May 1, Detroit's Belle Isle on June 4, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, on July 10, Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., on July 23, Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., on Aug. 7, VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., on Aug. 21 and Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 17.

The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge will run as companion events to the WeatherTech Championship at all 2016 races except for Long Beach and Detroit.

Weathertech, headquartered in Bolingbrook, Ill., manufactures automotive protection and vehicle accessories.