BRASELTON, Ga. (Jan. 13, 2009) — Racing tire distributor Frisby Performance Tire of South Beloit, Ill., will be the presenting sponsor this year of the IMSA Lites racing series, according to a deal reached recently with the series' sanctioning body, the International Motor Sports Association.
Frisby Performance Tire, which handles race tire distribution and service for Hankook- and Avon-brand race tires and is a service provider for Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., has been the service provider for the IMSA Lites series since the series' debut in 2006.
Terms of the deal, which calls for the series to be called IMSA Lites presented by Frisby Performance Tire, were not disclosed. Frisby Tire takes over the presenting sponsor status from Hankook Tire America Corp., which continues as the series' spec tire supplier.
IMSA Lites is a three-class development championship featuring single-seat prototype racing cars powered by three different engine options: 2.3-liter, four-cylinder Mazda MP2 or MZR engines or 1-liter Kawasaki ZX race motor. The series' spec tire is Hankook's F200 racing slick.
The 2009 IMSA Lites championship will comprise seven double-event weekends — six supporting the American Le Mans Series events — starting March 14-15 at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway in conjunction with the ALMS' Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
“IMSA Lites plays a critical and important role within IMSA as it cultivates and prepares prototype competitors and teams for a future in the American Le Mans Series," said Tim Mayer, chief operating officer for IMSA. “IMSA and each of its sanctioned championships are committed to growing and developing road racing talent for today and the future.”
In addition to the IMSA Lites connection, Frisby will be Hankook's service provider for the Pacific F2000 Championship, a series of a dozen or so races in the Western U.S. for Formula Ford 2000 cars. Frisby has an affiliated company, Sierra Tire, in Las Vegas.