"We believe the formation of the USCR will only strengthen an already great support series. Our involvement will not be affected," said Duane Sampson, Yokohama manager, motorsports.
Falken Tire Corp. also plans to continue in the USCR's GTLM class with its own team.
Continental Tire also will return in 2014 as title sponsor and exclusive tire supplier of the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, a developmental series for sports cars and sedans currently sanctioned by Grand-Am Road Racing. Starting next year, the CTSCC and USCR will run under International Motor Sports Association sanctioning, resulting from the merger of Grand-Am, IMSA and the ALMS.
Separately, the USCR announced that Rolex S.A.'s Tudor watch brand will be the series title sponsor for the 2014-2018 seasons and disclosed a five-year multimedia rights deal with Fox Sports.
Rolex has been Grand-Am Racing's title sponsor since 2000.
The Tudor USCR organizers have scheduled 12 races for next year, starting Jan. 25-26 with the 52nd running of the 24 Hours of Daytona at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Fla., and concluding Oct. 4 with the 1,000-kilometer Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta near Braselton, Ga.
The schedule includes many of the most iconic tracks in North America, including Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International, Road America, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Long Beach, Calif., and Belle Isle, Mich., street circuits.
The combined series will make its public debut Jan. 3-5, 2014, and the annual "Roar Before The Rolex 24" test sessions at Daytona Speedway, where the organizers are expecting more than 100 cars will turn out for testing.
The schedule includes a four-week break in June to allow eligible teams the opportunity to compete in the 82nd 24 Hours of Le Mans, France, which is set for June 14-15.