Series announcement press release

In a major motor sports announcement, initial details of next year's North American Touring Car Championship have been outlined.

The new series which will be run to the FIA's Super Touring technical regulations (as proven in the British Touring Car Championship and elsewhere throughout the world) will be endorsed by the two most prominent bodies in American motor sport: IndyCar and the SCCA.

An initial schedule of seven events (14 races) has also been announced with three additional events to be revealed in the near future. The high profile calendar includes prestigious dates alongside both of North America' 5 two premier attractions IndyCar and NASCAR.

Commenting on the new NATCC, Nick Craw president of the SCCA said: "`We believe that the NATCC brings a significant new dimension to North American motorsport and will help to raise the profile and exposure of road racing to the benefit of everyone.

nil ten rounds will be televised nation-wide with two events (at present) also being shown live on ABC's `Wide World of Sports' . These two events are Toronto and Mid-Ohio where double events will run for a live 90 minute Saturday afternoon broadcast.

At the official announcement NATCC vice-president Allan Cow said: "`The future for Super Touring has never looked better... North America is the world's biggest and most influential car market and the impact of the series should not be underestimated.

"`I'm tremendously proud of what has been achieved through putting this fantastic programme together and the years to come with the integration of North America, for the first time ever, into international touring car racing."

1996 NATCC dates: May 18-20, Charlotte (NASCAR); May 25-27, Lime Rock (SCCA Trans-Am); June 7-9 Detroit GP (IndyCar); July 12-14 Toronto (IndyCar); August 2-4, Trois Rivieres (SCCA Trans-Am); August 9-11, Mid-Ohio (Indy Car); September 6-8, Laguna Seca (IndyCar). Three further events will be announced shortly including at least one additional IndyCar date which is confirmed but, for commercial reasons, can not be unveiled at this time. -- Stephen M Baines

"[The Autosport sticker] started to peel off in the middle of Eau Rouge and it distracted me. In fact it was the first thing to hit the barrier" Tiff Needell - Jaguar XJR-15 Challenge - Interview with Autosport

F1/TouringCars http://turnpike.net/metro/vollans/index.html