A battle of champions that brings together the fastest and the most competitive in the pursuit of glory marks the prestigious Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series. Rolex is recognized the world over as a formidable name in the world of premium watches, however it is the multitude of events that it supports all over the world that has led it to become synonymous with the celebration and pursuit of excellence.

By the end of the 90’s the American sports car racing organization was on its way to complete obliteration. However Rolex came forward to resurrect this dwindling industry and transform it into one of the most respected racing challenges in the world. Now partnering the event for almost a decade now, the rejuvenated race comes forward as the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series. This highly competitive race draws a large number of people and numerous internationally acclaimed racers. A total of 12 different races held all across America comprise the prestigious Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series sponsored by Rolex. The entire event is divided into two seasons that ensures that six of the races are held in the first season while the remaining six are held in the second season. The 10th season illustrious Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series racing event begins with the celebrated and grueling Rolex 24 at Daytona following. The racing season begins and concludes on the racing circuit in Florida. Spread over 13 weekends the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series features an array of races for Daytona Prototype and the GT classes. The Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series will be held at all the venues that were utilized for the 2008 edition of this event barring the Infineon Raceway that is located in Sonoma, California. It will feature a total of three endurance races in addition to 10 sprint events of that cover a total of about 250 miles in distance. The champions of the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series will be honored and awarded at the final racing event that is due to be held on the 10th of October at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

From Mexico City where the series will be held at the historic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez the event moves to the Virginia International Raceway located in Alton. After this the Rolex Series shifts to the Thunderbolt Raceway in Millville, New Jersey and then moves on to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey California. Following this the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen will be held at the Watkins Glen International before moving to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the EMCO Gears Classic. The series then goes on to the Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida and from here it moves to its next location Barber Motorsports Park located in Leeds, Alabama on the 19th of July. It goes on from here to the Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York and then moves forward to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec. The second last race of the prestigious Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series will be held at Miller Motorsports Park located in Tooele in the state of Utah before it finally draws to a close at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.

The Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series presented by Rolex is a celebration of the exceptionally talented and individual skill as well as a platform for incredible opportunity and a chance to realize individualistic aspirations of triumph.

The Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series presented by Rolex is known to be a tough racing event that tests the endurance, determination and the spirit of the racers. Regarded as a formidable racing challenge the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series attracts the most determined racers from all over the world. Rolex the fuel behind this highly prolific event understands that merely having a passion for racing is not enough it is equally important to be able to adapt and conquer daunting conditions. In honor of these racers Rolex consistently lends all its support for the recognition and promotion of these champions. To be a true master of the sport of racing and a world champion one has to be able to comprehend and take into account all the underlying factors that are required to race.

As a spectator racing around the circuit in a continuous loop seems quite easy however, this sport requires tremendous skill, focus and the strength to withstand almost unbearable conditions. To increase their chances of winning and with the constant state of development of the Daytona Prototype racing cars the top speeds have reached incredible new levels. The surge in speed consequently means an increase in the overall temperature of the car. Nowadays the racers do not just have to keep in their purview the competition, control over speed and the wheel but also be prepared to face the sauna like conditions in the cockpit of the racing car. The 850 horsepower engine of the car produces a lot of heat and most of it finds its way into the cabin. Many racers have to be taken to the Daytona Medical Center to get a dose of intravenous fluids in order to replenish their body systems. All the Daytona Prototype cars have engines placed on the rear while most of these cars are fitted with front mounted radiators that cause the extremely hot air to move directly towards the cockpits. However a few rule changes have led to the radiators moving to the sides of the cars. Even though this has led to a drastic reduction of temperature in the cockpit of the Daytona Prototype a few more changes still have to be incorporate in to the system.

The temperature reading inside the cabin of Michael Shank Racing Riley-Ford had reached an unbelievable 116 degrees that equals the temperature of the Mojave Desert. The natural process of development and evolution calls for the lowering of the temperatures inside the cabin and measures have to be taken to introduce air conditioning to allow the racers to focus on the race and not be bothered by the sweltering heat.

The introduction and incorporation of air conditioning in the racing vehicles is not an easy task and many factors have to be taken into account. The Grand-Am officials are have already begun studying the various aspects and collecting data on to taking a decision of introducing the air conditioning system, extracting more air out through the roof vents or feeding the cabin with more fresh air ahead of the radiators.

A decisive action is going to follow through soon but until then the racers have to battle the competitors while fending off the discomfort caused by the surging heat.

A passion that rises from mastering the drivability of the incredibly fast vehicles moves the entire sea of spectators to the rhythm of speed and focus. Rolex the celebrated Swiss brand of luxury watches has been partnering world class sporting events like motor sport racing around the world. Associating with the American organization to revive the motor sport racing in the United States, Rolex collaborated to form the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Over the year the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series has grown exponentially both in size and scope, resurrecting the faltering motor sport racing industry. Now regarded as one of the most prestigious racing events in America, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series draws incredible talent from around the world. This prestigious racing series is divided into two parts and features a total of 12 races. Performance in all of these races adds to the total tally and influences the standings of the race car driver as well as the various teams. The rise in the number of spectators along with the increased media coverage was possible only due to the unhindered support of Rolex as the principal partner. The 2009 edition of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 saw a spectacular display of talent and racing skills at the racing circuit.

The second half of the season will begin on Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway as throngs of people start to congregate at the circuit. Even though Chip Ganassi Racing team had a slow start in the first half of the season, the champion drivers Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas drove the Daytona Prototypes to lead the rankings with an 11 point lead over the others. Taking the lead by winning their first race at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen that was held at the Watkins Glen International in the beginning of July, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas proved their ability by out rightly winning the EMCO Gears Classic that was held two weeks later at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Highly competitive rivals Scott Pruett and Alex Gurney had one of the closest races last season at the Brumos Porsche 250 and ended in a spectacular photo finish.

In this extremely competitive season apart from the drenched race at the Verizon Wireless 250, five of the six races finished before 10 seconds. An incredible four out of the total six Daytona Prototype finishes have been under a second. Even the grueling Rolex 24 races saw this level of competition with a record four cars finishing the final lap. Memo Rojas with 2 wins and Scott Pruett with one account for half of the total wins in the first half of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. The high level of competition and skill at the racing event has led to increased display of incredible talent and has led to many alterations in the statistical log of the races. In the constructors category Porsche is leading the pack with a total of 60 wins, 76 poles and 248 podiums.

With such incredible numbers hitting the circuit every time this edition of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series promises to be a riveting event. As the second half of the prestigious season hits the tracks this Saturday, spectators are already anticipating some brilliant maneuvers and exceptional drivability that is bound to once again change the history of motor racing.