The changing fortunes of the Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series can probably be credited to the steadfast support of Rolex. The celebrated Swiss Brand, Rolex has played a pivotal role in molding the Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series into a world class event. The Rolex Series has become equated with the best racing tournaments in the world. Enabling the drivers to reach for perfection, the coveted Rolex Series is an arena that witnesses some of the most spectacular driving skills in the history of motor sports racing. Every year the spectators line the stands of the Grand-Am Rolex Series waiting anxiously for the champions to roar past in an awesome display of skill. Branching out into all spheres of the media world, the Grand-Am not only receives extensive media coverage but had to launch its own medium for interacting with the increasing number of fans.

The surging popularity of the Rolex Series and the exceeding number of enthusiastic fans has driven the organizing committees to venture out into newer avenues. Right from webcasts to television programs and radio shows the Grand-Am committee is ensuring that the spectators have added opportunities to interact with their favorite racers and learn about other aspects of the series. The Grand-Am Weekly radio show and webcasts feature champion racers who partake in enhancing the fan experience. The most interesting aspect of the Grand-Am Weekly radio show is that it allows the skilled racers to interact directly with the fans and answer their queries regarding every aspect of this eminent sport racing tournament.

This year the champion drivers of the Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona Prototype Burt Frisselle and Brian Frisselle will together feature on the Grand-Am Weekly radio show and webcast along with Acxiom GT champion Kelly Collins. Driving the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara along with team mate Max Angelelli, Brian Frisselle is one of the most well respected racers of the Rolex Series and has many spectacular finishes to his credit. While, Burt Frisselle the rising star in the Rolex Series championships replaced his elder brother, Brian Frisselle to become a part of the AIM Autosport team. Representing the AIM Autosport team that currently stands at the sixth place in the series, Burt Frisselle along with team member Wilkins has three top-five finishes to his name. The other member of the Grand-Am Weekly radio show, Kelly Collins along with team mate Paul Edwards currently stands at the number two spot on the GT standings with five podium finishes to his name.

The highly capable race car drivers that will feature on the radio show ensure that every single fan is allowed to better comprehend the scope and range of the Grand-Am Rolex Series along with the finer aspects of motor sport racing. The extremely interactive radio show gives a better insight into the challenges faced by the drivers while racing along with the requisites that are required to becoming a champion racer. Hitting the air waves every Tuesday the radio show is a rare window into the elements and aspects that form the core of the Grand-Am Rolex Series.

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 mammoth task that tests the limits of human endurance and determination- the Rolex 24 at Daytona is a battle ground that challenges even the most formidable racers. Marking the tradition of endorsing competitive, world class sporting events, Rolex comes back to support the 24 hours of Daytona as its key sponsor. Rolex’s association with American motor sports racing began almost a decade ago and over the years Rolex has fostered stronger ties with the Grand American Road Racing Association. The Rolex 24 at Daytona is a daunting challenge that takes place at the Daytona International Speedway each year. The crowds throng the stands and bellow out the names of their champions in a fervent mix of music and noise. The rush engulfs the entire circuit and with the common objective of breaking the barriers of human endurance the racers get behind the wheels of these breathtaking cars and rev up the engines. A trial of champions, the Rolex 24 brings to the purview the immense tactical skill, strategizing ability and control of the racers. The 2009 version of the Rolex 24 at Daytona was bound to be a thrilling event and had completely exceeded expectations of even the veteran racing car enthusiasts.

In a thrilling victory David Donohue raced his number 58 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley to victory along with his team mates Darren Law, Buddy Rice and Antonio Garcia. This win turned out to be an emotional victory for Mark Donohue as this coincided with his father Mark Donohue’s 40^th anniversary of the victory at the same event in 1969. The ace racer David Donohue whizzed passed the champion racer Juan Pablo Montoya with 39 minutes in hand to win the 47^th edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona on the 25^th of January. David Donohue and the other members of the team clinched the title in a hard fought battle where the competitors where seconds away from each other in the final lap. Stopping TELMEX/Target Chip Ganassi Racing form winning its fourth consecutive premier racing event, Brumos Porsche won its first Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series title. The 2009 event was probably the most riveting race in the history of the Rolex 24 at Daytona with the closest margin of victory along with the most finishers in the victory lap. Juan Pablo Montoya in his number one Lexus Riley pressed David Donohue till the last minute, but the tremendous determination that David Donohue possessed gave him the momentum he needed to drive home to victory. The final four racers completed a record number of 735 laps in an incredible display of skill. Joao Barbosa in the number 59 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley came in third at the Rolex 24.

This incredible race that had Rolex as its key partner saw an amazing turnout as well as extensive media coverage. The 2009 edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona culminated into a crescendo of stunning competition between the most skilled racers in the world. Rolex will be back again next year to support this premier racing event as champion from all over the world come to battle each other in an ultimate pursuit of glory.