Tire Manufacturer To Increase Commitment, Activation of Single-Make Series

Daytona Beach, Florida - The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Yokohama Tire Corporation have reached a multi-year agreement to extend their partnership, with Yokohama continuing as the official tire provider and series sponsor for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama.

To further the growth of the series, Yokohama will build on its existing commitment and activation both onsite and through media channels. The IMSA-sanctioned single-make series is one of Porsche's 20 Cup Challenge series in the world.

Yokohama has served as the marketing and technical partner for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama since 2009.

"Yokohama has been an essential partner in the growth of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama for the last seven seasons," said Randy Hembrey, IMSA senior series manager, Development & Single-Make Series. "We're thrilled to continue that beneficial relationship and work together, along with Porsche, to build an even more attractive platform for semi-professional and aspiring professional drivers to compete in a high-quality series at some of the most iconic sports car events in North America."

Highlights of Yokohama's activation and marketing of the series will include:

- Continuation of series contingency awards, including the Yokohama Hard Charger Award

- Development of a new team and driver hospitality area at selected events

- Continued involvement in the live streaming video and national television broadcasts at events contested in conjunction with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

- Media activation, including the continuation of a national print advertising campaign

"Our relationship with IMSA and Porsche in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama has been an essential cornerstone of our motorsports marketing initiative for North America and gives Yokohama the opportunity to develop technology that transfers directly to our street tires," said Duane Sampson, motorsport manager at Yokohama Tire Corporation. "Our increased commitment to this series and its stakeholders is a reflection of the effectiveness of this partnership."

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama will enter its 12th season in 2016, with intense, exciting competition over 16 rounds for semi-professional and aspiring professional drivers in the world's most produced race car, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

"We are pleased this strong relationship with Yokohama will continue in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama," said Jens Walther, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America. "This long-term, mutually beneficial effort has helped fulfill the initial vision of this series, becoming a remarkable development tool for our customer teams, experienced drivers and the young drivers we work with to cultivate."

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company's complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama's broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama is in its 11th season in 2015 as one of Porsche's 20 single-make Cup Challenge series in the world. The series produces intense, exciting competition for semi-professional and aspiring professional drivers in the world's most produced and iconic race car, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Racing is divided into two classes - Platinum Cup, featuring the 2014 and 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, which is based on the current seventh, and current, generation of the street car, and Gold Cup, which is comprised of the previous iteration (model years 2010-2013) of the race car. A Masters Championship also is conducted in Platinum and Gold classes. Each class is awarded with its own podium at the end of every race and individual champion at the end of every season. Points are awarded by finish in class.

For more information about Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, visit www.imsa.com, follow @IMSA on Twitter or IMSA on Facebook.

About IMSA

The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 with a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America, which will become the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2016. IMSA also sanctions the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda, as well as four single-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA - a company within the NASCAR Holdings group - is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected TUDOR Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, visit www.IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/UnitedSportsCar or www.facebook.com/UnitedSportsCar.