FA: IMSA to sanction '08 events.

Officials from the International Motor Sports Association [IMSA] have announced that the body has agreed to sanction Atlantic Championship events left in limbo by the reunification of US open-wheel racing in 2008.

The announcement forms a key component of the 35th anniversary season for the Atlantic series, which continued to operate despite the loss of previous sanctioning body Champ Car following its liquidation and the merger with the Indy Racing League in a strengthened IndyCar Series at the start of the season.

While the championship will continue to be owned by former Champ Car heavy-hitters Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, and overseen by long-time president Vicki O'Connor and her staff, it will now run under IMSA rules and code, which establishes and oversees event, participant and safety parameters and conduct, as well as governing rules for each of its sanctioned series. The sanction takes immediate effect and will be in place for the next round of the Atlantic Championship, this weekend, at Mont-Tremblant.

"After a lengthy period of negotiations, we are delighted to announce that IMSA will now be the sanctioning body for the Atlantic Championship," O'Connor confirmed, "As a road racing championship in North America, it certainly makes sense to align Atlantic with North America's premier road racing sanctioning organisation. Atlantic has some previous history with IMSA and - in our 35th anniversary season - we are excited to begin a new chapter with IMSA."

IMSA previously sanctioned Formula Atlantic during the 1976 season, when the US championship was run alongside the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs-sanctioned Player's Challenge Series. Both were won by future F1 legend Gilles Villeneuve.

Ironically, the 1976 season also featured an event at Road Atlanta, where IMSA is now based. The Georgia facility will play host to this year's Atlantic season finale on the same weekend as the ALMS' Petit Le Mans event.

"IMSA is extremely proud to extend its sanction to the Atlantic Championship," said chief operating officer Tim Mayer, "Over the past four decades, the Atlantic Championship has produced some of the world's greatest race car drivers, including Formula One world champions, IndyCar champions and sportscar champions.

"The series becomes part of a logical progression of championships sanctioned by IMSA, including the Formula BMW Americas and Star Mazda. Whether a driver's goals lie in open wheel, stock car or sportscar racing, the IMSA family of sanctioned series provides a solid foundation, and we believe that the Atlantic Championship provides a great basis for professional drivers. The series is superbly managed and it offers a great car, engine and tyre package - if proof were needed we can simply point to 2006 series champion Simon Pagenaud's recent success in the American Le Mans Series and his great performance at Le Mans."