Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. plans to join the ranks of professional sports car racing in the United States by entering the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2005.
The company is currently talking with GT and prototype teams and expects to select a team and begin testing in January.
"We have been involved in amateur road racing in the U.S. for a dozen years," says Kumho Brand Manager Rick Brennan. "We’ve enjoyed success and have learned a great deal and are ready to enter a professional series."
The American Le Mans Series appeals to Kumho for a number of reasons, according to Brennan. "ALMS is the only professional road racing series in the U.S. that promotes tire competition, and that´s important to us.
"We don´t want to compete against ourselves in a spec tire series because that doesn’t prove how good our tires are. We want to showcase the performance of our tires by competing against -- and beating -- other tire companies."
For more information on the American Le Mans Series, visit www.americanlemans.com.
