5/17/2012
Renewal continues partnership originally forged in 1994
LEXINGTON, OHIO (May 17, 2012) – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, The Mid-Ohio School and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced a three-year extension of the parties’ existing partnership.
Extending its position as the Official Vehicle of both Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, Honda’s renewal will move the partnership into its third decade, making it one of the longest-running relationships in the industry.
“We are extremely grateful that American Honda has renewed its partnership with both Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, as it is an integral part of Mid-Ohio’s business and our identity,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “With Honda being one of Ohio’s largest employers, we are very proud to have its brand so closely aligned with us and look forward to continuing to grow our long standing relationship.”
Honda will continue as the title sponsor of The Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, as well as serve as the vehicle of choice throughout the extensive curricula offered by The Mid-Ohio School. The manufacturer’s commitment positions both Honda, and its luxury offering, Acura, at the heart of Mid-Ohio’s operations. The extensive fleet includes Acura TSXs, Honda Civic EX Coupes, Honda Odysseys, Honda Ridgelines and Honda Pilots.
With Honda being one of the largest employers in the Buckeye State, the relationship touches fans and Honda associates alike. The peak weekend on the Mid-Ohio schedule is the largest motorsports event in Ohio, and includes the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge and The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on August 3-5. This co-headlined event makes Mid-Ohio the only permanent road course where the American Le Mans Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series share a race weekend.
“The American Honda/Mid-Ohio relationship dates to 1994 and stands as one of the longest between a manufacturer and a race track in the automotive industry. It has been an extremely rewarding partnership, not least because of the benefits which Honda associates at our Ohio manufacturing facilities have enjoyed as a result of this relationship. We likewise have an extended and successful partnership with Mid-Ohio owners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, which dates to 1996. We are delighted to extend our relationships with them and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for another three years,” said Michael Accavitti, Vice President of National Marketing Operations for American Honda, Inc.
The Mid-Ohio School provides professional driving and riding instruction to drivers and motorcyclists of all skill levels. The school’s 15 automobile courses include Defensive Driving, High Performance and Racing programs. The motorcycle side features a pair of Performance Track Riding formats. Students enjoy classroom sessions, skill drills, expert private instruction and lapping on the same track that challenges the world’s top racers. In 19 seasons, The Mid-Ohio School has 46,000 graduates, including 14,500 teenagers and 9,000 motorcycle riders.
A comprehensive motorsports facility, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary configurations: a 2.4-mile, 15 turn, and a 2.25- mile, 13-turn circuit. The park-like, 330-acre complex is located in Lexington, Ohio, near Mansfield, 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland. The track has been called the most competitive course in the U.S. and annually hosts a diverse lineup of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. Both the track and the school are owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC.