Nascar executives are discussing expansion plans in the Middle East and India, according to Sports Business Journal (SBJ).
(Un)confirmed:
- Expansion plans would likely be similar to the series launched in Brazil last year
- There are hopes of a Cup Series being added in Montreal, Canada, by next year
- Nascar also wants additional OEMs to show interest in joining the series
Context: Nascar’s Garage 56 entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans means the eyes of the world are now on the stock car racing series, so series executives want to ensure they maximise this platform. SBJ reports that the Le Mans entry garnered 18.6 million views across videos on short-form content platform TikTok.
BlackBook Motorsport exclusively revealed that Nascar was prioritising international development following its outing at the iconic endurance race, with the potential for expansion going as far as staging Cup Series races in Europe.
Comment: John Doonan, IMSA president, told SBJ: “Maybe another OEM would see the reaction of the audience and see Nascar as a worthy investment for their marketing programmes [adding to the existing manufacturers of Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota].”
Coming next: While any developments are likely a while away from coming to fruition, SBJ reports that the success of the Le Mans entry has endeared the series to international partners, even advancing some of the talks currently taking place with countries in the Middle East and India.