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Governor Holcomb Promotes Indiana's Auto and Motorsports Industries in France

Last updated on Saturday, June 17, 2017

(LE MANS, France) - Governor Eric J. Holcomb today attended 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the world’s most prestigious auto races, to meet with global executives in the motorsports and automotive industries and discuss opportunities for future growth in Indiana.

"The Indy 500 is the greatest spectacle in racing, and Le Mans is a close second," said Governor Holcomb. "The world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race brings together global leaders in motorsports and automotive innovation. From these meetings it was clear that Indiana - the Motorsports Capital of the World - continues to be in the pole position for these executives as they consider opportunities for continued business growth."

After arriving in Le Mans, Governor Holcomb met with Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l'Ouset, which organizes and hosts the race. Governor Holcomb and Fillon discussed the many shared bonds between Indiana and Le Mans, as well as innovation driven by the global motorsports industry.

Indiana is globally-recognized as a leader in the motorsports and automotive industries. Motorsports-related businesses operate in all of Indiana's 92 counties, with more than 24,000 motorsports businesses supporting more than 421,000 motorsports-related jobs across Indiana. With more than 1 million cars assembled in Indiana each year, Indiana is home to the second-largest automotive industry in the nation.

At the race, Governor Holcomb also met with executives of global motorsports and automotive companies to discuss their Indiana connections and opportunities to help them continue to grow, including:

As the world's oldest active sports car race in endurance racing, 24 Hours of Le Mans first ran in 1923, shortly after the first Indianapolis 500 in 1916. Running for a full 24 hours, the race provides a unique challenge for innovating race cars that can sustain fast speeds for extended periods of time. The race course, which includes both public roads and race-specific roads, is six times the length of the Indianapolis 500 and includes a turn named after Indianapolis, which is one of the trickiest turns of the course.

Today marks the mid-point of Governor Holcomb's first international trade mission as governor. Beginning the trip in Hungary, Governor Holcomb met with leading government officials and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to encourage economic cooperation to advance innovation, global trade and foreign direct investment. Tomorrow, the Governor will kick off the 2017 International Pairs Air Show, working to grow and strengthen Indiana's aviation, aerospace and defense industries.

About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana's economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

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