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Petit Le Mans revs into Road Atlanta
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At a glance

* What: Petit Le Mans, 10 hours or 1,000 miles

* When: 11:15 a.m. Saturday

* Where: Road Atlanta, 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton

* Cost: Four-day superticket is $80 in advance or $90 at the gate; a one-day superticket is $60 in advance or $70 at the gate.

* More info: www.roadatlanta.com

BRASELTON — The 17th annual Petit Le Mans sports car endurance race is scheduled for this weekend at Road Atlanta in Hall County, culminating with the main event at 11:15 a.m. Saturday.

Practices and qualifying sessions are scheduled in the days leading up to the race; fans from around the world flock to the venue for opportunities to interact with drivers.

The 10-hour Road Atlanta event gets its name from the 24-hour sports car race held annually in the town of Le Mans, France. “Petit” is French for “small” or “little.”

According to information from Road Atlanta, more than 131,000 guests attended the 2013 Petit Le Mans. A 2005 economic impact study by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce listed Road Atlanta as having the second-largest economic impact to the area, with Lake Lanier coming in first.

There’s also a lot of outside exposure during Petit Le Mans. The race will be streamed live online, and a condensed two-hour version of the event will air on the Fox television network Sunday, following NFL games.

Last year, the event said goodbye to the American Le Mans series, making 2014 the inaugural year for the race’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup.