BMW ace Joey Hand may be able to get some DTM-style racing competition on both sides of the Atlantic in the future when developments from tonight’s big announcement in New York City come through in 2015.

GRAND-AM Road Racing and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced a license and cooperation agreement with the Internationale Tourenwagen-Rennen (ITR e.V.), which administers DTM racing.

Hand (pictured right) made his debut in the DTM last season – the first American driver to take part in the series. The popular BMW ace will again dovetail his ALMS campaign with a full season DTM assault in Europe this year.

The collective goal from tonight’s announcement is a North American version of DTM, the popular German touring car series.

Representatives from all three organizations gathered for the announcement during a press conference at the InterContinental New York Times Square Hotel’s Gotham Ballroom, an event highlighted by GRAND-AM founder Jim France and ITR Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht signing the agreement.

The earliest the new series would begin would be 2015, possibly running as part of United SportsCar Racing event weekends.

“On the heels of our United SportsCar Racing and IMSA announcements, reaching this agreement adds to the momentum we’re experiencing right now,” GRAND-AM President and CEO Ed Bennett said.

“The next steps in this process will involve further discussions with various automotive manufacturers, whose commitment to this concept is essential if a North American DTM-style series is to become reality.”

The North American version of DTM would join the current Europe-based DTM and Japan-based SUPER GT platforms. SUPER GT agreed last October to a cooperation with DTM starting in 2014.

“The new technical regulations and the formed partnerships represent – for the first time in the history of the sport – a global platform for the manufacturers involved,” said Aufrecht.

“A platform offering them the opportunity to race – on the same technical basis and with the best global promoters as guarantee for a competitive and attractive platform – in the core markets of North America, Europe and Asia.

“In addition to the six German and Japanese manufacturers – Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan and Toyota – which are already involved, the new cooperation quite obviously also offers a new and extraordinary field of activity for the American premium manufacturers such as Cadillac, Lincoln or Dodge SRT within the framework of future motorsport programs. Now, we have to inform and thrill them together with our new partner GRAND-AM/IMSA and encourage them to get involved.”