Carter is also focused on keeping a level playing field between current-spec World Challenge cars and GT3 machinery. Balance of Performance measures will continue into 2013, while the series’ sometimes-controversial rewards weight system will be eliminated.

The GT division is just one of four categories regularly in action during a race weekend, joining GTS, TC and the newly introduced TCB for SCCA B-Spec cars, which made its debut in 2012.

World Challenge is on the heels of one of its most successful seasons to date, with capacity grids at nearly all of its rounds this year, with its 2013 schedule adding events at the new Circuit of the Americas with V8 Supercars and revived Houston Grand Prix street race with IndyCar.

While it’s unclear if the unified ALMS/GRAND-AM championship will fully embrace GT3 entries, Carter is hopeful the adoption of these cars into World Challenge can help raise the series’ profile and take it to the next level.

"We're trying to walk before we run,” Carter said. “We're gauging the interest first. We sort of stuck our toe in the water last year with the GMG Audi. I think we have to read the office and see where it goes.

“We just don't know. We may end up with a flurry of GT3 cars or it may just be a big flash in the plan. But we are open to making the Pirelli World Challenge be a premier series, and whatever it takes to do that."

John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at