The company hired to produce the Baltimore Grand Prix IndyCar race over the next five years is calling for proposals from agencies as it considers outsourcing marketing, advertising, social media and similar efforts.

grand prixBaltimore held its first grand prix race in 2011, drawing more than 150,000 people and the interest of NBC Sports, which will broadcast the 2012 race. The city fired the company that ran the first race after it left a trail of debts to vendors, the city and state, and this week tapped Downforce Racings LLC to manage the event over the next five years.

This year's race is slated for Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

The Leffler Agency and EdieBrown & Associates, handled advertising and PR for last year’s race.

Dan Reck of Downforce Racing (reck [at] wilkeslane [dot] com) is handling the agency search. Proposals are due March 2.

The Baltimore Business Journal first reported the RFP.