SAMAX - Rolex 24 GT drivers
SAMAX Motorsport will field two GT cars in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, with driver lineups that combine the best of experience, youth and speed. The race will be the first in North America for UPS Porsche Junior Team drivers Lance David Arnold and Jan Seyffarth of Germany. They're new to the Rolex 24, but they'll be at home behind the wheel of the No. 17 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. They have already completed a full season driving the Porsche 997-based car in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. Veterans Johnny Mowlem of London, England, and David Shep of Caledon, Ont., will share their track knowledge with the young pair. Mowlem has earned a GT class win, two overall podiums and three GT podiums in six Rolex 24 races. Shep joined his Doncaster Racing/SAMAX co-drivers on the GT podium at last year's Rolex 24 – his third podium in three series on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course. Bryan Sellers of Sacramento, Calif., returns to SAMAX after an impressive debut in 2005. In his first sports-car start, he put the team's Porsche on the GT class pole for the Rolex Sports Car Series race at Homestead (Fla.) Miami Speedway. As previously announced, SAMAX will also prepare the No. 71 Doncaster Racing/SAMAX Porsche for drivers Dave Lacey of Toronto, Brent Martini of Laguna Beach, Calif., and father and son Greg and Mark Wilkins of Toronto. Doncaster Racing is aiming for the top, after class podium finishes at the Rolex 24 in 2004 and 2005. (Doncaster announcement follows) "It's a dream two-car lineup," SAMAX owner Peter Baron said. "One car is pure experience, with podiums at the last two Rolex 24, going for their third. The other car is built on pure speed with the objective to win, and it has the lineup to do it. We've also been doing our homework on the new Porsche since it was announced. Clearly, these two cars have the talent and the machinery to meet the objective of coming home drenched in champagne." Mowlem is equally psyched. "I'm absolutely delighted to finally get to drive for Peter Baron and SAMAX," he said. "They have already proven themselves as a top team in not just the GT but also the DP division, and I'm very excited at going back to Daytona to try and win myself another Rolex, especially with such good teammates. It has always been a happy hunting ground for me and I'm hoping that 2006 will be no different!" Shep is also ready to win a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Daytona Cosmograph watch, awarded to Rolex 24 class winners. "There were various opportunities, but the only one that made sense was to go back with the team that we had so much success with last year. I'm pleased Peter invited me back," he said. "The GT race is lining up to be a real who's who of road-racing. It's going to be a little bit more difficult, but I think the people Peter has assembled will certainly be up to the task." The Rolex 24 At Daytona is set for Jan. 28 and 29 on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course in Daytona Beach, Fla. SAMAX will prepare for the race during the Rolex 24 open test Jan. 5 to 7. ### text of Doncaster Racing announcement, Dec. 15, 2005: Doncaster Racing announced today that Brent Martini will be joining its regular drivers Dave Lacey (Two Rolex 24 Podiums), Greg Wilkins (Two Rolex 24 Podiums/LMP2 LeMans winner) and Mark Wilkins (Two Rolex 24 Podiums and Formula Mazda Star) for next year's Rolex 24 Hour Race. Dave Lacey commented "We have raced against Brent in Grand American races over the past few years and it will be great to have him as a Team Mate for the Rolex 24." Team Principal John Lacey said " Anyone who has competed in an International 24 Hour race knows how challenging they can be and we have been fortunate to have finished on the Podium in both 2004 and 2005. Our goal in 2006 is to try to make it three in a row. Next year's Rolex 24 will be Mark Wilkins (21 years of age) third attempt and another good result would be a huge accomplishment for this talented young driver." Doncaster Racing will be entering their SAMAX prepared 2006 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup racing car in Grand American Rolex series next year.