El Paso Accountant Counts on Winning Dunlop Drivers Cup

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 30, 2006 -- An accountant for El Paso, Texas, residential home builder Roma Homes Inc. has been selected to participate in the Dunlop Drivers Cup driving challenge.

Juan Copas, 32, also of El Paso, will be competing against 11 other amateur drivers at the U.S. Regional Qualifier in Danville, Va., on Sept. 11- 15.

Copas said the Virginia International Raceway event could help fulfill his race car driver dream. "I have not learned everything I need to know about driving and control. That is why I need to get better skills to avoid any mistakes."

Copas said he realizes Dunlop Drivers Cup is completely different from any other type of driving challenge. A unique competition, it includes on-track racing, autocross, off-road sport-utility, off-road all-terrain vehicle and motocross events to test the skills of hard-core driving enthusiasts.

Two two-driver teams from the three-day U.S. Regional Qualifier will represent Dunlop USA at the world Drivers Cup next year. The 10-day excursion is scheduled to travel through six European countries - with driving events in each nation - and finish on the African continent.

Janice Consolacion, brand planning manager for Dunlop in North America, said Cup organizers were impressed by Copas' off-road motorcycle and SUV driving skills. He also "lifted" his Jeep Grand Cherokee and participates in El Paso area 4x4 rallies.

"Juan's fantasy is to be a racer. Through Dunlop Drivers Cup, he'll get a chance to fulfill that dream and the opportunity to learn important driving skills," Consolacion said.

Copas said the drivers' challenge is another milestone in his lifelong love of the automobile. He said his father nurtured an interest in driving. "He let me 'drive' the steering wheel when I was 3 years old in our native Mexico."

At 11, he was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck on rural Mexican roads. He's been four-wheeling ever since, he said.

The accountant said he would use an "aggressive and consistent" driving style in Virginia. He also is counting on "concentration and courage" to win the Dunlop event.

European Dunlop officials started Drivers Cup in 1998 to showcase Dunlop's racing heritage and its broad range of passenger, truck, motorcycle and all- terrain-vehicle tire lines. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ultra-performance tires and Mud Rover off-road tires will be featured in the competition.

Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original- equipment fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes and race series sponsorships.

Copas applied to compete in Drivers Cup after seeing an item in "Road & Track" magazine.

Applications are being accepted now for those interested in competing in the 2007 Dunlop Drivers Cup U.S. Regionals. To apply, go to http://www.dunloptires.com/.