World Challenge Technical Department Reinforced for 2011 Season

TOPEKA, Nov. 3, 2010: SCCA Pro Racing and WC Vision today announced two major personnel enhancements for the World Challenge Technical Department. The moves address the positive strides the series has made in the 2010 season and are designed to meet the increased workload and administration forecast for 2011 and beyond.

TC Kline has been appointed the new World Challenge Competition Director. Kline brings over 25 years of experience and expertise in the motorsports industry. Kline started in motorsports in 1985, driving in the Volkswagen Cup and since then has been successfully involved as a team owner in a number of series, including the Escort Endurance Series, Firehawk Endurance Championship, North American Touring Car, and Grand-Am Cup. Kline was also the Managing Director for SCCA ProSolo for three years.

"The close relationship of production-based race cars to their street counterparts has always had a great appeal to me," Kline said. "World Challenge is the premiere production-based sports car racing series in North America and I look forward to helping extend the reach of the Series. In my new role as Competition Director, I will be working with World Challenge competitors and manufacturers, to continue to ensure that the rules are fair, consistent, user friendly, and as cost effective as is reasonably possible."

Ken Brown comes on board as World Challenge Technical Manager. Brown, who holds a Masters Degree in Industrial Technical Studies, comes with a wealth of experience having been involved in motorsports for over 40 years. Starting in 1998, Brown was Technical Director for SCCA Enterprises. In 2006, Brown expanded his position as Technical Director for SCCA Club Racing, Solo, Rally and Pro Racing. More recently, Brown was General Manager at Aspen Racing and Sports Car Club, in Aspen, Colo., and Motorsport Park Hastings, in Hastings, Neb.

"It's important that fairness and equality is prevalent so that all competitors have the feeling that they are on equal footing and have the potential to win a World Challenge race," Brown said. "The series’ technical staff has a tremendous amount of experience and know-how and I plan to continue to create a level and honest playing field for all World Challenge competitors."

Bob Goppold will return to the SCCA Pro Racing technical staff in 2011, in charge of reviewing at-track technical adherence to rules and regulations.

Ken Tripkos, SCCA Pro Racing Technical and Competition Director remains involved in Vehicle Technical Specifications (VTS) development and compliance of SCCA Pro Racing Regulations.

Neil Hannemann’s 2011 consulting schedule precludes him from continuing in his 2010 capacity within the World Challenge technical department. Discussions continue with Hannemann as to how the series can take full advantage of his skills in working with the OEMs and the homologation processes.

The World Challenge recently concluded its 12-race 2010 season, the largest in Series history. A Drivers’ Champion and a coveted Manufacturers’ Champion were crowned in each of the three classes – GT, GTS and Touring Car. All World Challenge races are a maximum of 50 minutes in length and feature standing starts with popular cars from the world’s leading manufacturers racing head-to-head