World Champion Race Car Driver Justin Bell to Race Corvette for Derhaag Team in Trans-Am Series

    BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BW SportsWire)--March 6, 2001--World Champion race car driver Justin Bell announced today that he has signed an agreement to compete for Derhaag Motorsports in the Trans-Am series. Bell will drive a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette as part of Derhaag's two-car team.
    "This is the first year of running a Corvette body Trans-Am car, and I am very honored and excited to be driving it for the Derhaag team," said Bell. "I've known about Jim Derhaag for a long time and have heard only praise for his organization. It is thrilling to be associated with someone so experienced in Trans-Am racing."
    Bell, who recently launched The Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience, a Chevrolet racing car school at Moroso Motorsports Park in Palm Beach County, Florida, has been racing for more than 12 years. In 1995, at the age of only 27, he finished third overall at Le Mans. He has achieved many major racing accomplishments, including becoming the 1997 FIA GT2 World Champion and winning the 1998 Le Mans in the GT2 category with Chrysler Team Oreca Viper. In 2000, Bell signed with General Motors to race in the Corvette Racing Program, placing within the top three at the Daytona 24 Hours, Petit Le Mans and Las Vegas.
    "This is an exciting time in Trans-Am history," continued Bell. "With a new management team behind the series and increased television exposure, Trans-Am now has the opportunity to regain the popularity and fan support it had a few years ago."
    "Justin (Bell) symbolizes the winning spirit that has solidified Corvette as `America's Performance Icon,'" said Rick Baldick, Corvette Brand Manager. "His driving skills are respected in the U.S. and abroad. We're sure that Justin will steer his Derhaag Motorsports-prepared Corvette into Victory Lane often during this Trans Am season. The heritage of both the Corvette and Bell Family will continue to grow."
    Jim Derhaag, owner of the Derhaag team, set several Trans-Am records, including most top ten finishes, prior to transitioning to owner/crew chief. In 2000, Derhaag's trademark #40 won the Laguna Seca round of the series, with its sister car finishing 10th in series championship points. Derhaag Motorsports manufactures the new-style Corvette and Mustang bodywork and the majority of the Camaro bodywork seen in the Trans-Am series.
    The Trans-Am Series, now in its 36th year, features 11 events at prominent North American road racing venues as part of the CART Fedex Championship and American LeMans Series race weekends. Trans-Am races come in two formats: 100-mile sprints and a 125-mile event featuring pit stops for fuel. An average of 40 cars, representing the latest high-tech offerings from Chevrolet, Ford, Jaguar, Mercedes, Daimler-Chrysler and BMW, compete in each event.
    To learn more about Justin Bell and The Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience, call toll-free 877-468-3666 or visit their Web site at www.justinbellgt.com.