Record Speeds During Testing Should Make For Exciting Rolex 24 At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 5, 2002) - Max Papis' strong performance in the morning session on the final day of Rolex Series testing proved to be the strongest of the weekend. The Doran Lista Racing #27 Judd-powered Dallara stayed out front all weekend with its fastest lap turned on Saturday morning. The blazing 1:40.170 lap at a speed of 127.942 mph was 0.832 seconds faster than the current SRP track record set by James Weaver in 2000.

"It looks like we found the downforce we need to keep the car balanced," Veteran Doran racer Didier Theys said about the new Dallara. "I am really looking forward to the race. We have a good lineup. But from experience I can tell you, you don't win with speed."

Terry Borcheller stood out with the quickest lap of the weekend in SRPII. His Rand Racing #8 Nissan Lola ran a best lap of 1:46.750 in the second session Friday, a speed of 120.056 mph. "The results are because of the intense preparation of the team. We get to do the fun part," Borcheller remarked.

Paul Gentilozzi, in the #3 Rocketsports Racing Jaguar, had the best lap of the weekend in GTS on Saturday morning with a 1:46.704 at 120.108 mph. In American GT, the quickest lap of the weekend was posted by Irv Hoerr, also on Saturday morning, in his Sky Blue Racing Mustang. The #29 entry turned in a lap speed of 116.779 mph with a 1:49.746 lap, 1.548 seconds faster than the AGT qualifying record set by Joe Varde in 2001. Marino Franchetti drove the fastest lap in the GT class. The Seikel Motorsports #57 Porsche GT3 R recorded the 1:54.318, 112.108 mph lap on Friday morning.

Darren Law To Appear On RPM2Night This Sunday
2001 Rolex Series GT champion Darren Law, of Phoenix, will be a guest on ESPN's RPM2Night this Sunday, Jan. 6 at 10 p.m. ET. Law drove the G&W Motorsports #81 Porsche GT3 R to victory at the Six Hours of The Glen, in addition to five other podium finishes during the 2001 season. He will be sporting his new Rolex watch during the interview, which he will be awarded during tonight's Rolex Series annual awards ceremony in Daytona. Law has moved up to the SportsRacing Prototype II class for the 2002 season, racing the #07 BMW-powered Picchio for G&W.

Champion Thinks 2002 Is 'Showtime' for the Porsche Lola
After two years of development, Champion Racing thinks they have finally perfected the Lola chassis to the Porsche drive train for this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona. Hurley Haywood, Sascha Maassen, Andy Wallace and Lucas Luhr make up the all-star lineup the team has put together for the race. Crew chief Brad Kettler feels that all the development of the past two years is ready to pay off and this year is 'showtime.' The Champion Porsche Lola has consistently posted times in the top-three throughout the weekend of testing

2002 Grand American Contingency Program On Record Pace
Contingency award programs for the Rolex Sports Car Series and Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series are being finalized with a record awards package anticipated prior to the start of the season at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in February.

"Last year we had 36 companies in our contingency programs with over three million dollars posted in awards," Grand American Special Projects Manager Patrick Murphy noted. "This year, we already have 15 new sponsors on board and we are receiving renewals from last season and new sponsor inquiries every day."

Companies that have already made their commitment to the 2002 program include Acura, Air Products nitrogen, Alcon brake calipers and rotors, ATL fuel cells, Auto Meter Oval Track Playback Tach, Canton Racing Products, Chevrolet Corvette, CV Products parts, Dunlop tires, Earl's Indy Competition Products, EMCO Gears transmissions, Fikse wheels, Goodyear tires, Hawk Performance brake pads, Holley HP carburetors, Honda, Hoosier tires, Ingersoll-Rand Thunder Gun, Jesel rocker arms, Lexus, Mantapart performance parts, Mid Valley transmissions, Mosler MT900R, Motec Electronic Systems, Ohlins shock absorbers, Performance Friction Brake Pads, Racer Parts Wholesale, Ringers gloves, Royal Purple motor oil and Toyota.

"We will have complete listings of the contingency sponsors and their award packages on our web sites by the end of next week," Murphy added. "That listing will detail the awards being offered including the classes involved, the awards per position and the sponsor's requirements for earning the awards."

Rolex Sports Car Series testing will continue at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The 40th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Feb. 2-3, will kick off the 2002 Rolex Sports Car Series season, as well as SpeedWeeks at Daytona International Speedway. Tickets are currently on sale for the Rolex 24 At Daytona and may be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 386-253-RACE. The Rolex 24 At Daytona will be broadcast on Speedvision.

More information on the Rolex Sports Car Series and Rolex 24 At Daytona is available online at www.grand-am.com.

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For more information: Grand American Road Racing Public Relations
Christie Hyde (386) 681-4182
email: CHyde@grand-am.com