Florida 19-Year-Old Joins Veteran American Le Mans Racing Team

BRASELTON, Ga., Jan. 18 -- Florida's 19-year-old road racing sensation, Gunnar Jeannette, is poised for stardom following his appointment to the Panoz American Le Mans Series racing team.

Panoz yesterday announced the signing of Florida-born Jeannette as official test driver for 2002. The young star, who already has raced with the likes of Paul Newman, also will compete in the French 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is likely to co-pilot the Panoz LMP-1 for the Sebring 12-Hour endurance race and Petit Le Mans -- grand finale of the 2002 American Le Mans Series.

Jeannette was with his team-mates Wednesday for a three-day test at Sebring (FL) International Raceway hosted by Michelin.

The youngest ever finisher at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000, Jeannette has relocated from West Palm Beach in Florida to Gainesville, Georgia, to take up his new duties at nearby Road Atlanta, team headquarters and home of the Panoz Racing School where he received his early road racing instruction. In addition to his testing schedule, Jeannette also will serve as an instructor at the Panoz Racing School located at Road Atlanta.

The son of renown historic racing Porsche restorer, Kevin Jeannette, Gunnar made his road racing debut at Road Atlanta in 1999 aboard 911 and 935 historic Porsches.

After making a name for himself in cars much older than he, Jeanette went modern in 2000, teaming up with actor-racer, Paul Newman at the Daytona 24 Hour. In two trips to the 24 Hour of Le Mans, Jeannette finished both times, -- 2nd in class and 7th overall last year.

While Jeannette will compete in selected races for Panoz this season, the young protege will attend all races in the American Le Mans Series with the team.

Panoz Racing Schools are located at Road Atlanta (Georgia), Mosport International Raceway (near Toronto), Sebring International Raceway (Florida), and Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth-Dallas) racetracks and offers racing instruction to all skill levels. Panoz Racing School is the official racing school of the American LeMans Series.