JUSTIN BELL RETURNS TO TRANS-AM IN DERHAAG CORVETTE

PR: JUSTIN BELL RETURNS TO TRANS-AM IN DERHAAG CORVETTE

March 26, 2002 
Del Ray, FL             Justin Bell, the 2001 Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year, will return in the #40 Derhaag Motorsports Corvette for the 2002 Trans-Am season.   During his first year, Bell gave notice that he was there to stay and win.  He posted four late-season podium finishes, including back-to-back wins at Laguna Seca and Houston.  The 2002 Trans-Am Series begins April 14th at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

"Continuity is the key," stated Justin about his successful relationship with Derhaag Motorsports.  "Over the winter, Jim has encouraged some changes in the structure of the team that I feel will make us even more competitive in 2002.  The exciting thing for me is that heading into this season, there is less fear of the unknown.  I know the drivers, some of the tracks, but more important than that, I am confident in my own ability to perform."

Justin Bell signed on in 2001 with Derhaag Motorsports after a successful run in GT endurance Racing.  Before bringing his talents to the Trans-Am Series, Justin Bell had already established himself as a proven winner.  Bell was the 1997 FIA GT2 Champion, 1998 GT2 class winner at Le Mans and a 2000 factory Corvette Racing Team driver.  In 1995, he shared the Le Mans podium with his World Champion father, Derek.   Team owner Jim Derhaag is equally pleased with the team's future with Bell and is very optimistic about the season.

 "We're baaa-aaack," quipped Jim.   "We are positioned to pick up where we left off in 2001.  Justin is now used to the car, the team and the series.  But it's our relationship with Justin that makes it all work.  Justin is the consummate professional.  With him, it's all about what needs to be done on the car to achieve success on the track. "

Bell welcomes a new element to his racing program.   Steele Technologies is commencing an Associate Sponsorship with Justin Bell Racing.  Steele Technologies develops interactive multimedia products and services.   XtremeLens, the company's flagship product, is the world's first interactive, tri-media (audio, video, and telemetry) system for driving and racing schools. The patent-pending system enables the real-time capture of students' personal driving experience to CD.

"We are very excited about the upcoming Trans-Am Series and the marketing opportunity it will provide for our newly launched XtremeLensT service," said Robert Steele, President & CEO, Steele Technologies.   "We followed Justin's rookie season and were very impressed with both his driving skills and his off-track communications skills.   Derhaag Motorsports has an exceptional history in Trans-Am racing. There are few teams that can equal their reliability, experience, and commitment to excellence. This driver - team pairing will certainly be contending for the Championship title this year, which will result in top exposure value for our XtremeLens service."

Justin resides in Florida where he is also a managing partner of the Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience, a Corvette driving school at Moroso Motorsports Park in West Palm County.  Justin's long term plans include a return to Le Mans as well as exploring other forms of motorsports competition.  But for the 2002 season, his focus is fixed on winning the Trans-Am Series Championship title.