Ford Brings Extensive Support to Daytona Prototype Teams

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 17, 2002) -- As the support of the Daytona Prototypes continues to build, the program received a tremendous boost this week when Ford Racing Technology announced its agreement with Canadian-based engineering organization Multimatic and Robert Yates Racing to construct the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype. The factory support from Ford is expected to also benefit privateer Ford teams competing in the Daytona Prototypes championship in 2003, as Ford's years of technical know-how and Robert Yates' engine expertise become available to all competitors. 

"Ford brings the ideal factory support to the Daytona Prototypes," commented Grand American President Roger Edmondson. "Their involvement in the program will provide all teams with the technology and resources made available by Ford Racing."

Teams will be able to benefit from Ford's racing engine development program for the Ford Focus Daytona Prototypes. "Ford Racing's goal, besides seeing a good number of these Focus prototype cars on the track, is to help develop the modular V8, with help from Robert Yates, into a highly competitive customer racing engine," Ford Racing Technology Directory Dan Davis remarked. "We see the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype program as a great test bed and proving ground for this product."

"Ford Racing's involvement in Multimatic's Daytona Prototype program is excellent news for both the Rolex Series and our customers," noted Multimatic Vice President of Engineering Larry Holt. "It is important to note that this is not an exclusive factory race team program; it is a technical cooperation that will significantly benefit every privateer racer that runs a Ford."

Multimatic has been active in the Rolex Sports Car Series since its inception when it fielded a SportsRacing Prototype II entry in the series' first race - the 2000 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Multimatic went on to capture a podium finish at Mid-Ohio in 2001 and fell just shy of the victory later the same year at Trois-Rivières. The company has also had extensive success the Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series with its Mustangs. 

Submission of the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype designs for approval should be forthcoming, and the Ford 4.6 liter engine has already received tentative approval pending completion of testing at Pro Motor Engineering, the engine testing facility in Charlotte that is dynotesting all engines for approval. 

More information on the Daytona Prototypes and the Rolex Sports Car Series is available online at www.grandamerican.com.