Toyota First To Offer Daytona Prototype Award Package

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 5, 2002) -- Toyota Motorsports and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) announced the first contingency award program offered for the Daytona Prototypes, the new Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series class that will debut at the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona. The program, which supports teams using the TRD-built Toyota V8, will put more than $100,000 up for grabs during the 2003 season.

Awards throughout the year include a $5,000 winner's bonus and $3,000 second-place bonus at each race. Additionally, a $2,000 bonus goes to the highest finishing Toyota and a $1,000 bonus to the next Toyota. On top of that, TRD is offering a $10,000 winner's bonus for the Rolex 24 At Daytona and an additional $10,000 championship bonus on the season.

"We have designed the Daytona Prototype contingency program as a way to financially assist teams who choose the TRD-built Toyota Daytona Prototype V8 engine, especially those that can run up front and win," said Jim Aust, president and CEO of TRD. "We are encouraged by the number of chassis builders and engine suppliers that have announced plans to compete in the series. The competition will be intense, and the fans will see great racing."

"We are very pleased to see Toyota step up in such a big way and show their commitment to the new Daytona Prototype class,' Grand American President Roger Edmondson commented. "We have not even begun to solicit sponsors for our contingency program and I am sure with the standard set today by Toyota that we will see other manufacturers stepping up with their own programs very soon."

Grand American Road Racing has an established contingency award program for all classes of competition in the Rolex Sports Car Series and in the Grand-Am Cup Series. Program Coordinator Patrick Murphy noted, "It is not surprising to see Toyota come forward and set the stage with this program. They have been supporters of Grand American racing since its creation as a corporate member and a contingency sponsor. The Grand American contingency award programs offer opportunities for engine manufacturers, car manufacturers and aftermarket companies to showcase their products in a major national championship series. We expect to have a full slate of award sponsors in the Daytona Prototype class by the beginning of next year."