Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing's Charge for IMSA Cup and Petit Win Cut Short

BRASELTON, Ga., October 18, 2003 - Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning
Racing entered today's American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Petit Le Mans
endurance event here at Road Atlanta racing the No. 35 Risi Competizione
Ferrari for a GT class victory as well as the IMSA Cup- an award giving
to the highest finishing privateer effort. However, all of that would
end when the car was damaged beyond on-site repair while fighting for
the lead with the Ferrari. One hour into the 10 hour/ 1000 mile race,
Johnny Mowlem was forced off the track while racing with the No. 35
driven by Ralf Kelleners. Mowlem made hard contact with the turn-12 wall
but only sustained minor bruising. The No. 31 Westward Ho
Casino/MMPIE/PAWS/XtraJet/Justice Brothers Porsche 911 GT3 RS, driven by
Mowlem of Warfield, England and Craig Stanton of Long Beach, Calif., had
charged from sixth on the grid to second at the time of the incident.
This marks the first time since July of 2002 that the White Lightning
Racing-prepared Porsche had failed to finish in the top-five in class at
an ALMS event that it had entered.

"David Murry in the No. 79 Porsche was holding me up but I couldn't get
passed him," commented Mowlem shortly after returning the paddock
following the incident. "I couldn't pass him cleanly so I was bidding my
time. I eventually got along-side him going into (turn) 10-a and 10-b.
We went side-by-side and I decided that it was too dangerous and too
early to race that hard. So, I backed off and let him have it going
through (turn) 12. (Ralf) Kelleners decided to use that as an
opportunity to come underneath me. I tried to give him as much room as I
could but it was so dirty off-line that I was just holding on. I would
have made it down the hill but, just as I had it back, he came and hit
me. I am just so disappointed for the Petersen/White Lightning guys.
They have worked so hard all season-long and we were so close to a solid
finish in the points. I just feel so badly for the guys. The car was
perfect, flawless. It was running so well we would have likely had a
very good result."

Michael Petersen, car owner of the No 31 Michelin-shod Porsche, conveyed
the team's feelings. "It's a major let down. It was a competitive race,
one of the most completive GT (class) races all season and we were right
there in it. It's a shame that people can't be more patient in a ten
hour race. Overall, I am disappointed for the team as a whole. It meant
a lot to the team and me to be in contention at this point in the season
after missing three races. This just isn't the way we wanted to end it.
Now it'll just be a super long lay-off until Sebring."

Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing began operation in the late
1980s competing in off-road endurance events. The duo of Petersen and
White joined to win over 50 off-road truck victories including
three-consecutive overall wins at the Baja 1000 and Baja 500 and four
SCORE, SNORE and SODA championships. Since introducing the team to
sports car racing, the effort has scored victories in the ALMS, the
Trans-Am Series, Speed Challenge Series and endurance sports car wins at
the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Watkins Glen and at the Rolex 24 of Daytona. 

For more, please visit www.PetersenMotorsports.com.