Team Elite to debut Lotus Elise in ALMS

January, 28, 2004
For immediate release;

Team Elite to debut Lotus Elise in ALMS


Team Elite, a division of Elite Motorsports Management, is proud to 
announce their plans to bring the name of Lotus back to professional motor 
racing, for all those loyal fans around the world. "We are very excited 
about the opportunity to campaign the Elise in the ALMS," Keith Smout, Team 
Elite team Principal said. Team Elite plans to campaign a Lotus Elise in 
the LMP1 class of the American Le Mans Series for the full 2004 season, and 
possibly will include a couple of the Le Mans Endurance series (LMES) 
races, where scheduling allows.

"This is an exciting year for Lotus with 2004 being the 50th anniversary of 
Team Lotus" said Gary Ankenmann, Director of Team Elite, "and the launching 
of the Lotus Elise street car to the North American market of which Road 
and Track called the "The Purest Sports Car on the Planet."

Having passed all the Homologation requirements Team Elite plans to use 
2004 as a test and development season in preparation for a full two car 
assault on the 24 hours of Le Mans and ALMS in 2005.

World-renowned driver Johnny Herbert will assist with the cars testing and 
development prior to its historic first race at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of 
Sebring in late March. Johnny has a history with Lotus, being one of their 
last Formula One drivers. Other drivers being considered include Marino 
Franchitti, Alex Zampedri and Ian Boss.

At this time Team Elite is excited to welcome the following partners; Park 
'N Fly Canada (www.parknfly.ca), Kwikpower International 
(www.kwikpower.com) and Jacques Villeneuve - Sonax Car Care Products 
(www.newtownsales.com). Negotiations with tire companies and other sponsors 
continue and more announcements will be made shortly.

With the Management based in Toronto, Canada, Team Elite will operate out 
of Florida with Technical Direction by Jim Higgs, owner of JB Racing Inc. A 
Florida-based company specializing in the manufacturing of high-performance 
parts and race engine building and development, JB Racing, Inc. has been 
selected by Team Elite to revive the once heralded Lotus GT1 racing program.

Keith Smout, who has been Commercial Director for both BAR and Jaguar 
Formula One teams before returning to Canada in 2002 and Elite Motorsports 
Management Director, Gary Ankenmann who has been involved in commercial 
marketing activities for the past 7 years will run the teams operations on 
a day to day basis.



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