Pontiac Enters Two New Motorsports Series

DETROIT - General Motors today announced that Pontiac would compete in two new motorsports series, each highlighting the new performance prowess of the division's vehicles. In 2004, Pontiac will participate in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series and the Formula D Drift Series in addition to the division's continuing involvement with both the Pro Stock and Sport Compact classes of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) series.

"When Pontiac departed from NASCAR competition at the end of the 2003 series, we knew that continued participation in motorsports was a high priority for the division," said Lynn Myers, Pontiac-GMC general manager. "As we were looking at the different racing opportunities, both the Rolex Series and Formula D Drifting stood out as exciting new venues to showcase the power and handling of the new Pontiacs."

Beginning with the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona event on January 31-February 1, Pontiac will field three vehicles in the Daytona Prototype class. Using a chassis and suspension system built to very specific standards, the cars are powered by modified Pontiac small-block V-8 engines regulated to 5.5 liters of displacement. The two-valve, naturally aspirated powerplants are variants of the engine used in the new 2004 Pontiac GTO.

Pontiac will power the entries of three experienced teams, including Bell Motorsports with drivers Terry Borcheller, Forest Barber, Christian Fittipaldi and Andy Pilgrim; Spirit of Daytona, driven by Robby Gordon, Stephan Gregorie, Milka Duno and Doug Goad; and SunTrust Racing, driven by Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and Emmanuel Collard.

"We are very fortunate to have such skilled and enthusiastic teams to help launch Pontiac into the world of Rolex Series racing," said Myers.

While sports car racing in the Rolex Series may be familiar to some, the sport of drifting is relatively new to North America. First developed in Japan, drifting combines extreme driving skill with flair and artistry as drivers negotiate a complicated course at high speeds while in a controlled slide. The competition is judged on execution and style rather than speed, similar to skateboarding and freestyle motorcross.

Top U.S. drifting driver Rhys Millen will pilot a modified 2004 Pontiac GTO in the new Formula Drift Series sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America. In addition to series events that begin in April, Millen will compete in the D1 Championship event in Irwindale, Calif., on February 28.

"The GTO seems almost tailor-made for a sport requiring both pure rear-wheel power and extreme agility," said Myers. "Combine the GTO with perhaps the best drifting driver in the country and it's easy to see why Pontiac is really excited about the possibilities on the Formula Drift circuit in 2004."

Pontiac is a division of General Motors Corporation and markets the Bonneville, GTO, Grand Prix, Grand Am, Vibe, Sunfire, Aztek and Montana. Pontiac sold more than 475,000 vehicles in 2003, ranking third among GM divisions in total sales. In 2004, Pontiac will introduce the Montana SV6 crossover sport van and G6 sedan, followed in 2005 by the G6 coupe and convertible and the Solstice roadster. More information on Pontiac and its products can be found on the division's website at www.pontiac.com.