Champagne and Launi to Grand Am Cup

Press Release; August 19, 2005

Champagne and Launi to Grand Am Cup
Matt Champagne and Frank Launi to race at Mid Ohio in Chevy Cobalt SS

TORONTO, ONTARIO – Sunoco Ultra 94 team members Matt Champagne and Frank 
Launi have been chosen to drive one of the Georgian Bay Motorsports Chevy 
Cobalt SS Supercharged at the Emco Gears Classic Grand Am Cup race at 
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Aug 26-28.

“This is a great opportunity for both of us,” said Matt Champagne. “When I 
got the call from Ron Fellows about the ride, I was floored. I know a lot 
went on to get us in that car, and thanks to all that had a part.”

Launi was equally ecstatic about the opportunity. “When Ron called me, I 
couldn’t believe it,” Launi said. “What an opportunity to race in a great 
series like the Grand Am Cup, with a great car and team in Georgian Bay 
Motorsports and the Chevy Cobalt SS. I have to thank Ron, Chevrolet, Jim 
Holtom and Sunoco for this opportunity.”

The two Sunoco Ultra 94 drivers will also be reunited with another Sunoco 
Team Ultra 94 driver, Jamie Holtom. Holtom pilots the #00 SCADAPack Chevy 
Cobalt SS with Andy Lally, which is also fielded by Georgian Bay 
Motorsports. “It is great to have Matt and Frank join us at Mid Ohio,” 
Holtom said.

Champagne won the 2003 Bridgestone Academy F2000 series, while Launi won 
the same series in 2004. Both came from the karting ranks in the Sunoco Ron 
Fellows Karting Championship, and then moved on to be selected at Sunoco 
Team Ultra 94 drivers. Both have won championships, and Ron Fellows is 
happy that they have the opportunity to move up.

“Both Matt and Frank have shown well in the Formula cars they were in,” 
Fellows said. “I wanted to give them an opportunity to move up a level, and 
together with General Motors, Georgian Bay Motorsports and Jim Holtom, we 
have been able to do that. It’s as exciting for me as it is for them.” 
Fellows added.

Both drivers will get some extra track time on the Monday before the race 
in a GM test day at Mid Ohio in the street version of the Chevy Cobalt SS, 
before moving to the race cars to compete on the weekend.

Sunoco Team Ultra 94 fast facts;
The Sunoco Team Ultra 94 drivers are chosen from over 300 drivers in the 
Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship Presented by Toronto Star Wheels. 
Out of the 300 drivers, ten are invited to the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting 
Championship Evaluation Day, and from those ten, two are invited to join 
the team. The selected drivers are given a fully funded scholarship to 
compete in the Bridgestone Academy F2000 series. Sunoco also sponsors the 
series and is proud of the school’s 13 year injury free record, the 
personal coaching and the track time that the drivers receive.
In 2003, inaugural team members Matt Champagne and Jordy Vorrath finished 
one-two in the series, with Vorrath taking the ‘most poles’ award. Aaron de 
Heus came home fifth in the 2003 championship.
The 2004 members were 2003 Formula Senior Champion Juliana Chiovitti, 
multi-time Formula Senior race winner Frank Launi, who won the 2004 
championship and consistent Rotax Max Senior front runner Jamie Holtom. The 
2005 team consists of 2004 double class winner Marco Di Leo, Formula Senior 
race winner Matt Pritiko, and Formula Senior driver Robert Wickens.

Photos - Matt Champagne photo by Jim Leggett
         Holtom and Launi photo by Ed Gatner

For more information on Sunoco’s Team Ultra 94 contact;
Russ Bond, 905-852-2900 r.bond@russbondagency.com
Brad Brown, k.andb.brown@sympatico.ca (416)-233-8727

Release prepared by Russ Bond Agency

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