MOPAR'S HUBINETTE TO COMPETE IN D1 GRAND PRIX AT IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY
NEWS RELEASE December 14, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TEAM MOPAR CONTACT: Misha Geisert J.R. Thompson Company (317) 432-4110 MoparPR@aol.com MOPAR'S HUBINETTE TO COMPETE IN D1 GRAND PRIX AT IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY Center Line, Mich. - Team Mopar's Samuel Hubinette is slated to compete in his final event for the 2005 season, as "The Crazy Swede" will once again tackle the Irwindale Speedway drifting course in the D1 Grand Prix USA vs. Japan All Stars, December 16-17. The event will mark Hubinette's second career D1GP event and his first with Team Mopar. Hubinette joined the Mopar Motorsports effort in 2004, after participating in the 2003 D1GP showcase at Irwindale Speedway. Irwindale Speedway has become a favorite track for Hubinette. The Newport Beach, Calif., resident is eager to tame the high-speed facility this week. "I'm looking forward to returning to Irwindale Speedway, especially to compete in a D1GP event," Hubinette said. "Irwindale is a place where you can carry a lot of speed, and with our car being heavier, this will help us put on the best show possible. I'm anxious to get back into drift mode; we've had something of a break since the end of the Formula D season. Irwindale is a great place to get reacquainted with drifting." Hubinette, who was the 2005 Need For Speed Underground Formula D Series championship runner-up, became the series' first repeat winner in 2005. Having swept three of four events en route to the 2004 Formula D Series title, Hubinette is looking forward to piloting the Mopar SRT10 Dodge Viper in what could be its last ride. "It would be huge to win the D1GP event with the Mopar SRT10 Dodge Viper," Hubinette said. "This could possibly be the Viper's last event, and it would be very special to win with this car. It would also be great to break into the D1 ranks with the Viper. An American-based team hasn't won a D1 event yet, and none of the American teams have earned a podium finish in D1 competition. It would be great to be the first American team to accomplish this, especially with a domestically manufactured car." This week's D1GP event will feature the best of the United States drifting contingent, as well as the top drifters from around Japan and the world. With competition styles going head to head, Hubinette expects drifting fans to see some of the best competition the sport has seen. He also expects a fierce battle for the win. "The top drivers from both the D1 and Formula D Series will be fighting for this victory," Hubinette said. "It's going to be unbelievably competitive. Drifting fans will get to see a great show, which is what drifting is all about. The D1 teams have been watching the Formula D Series teams, and we know they'll be prepared for a great event. The winner of this event will have truly earned the title." The D1GP USA vs. Japan All Stars event will kick off with a closed practice session at 7:30 a.m. PST on Thursday, December 15. Qualifications for the event will begin on Friday, December 16, at 3 p.m. PST. Opening ceremonies for the event final are slated to begin on Saturday, December 17, at 1 p.m. PST. For more information regarding Mopar, Hubinette, Irwindale Speedway, D1GP or the Need for Speed Underground Formula D Championship, log on to www.moparspeed.com, www.mopardrift.com, www.mopar.com, www.toxicdrift.com, www.irwindalespeedway.com, www.D1GP.com or www.formulad.com. Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles. -30-