RAHAL LETTERMAN ANNOUNCES GT2 EFFORT

THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2006

RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING ANNOUNCES AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES PROGRAM

Monterey, Calif. - Already armed with the best schedule in its eight-year history, another diverse television package and the addition of multiple world-class teams, the 2007 American Le Mans Series season gained even more momentum with Thursday's announcement of Rahal Letterman Racing joining for the full season.

Rahal Letterman Racing will enter the American Le Mans Series as a participant in the GT2 category. The team intends to run a program in the Series featuring the new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, it announced at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, site of this weekend's Monterey Sports Car Championships.

"This marks another impressive line of world-class content that the American Le Mans Series will unveil to its fans next season," said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series. "The Series has shown tremendous strides in recent seasons with the addition of renowned teams like Penske Racing, Aston Martin Racing, Andretti-Green, Fernandez Racing and now Rahal Letterman. 2007 is truly going to be a highly competitive as well as a showcase season for the American Le Mans Series." 

Team principal Bobby Rahal has a storied history in sports cars, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1987 in a Porsche 962 and the 24 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 935.

"I have made no secret in recent years that I wanted to begin a sports car program for Rahal Letterman Racing," said the 2004 International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee. "I trace my racing roots back to sports cars and my time on the historic tracks of Sebring, Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio and Elkhart Lake. A passion for road racing and sports cars is a foundation of our team. The opportunity to diversify our business model at RLR and to do so with the addition of an American Le Mans Series program is an outstanding opportunity. I don't think it is an anomaly that more IndyCar teams are looking at the addition of an American Le Mans Series program. There is a certain synergy that strengthens your organization on and off the track."

"The Rahal Letterman name and team are synonymous with top line racing success," Atherton added. "There is no doubt that it will bring the highest level of performance and competition to the American Le Mans Series competitive ranks and the GT2 class. Bobby's success as both a driver and team owner has allowed him to become one of the icons of the motorsports industry. We cannot wait to see the new Rahal Letterman GT2 team entry at the 2007 season opener - the 55th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring."

"As a driver, Bobby Rahal has a winning tradition with Porsche, racing to victory in some of America's most prestigious sports cars races behind the wheel of our cars," said Uwe Brettel, president of Porsche Motorsport North America. "Now as a Porsche team owner, we expect his success with the brand to continue. We are pleased Rahal Letterman will be part of our 911 GT3 RSR customer program in 2007 and anticipate the team will enhance the already highly competitive GT2 class in the American Le Mans Series."       

A full announcement on the RLR GT2 program including sponsorship and driver lineup is forthcoming.