Beating the Odds: Competing in Dunlop Drivers Cup is 'Sure Bet'

AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 14, 2007 -- You're more likely to compete in the next Dunlop Drivers Cup than winning a Lotto jackpot.

In fact, you have a better chance of racing a sports car, motoring an all- terrain vehicle around an exciting course and steering a go-kart around a twisty track than dying from a venomous snakebite.

You only have to be an "average Joe or Jane" to compete in the amateur driving competition. No professionals or celebrities allowed, and Dunlop provides the vehicles, motorcycles and fuel for the international competition.

Janice Consolacion, brand-planning manager for Dunlop in North America, said driving enthusiasts had a 1 in 50 chance of getting picked last year to drive at Virginia International Raceway. The odds of winning the California Super Lotto jackpot: 1 in 18 million.

The chance of winning the top prize in a Powerball lottery is 1 in 146 million. Your chances in the 12-state Mega Millions: 1 in 175 million.

Meanwhile, the chance of dying from snakebite is significantly better, 1 in 96 million, according to the U.S. National Safety Council.

You're more likely to become president of the United States, at least according to the odds.

"But if your passion is automotive, and driving anything with two or four wheels is your idea of the ultimate lifestyle, it's a good bet that you'll be competing in the next Drivers Cup in September," Consolacion said.

Entrants, who are at least 21 and have a valid driver's license, can hedge their bets at http://www.dunloptire.com/cfmx/web/dunlopus/driversCup/index.cfm, just by answering a few questions and writing an essay on why they should be selected to compete. Deadline for applying is July 15, 2007.

"Drivers have to like their odds of competing in the U.S. Regionals. Most people can't believe that there's a way for them to drive at a racetrack, without paying money or having to bring their own vehicle. They say it's too good to be true," she said.

Last year's winners are now preparing to compete in the April World Finals in Europe. Four of the top 12 amateur drivers from last year's Regionals -- plus one tire dealer and one media class winner -- will represent the United States in a drivers' competition with the best drivers from Europe.

A household name in Europe, Dunlop Drivers Cup is unlike any other racing competition. Organizers are searching for the "complete driver," not the fastest hot-shoe. Drivers Cup, entering its tenth season, includes off-road, motocross, all-terrain vehicle, karting and on-track competitions.

Dunlop Germany originally started Drivers Cup to showcase Dunlop's racing heritage and its broad range of passenger, truck, motorcycle and all-terrain- vehicle tire lines.

And given the popularity of the Cup abroad, the odds for European amateur drivers aren't as favorable as in the United States. In Germany, 25,000 enthusiasts applied last year to compete in Dunlop Drivers Cup. Thousands more applied in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands. French automotive enthusiasts are joining the fray this year.

Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original-equipment fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes and race series sponsorships.