Tri-Point Motorsports and MAZDASPEED Announce 2008 Driver Lineup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy Tri-Point Engineering

CANOGA PARK, Calif. (February 13, 2008) - Tri-Point Motorsports and
Mazda had a stellar season in 2007 and are looking to repeat their
success in 2008 with a fresh and potent driver lineup. SCCA Pro Racing
SPEED World Challenge Touring Car competition is intense and provides an
ideal venue for Tri-Point to showcase Mazda's race driven engineering.

A trio of top-level drivers will lead the charge to defend both the
Manufacturers' and Drivers' titles in the distinctive blue and white
Tri-Point MAZDA6 race cars when the green flag drops at the traditional
World Challenge season-opener, March 12-14, in Sebring, Fla. Returning
for 2008 is longtime Tri-Point pilot and 2007 SPEED Touring Car Champion
Jeff Altenburg. He will be joined by touring car veteran and friend
Charles Espenlaub, making the move from Tindol Motorsports. Rounding
out the Tri-Point squad is 2007 Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini who
is making his World Challenge debut as he advances to the next rung of
the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder.

Altenburg has been a consistent and critical component of Tri-Point's
racing success and 2008 should be no exception. He will be shouldered
with the difficult task of besting his 2007 record of two race wins,
five podium finishes, and the Drivers' Championship, all while wearing
the iconic No.1 on the door of his MAZDA6.

"I am very happy to be trading my trusty No. 72 for the No. 1 on my
MAZDA6 in 2008," Altenburg said. "It will be a reminder all year of what
was accomplished in 2007 through hard work, tough battles and support
from many, many people. It's good to know that we will have the
continued support and expertise of companies like Comptech Engines, Stop
Tech Brakes, Sachs Shocks, Chase Cams and, of course, MAZDASPEED
Motorsports Development.

Joining the Tri-Point squad this season should be an easy transition for
Espenlaub, who already has three years of experience behind the wheel of
a MAZDA6, driving for Tindol Motorsports. Espenlaub played an important
role in Mazda's quest for a Manufacturers' Championship, finishing ninth
in points in 2007. Espenalub brings with him nearly a decade of
professional racing and instructing experience in a wide variety of
sports and touring cars.

"I am really excited about the 2008 season for many reasons," Espenalub
said. "I'll be able to continue my relationship with Mazda and
MAZDASPEED, who have given me an opportunity to work with the
Championship-winning Tri-Point team. Another bonus is that I will join
forces with my good friends and A-list drivers Jeff and Jason. This will
be an incredible year and I hope to do my part in bringing home another
championship for both Mazda and Tri-Point."

Saini's 2007 racing season was a runaway success in the
ultra-competitive SCCA Mazda MX-5 Cup series where he scored a
staggering five wins in eight races, catapulting him to a Championship
victory and into a Tri-Point MAZDA6 Touring Car courtesy of the
MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder. The switch from a rear-drive
spec MX-5 to the more advanced front-drive MAZDA6 will be an exciting
challenge Saini is happy to accept.

"I'm incredibly excited at the opportunity Mazda is providing for me,
advancing from the MX-5 Cup to SPEED World Challenge. It's always been a
dream of mine to drive in this series, and to get the chance to join a
Championship team like Tri-Point is just amazing. I've got a ton of
respect for what Tri-Point has accomplished, and I'm proud to drive for
them in 2008."

"There will obviously be a learning curve switching to front-drive, but
the crew at Tri-Point has made the car handle so well that it's like
driving a race-car, not necessarily a front-drive race car. Also, the
momentum nature of the MX-5's I've been driving begs the same driving
style as these Touring cars, so I think I'm ready to make the
transition. The best part is, I'll only get faster as the year goes on!"

Craig Nagler, owner and director of Tri-Point Motorsports, is once again
ready to test the MAZDA6 against some of racing's best.

"I am looking forward to defending our hard-fought Championships this
year," Nagler said. "It's going to be very tough with all the great
teams we race against in SPEED World Challenge.

"We are changing things up for 2008 by adding drivers Charles Espenlaub
and Jason Saini alongside Jeff, and they are bringing a lot of
excitement to our team. In addition, I think Jason has an excellent
shot at winning Rookie of the Year. As we have been testing and making
plans for the start of our season I really like the way Jeff, Charles,
and Jason work together. Another important point is there will be very
little change in our crew, which should allow us to continue where we
left off in 2007."

The new 2008 Tri-Point driver lineup makes their debut March 12-14 at
the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Presented by Fresh from Florida, where
they will begin their quest to keep the Manufacturers' and Drivers'
crowns in the Mazda trophy cabinet.

Divided into two separate series and races (SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED
Touring Car), the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships are
American's top production car-based series. SCCA SPEED World Challenge
events are a maximum of 50 minutes in length, feature standing starts,
and regularly have grids of more than 30 cars composed of the world's
most popular manufacturers. The 2008 SCCA SPEED World Challenge season
begins March 12- 14 at Sebring International Raceway. For more
information see www.world-challenge.com
<http://www.world-challenge.com/> .

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Attached image: Jeff Altenburg's MAZDA6 proudly carries the No. 1 for
the 2008 SPEED Touring Car season.

Credit: Tri-Point Motorsports

Erin Cechal

SCCA Public Relations Manager

800/770-2055 ext. 354

ecechal@scca.com

www.scca.com

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