World Challenge Contingency Sponsors Announced

TOPEKA, Kan. March 13, 2009: With the Toyo Tires SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Season Opener at Sebring less than a week away, competitors have a bevy of contingency programs to choose from for 2009.

Auto manufacturers American Honda, BMW North America, MAZDASPEED and Volkswagen of America will each offer generous awards to their drivers for a successful race. America Honda will reward all Acura drivers who finish in the top 10 of a World Challenge Touring Car race, including $10,000 for a race win. BMW has set up a program to pay awards to registered BMW drivers finishing in the top five of any World Challenge Touring Car race, with $5,000 going to a BMW driver who takes a race win. Mazda’s payout schedule extends to registered drivers finishing in the top six. A win in a Mazda this season will net $8,000. For Volkswagen drivers, finishing in the top five will bring in some contingency dough, topping out at $7,500 for a race win.

Makers of high-quality racing wheels, BBS of America and Forgeline Motorsports have prepared programs for both World Challenge GT and Touring Car. Registered participants using BBS wheels are eligible to receive a $400 product certificate for a race win or a $200 certificate for a runner-up finish. Forgeline will pay $500 to those who win on their wheels, plus $350 for a runner-up finish and $250 for a third-place finish.

Teams need nitrogen to fill the tires wrapped around their wheels, so Airgas is offering a 100% nitrogen credit to registered World Challenge GT and Touring Car winners. Additionally, Airgas offers a 50% credit to a runner-up finisher and a 25% credit to a third-place finisher.

Hawk Performance will once again offer prizes in both World Challenge GT and Touring Car. Drivers registered in the program can earn a $300 product credit for a race win, a $200 product credit for finishing third or a $100 product credit for finish fifth.

Staubli Corporation continues its World Challenge Touring Car program in 2009. The first eligible competitor using Staubli connectors to cross the finish line will win a $300 product certificate. This award can only be won once, however, so a driver doesn’t necessarily need to win to take home the prize.

World Challenge welcomes two new contingency programs in 2009 from Invisible Glass and OPTIMA Batteries. Keeping World Challenge cars looking sleek and shiny, Invisible Glass offers $100 to eligible World Challenge GT and Touring Car competitors who finish in the top five. OPTIMA Batteries will also post in both classes, giving away a free battery to each registered driver finishing in the top three.

"The WC Vision team has been very focused on strengthening the series through the development of strategic marketing partnerships,” WC Vision VP of Partnership Relations Scott Bove said. “In the past several months, we have developed new sponsor relationships and increased manufacturer involvement with several new manufacturers joining this year. Everyone is excited about the new post-produced TV format, which will allow the series to deliver enhanced value and awareness to our sponsors, teams and to the series. Even in the challenging economic climate we are in, the level of interest in our series is incredibly high with new opportunities coming to us almost every day. In fact, you can expect to see several more sponsorship announcements from World Challenge in the near future.”

Competitors must register for each contingency program to be eligible for prizes. Information packets are available at each event and at www.world-challenge.com in the competitor information section.

The Toyo Tires SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Season Opener at Sebring begins Wednesday, March 18, with races taking place on Friday, March 20. Follow all the action at www.world-challenge.com, including live timing, lap notes and photo galleries.