Tri-Point Heads to Sebring with Foss, Espenlaub, Saini

CANOGA PARK, Calif. March 17, 2009: This week, the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship will descend on Sebring, Fla., for the traditional season-opener Friday, March 20th. Tri-Point Motorsports will be there when the green flag drops with three MAZDA6s, driven by series veterans Charles Espenlaub and Jason Saini, and newcomer Eric Foss.

Foss earned his ride in the No. 75 MAZDA6 the same way his teammate Saini did in 2008 – by winning the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship. The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder provides opportunities for young driving talent to move up through the motorsports ranks with Mazda, and the prize for winning the MX-5 Cup Championship is a season in a Mazda World Challenge Touring Car.

Foss was ecstatic about the first outing with his new team for 2009. “I’m really looking forward to this season,” Foss said. “It’s been a long-time dream of mine to drive in this series and to be able to jump right in with two of my best friends in motorsports is very special.”

Espenlaub and Saini won’t be the only familiar sights to Foss when he lands in central Florida. “For ten years, Sebring was my home away from home. I worked at the Panoz Racing School, so starting my first race in a MAZDA6 Touring Car at Sebring feels like a bit of a homecoming. I can’t thank Mazda enough for this opportunity and I’m hoping to give them a great start to the season.”

“Well it’s about time,” said Espenlaub, who will again be piloting the No. 73 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/Racing Hart MAZDA6. “I’ve been waiting the whole off-season to get back in the Tri-Point Motorsports MAZDA6 and have some fun.”

There are already signs of some great team chemistry forming, as Espenlaub echoed Foss’ sentiments. “I’m really pleased to be working with my good friends Jason and Eric to carry the MAZDASPEED banner at Sebring. Friday can’t come soon enough!”

Saini, returning to the No. 74 MAZDA6 , pointed out how different the racing landscape will be in 2009. “It’s been a long off season, but it’s great to be heading back to Sebring with Tri-Point again and get back to racing,” Saini said. “Obviously, we’re in a tough economic climate to justify racing, but racing is part of Mazda's soul, so we've all worked extra hard to make sure we can be there.”

The Tri-Point squad is now uniquely home to the two previous MX-5 Cup Champions, which has shined a spotlight on Mazda’s commitment to creating a true motorsports ladder in the United States. “For me, this is a continuation of a dream come true that started in 2008,” Saini added. “I think that the three of us are going to make a very strong team. A whole bunch of people have pitched in to make this possible, so many thanks to them!”

The hallmark SPEED World Challenge standing start happens Friday, March 20th at 11:10 a.m. (EDT) in Sebring, Fla., where the Tri-Point Motorsports team will be battling Acura, BMW, and others for their first win in 2009. Live timing and race notes are available at www.world-challenge.com.

The Tri-Point team is proudly supported by the following sponsors whose involvement is critical to the team’s 2009 efforts and continued success: Mazda, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, Racing Hart, Comptech, ZF Sachs, StopTech, Sparco, Chase Cam, Crocotile, Quarter Master, Ron Davis Racing, Pro Parts USA, Mazdas247.com, and Race Sign Specialists.