Panoz Joins Patron Highcroft In Miles To End Malaria Campaign

Braselton, July 16, 2009: American Le Mans Series founder Dr. Don Panoz and wife Nancy are contributing to Patrón Highcroft Racing's Miles to End Malaria campaign.Click here for Hi-Res The American Le Mans Series team joined forces with Malaria No More at the commencement of the 2009 season, aiming to raise money for every mile they complete during the championship year. Race fans have also made per-mile pledges via www.milestoendmalaria.org.

With four of the 10 races now completed, the fundraising total has now reached $27,550.19. Two of the six remaining races will dramatically boost the total with the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA6 and the four-hour final round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca winding out the year.

Dr. Panoz founded the American Le Mans Series championship in 1999 - inspired by the world's most famous endurance event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.

Current Patrón Highcroft Racing driver David Brabham formerly drove for Panoz's own team in the Series from 1999 to 2002.

“When I was a child, malaria was still a major problem in the US. Fortunately, the disease has been eradicated here but it is still a major issue in Africa,” Dr. Panoz said. “I applaud what Duncan Dayton and the Patrón Highcroft Racing team have done with Malaria No More and am delighted to make a contribution to the Miles to End Malaria campaign.

“The American Le Mans Series has thousands of fans around the world and I think it is great that the Miles to End Malaria campaign can access this fan base to help fight this problem in Africa,” Dr. Panoz added.

All monies raised will help combat malaria deaths in Africa via the purchase of mosquito nets. Every mile sends another mosquito net to a family in Africa, helping them protect themselves from the bite of a malaria mosquito.

Patrón Highcroft Racing is leading the LMP1 championship heading to Lime Rock. Click here for Hi-Res “Dr. Panoz joins an impressive group of leaders, including race car drivers David Brabham and Scott Sharp, entertainment icons like Ryan Seacrest and Ashton Kutcher, and world leaders UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Obama, working together to shine a light upon this global issue,” said Scott Case, CEO of Malaria No More. “We are so grateful that Dr. Panoz is helping us raise awareness and ensure that every mile helps declare victory against malaria.”

Malaria is a disease of the blood, transmitted from person to person by certain types of mosquitoes. Although eradicated in the United States more than 50 years ago, the disease kills almost one million people every year - most of them young children in Africa.

Patrón Highcroft Racing aims to complete more miles for the cause this weekend at the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in the Lakeville, Conn., on Saturday, July 18.

Not only is team fighting hard to end malaria deaths, the team is also heading the pack for title success, leading the LMP1 class in the 2009 championship.

The Lime Rock event is the home race for the Danbury, Conn.-based team. The track was also the scene of the squad's first overall victory in the American Le Mans Series last year with Brabham and co-driver Sharp.

“We are certainly extremely thankful to Dr. Panoz for contributing to our Miles to End Malaria campaign," Patrón Highcroft Racing owner, Duncan Dayton said. “Our entire team has been touched by the level of support by the fans and the entire sports car racing community. We have some big races ahead - every mile we finish is another step closer to chasing our championship goals and saving as many lives as possible from malaria in Africa.”

Malaria No More is a non-profit organization working to end malaria deaths in Africa by providing access to malaria prevention and treatment tools-including life-saving mosquito nets-by the end of 2010.