Eliseo Salazar to Pilot Second HUMMER for Robby Gordon's Team HUMMER in the 2011 Dakar Rally

Buenos Aires, December 31, 2010: Robby Gordon has enlisted the driving skills of Chilean, Eliseo Salazar, to contribute to the efforts of Team HUMMER and their quest to win the infamous Dakar Rally. Salazar and navigator, Steve La Roza, will be driving the No. 327 SPEED Energy / Cristal CERO HUMMER race vehicle in the cross country test of endurance.

Salazar’s racing roots run deep. Beginning his career in 1981, Eliseo is the only Chilean to ever race in the Formula 1 series. He also holds the title of the only driver in the world to race the Monaco Grand Prix, 24-Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500, 24-Hours of Daytona and the Dakar Rally.

The 2011 rally will be Salazar’s second attempt at the Dakar Rally. When asked what it means to join Team HUMMER Salazar states, “It’s the highlight of my career. To race with Team HUMMER means to be a part of one of the most important teams in the Dakar Rally.” For Eliseo, racing with Robby Gordon as a teammate is the ultimate experience because “he is a friend and an outstanding off road racer.”

“I am personally very excited about having Eliseo driving on our team. I have raced with Eliseo before in Indy cars. In fact, we were teammates in 2001 when we both drove for Foyt in the Indianapolis 500. Eliseo has driven the first version of the HUMMER before and has been racing rallies in Chile for the last few years, so I know this is going to help him with driving the HUMMER. With Cristal CERO being partners with Speed Energy on Eliseo's HUMMER, it gives us great opportunities in Chile and Argentina with Speed to become an international brand. I look forward to this year’s adventure with Eliseo - watching and rooting for him to crack the top 10,” commented Robby Gordon.

Being a native of Chile and racing in his home country is an honor for Eliseo Salazar. “The Dakar route covers my native country so it will be special for me to be in touch with fans all over Chile who have supported my thirty-six year racing career.” He also knows that the terrain through the Atacama Desert will be the hardest and most extreme, so “it will be important to be well prepared for these stages,” says Salazar.

Alongside Salazar will be his navigator, Steve La Roza. La Roza has gained most of his Dakar experience in the motorbike category, but is up for the challenge of navigating the SPEED Energy / Cristal CERO HUMMER through the most difficult race course on the planet.