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GT: Several top drivers make Speedvision GT season debut at San Diego

2 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Several top drivers will make their first Speedvision GT appearance of the season at this weekends Grand Prix of San Diego finale, including three-time World Challenge Champion Neil Hannemann, BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series race-winner Leighton Reese and open-wheel racing standout Andy Lally.

Hannemann, the 1992 Class D, 1994 Touring Car and 1995 Touring Champion, will drive the No. 77 Viper Speed Dodge Viper GTS. Hannemann drove with Viper Speed in the teams first season, recording five podium finishes in seven 1998 races. Hannemann has not driven in the Speedvision World Challenge since the Pikes Peak finale in 1998.

Reese will debut the No. 66 NayKid Racing/DRM C500R Chevrolet Corvette C5the latest creation from Doug Rippie Motorsports and team car to Scotty B. White. The car will carry a similar livery to Whites car, with screaming neon yellow replacing the screaming neon green.

"Were preparing for 2001, and wed hoped to have the car ready for Laguna Seca to get the final three races in this year, but ran into some delays," said Rippie. "Leighton [Reese] let us know that hed like to drive the car, and we figured hed be a great guy to do it. Its a one-race deal with Leighton, but we do plan on running the car all year in 2001." Reese will shake the car down at Bragg Smith Driving School outside of Las Vegas on Thursday.

While the race will only be Reeses fourth in a Speedvision World Challenge car, he is not eligible for Rookie status due to a win in his last World Challenge foray, at Mosport Park in 1991.

Lally will make his Speedvision World Challenge debut in the No. 08 Grand Sport Racing/Haulmark Race Trailers Chevrolet Corvette C5. A multi-race winner in the Motorola Cup, Lally is considered one of the top young open-wheel drivers in North America, winning the Valvoline Team USA Scholarship in 1999 and a ride in the Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series in England.

The 1997 U.S. F2000 National Championship Rookie of the Year, Lally has enjoyed success in each series which he has participated, including the Barber Dodge Pro Series, American Cities Racing League and the CART Toyota Atlantic Series.

"This is exciting, because Speedvision World Challenge has got a really awesome thing going right now," said Lally, 24, who helped BMW to the series

Championship. "I really enjoy street races, and have done well on them this season. Im happy Grand Sports Racing have given me this opportunity, and hope we can get up to the front."

Text Provided By Eric Prill

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.