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SCCA: Grand Sports Racing to Field the Young Guns of GT

24 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Grand Sports Racing has signed three drivers to pilot their Chevrolet Corvette C5s in 2001G.J. Mennen, 28; Mark Swain, 22; and Bobby Sak, 21.

Mennen, the 1999 Trans-Am Rookie of the Year Runner-Up, returns to the team to pilot the Haulmark Trailers/AmeriHealth entry from 2000. Ontarios Swain brings Canadian technology giant High Speed Sympatico as the primary sponsor on his car and former Pro Spec Racer standout Sak will step up to Speedvision GT in the new K.B. Inc. entry.

"Were excited to bring such a young driver lineup into Speedvision GT this year," said Terry Lackey, Grand Sports Racing Team Manager. "Were in the process of updating our cars and hope to give G.J. a shot at the title and Mark and Bobby a run at the Rookie of the Year honors."

SAPP JOINS DUPONT MOTORSPORTS: Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car Championship Runner-Up and Rookie of the Year Neal Sapp will return to the series in a BMW in 2001, albeit with duPont Motorsports, not with TC Kline Racing, as in 2000.

Sapp recorded six podium finishes in the 10 2000 races driving a TC Kline Racing BMW 328Ciincluding his season-ending maiden win at San Diegoto finish 11 points behind Pierre Kleinubing in the Championship. He joins duPont Motorsports, which had two drivers (Alfred duPont and Paul Alderman) in the top-10 of the final 2000 Speedvision Touring Car standings, recording two poles and one win with team owner duPont.

"DuPont Motorsports gives me a great opportunity to win the Championship," said Sapp. "Aside from having fast cars, as in 2000, the team is stepping up their presentation as well and should become one of the teams that fans will really like to follow in 2001."

Text Provided By Eric Prill

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