Terri Hundertmark represents WGGTS at 'Women in Racing Week'
6 July 2000
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, Wednesday, July 5, 2000- Race driver Terri Hundertmark, of Indianapolis, Indiana, will join a group of women race drivers at the SPIRIT of Ford’s “Women in Racing Week” from July 10th through July 14th. The weeklong celebration of women in auto racing will begin with a special media day to be held July 6th at the Ford Motor Company's automotive adventure center, SPIRIT of Ford, in Dearborn, Michigan. The former jet-ski racer will have on display with her the Panoz Esperante WGGTS Ford that she runs in the Women’s Global GT Series (WGGTS). "Women racing cars is not a new concept. They have been racing cars since there were cars to race,” commented Hundertmark. “It is just more talked about in the media and accepted by our society today. Many sponsors have now seen that motorsports is a great form of advertising and see that the women's market is huge, so they have started seeking out talented women racers. Also, there are many development programs now to help talented kids, rich or poor, male or female, to be racers and mechanics and that has helped to increase awareness of women drivers.” “Women in Racing Week” is designed to enlighten SPIRIT of Ford visitors about the contributions made by women in auto racing. It is also meant to encourage a new generation of women to become involved in the sport in many different positions, not solely as drivers. “One of my personal goals when I began racing was to help young girls understand that they could do anything they want,” reflected the sole female spokesperson for the Michigan-based Racing For Kids program. “If they want to drive that is great, but women are also involved in engineering, design, as mechanics and any number of other positions. All of those positions are just as important parts of the racing team as the driver is.” Other representatives of “women in racing” will join Hundertmark- who works with Michelin North American in several capacities- throughout the week. Other participants include junior drag racers and SCCA Club racers. "Our Women in Racing week will showcase dynamic women racecar drivers who represent wisdom, success and diligence,” remarked Shanda McKeehan, Public Relations and Communications Coordinator for SPIRIT of Ford. “Our guests will have the chance to meet these women up-close and be inspired by their determination, drive and ambition. Children especially stand to benefit from these drivers who can teach them the educational aspects of racing, and spark an interest in a career in racing as not only a driver, but maybe an engineer, designer or technician. Creating safe, fast race cars is one way Ford Motor Company engineers fine-tune the technologies that make their way into production vehicles." The Women’s Global GT Series is comprised of identically prepared tube-frame, closed cockpit Panoz Esperante WGGTS cars. Each entry is powered by a Ford 4.6 litre, double overhead cam V8 engine. The production-based Ford V8 generates 320 horsepower. Panoz Auto Development and the Panoz Racing School in Braselton, Georgia build the Panoz race cars. The Panoz-Ford WGGTS accompanying Hundertmark for the “Women in Racing Week” will remain on display at SPIRIT of Ford throughout the summer. Hundertmark’s next WGGTS event will be July 23rd at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California. She will pilot the TCR/Michelin/ MsSpeed.com/ Racing For Kids/ Panoz Ford. The WGGTS rookie currently sits eighth in the series point standings following two races in the six race 2000 schedule.