FIRST DAY OF WHEELS DOWN WINTER TESTS COMPLETE

Sebring, Fl. - The first of four days of exciting American Le Mans Series' testing at Sebring International Raceway has come to an end with representatives of all four ALMS classes joining in on the fun.

Champion Audi led the way with both entries posting incredibly fast unofficial test times. The team of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro, and Allan McNish finished the day behind the wheel of the No. 2 Audi with a best lap time of 1:47.557, beating the qualifying record of 1:48.029 set by Frank Biela in 2002. The No. 1 Audi driven by JJ Lehto, Marco Werner, and Tom Kristensen set the second fastest time of the day with a fast lap of 1:48.073. Intersport Racing tested two cars today both driven by Jon and Clint Field. The team is experimenting with a Lola as well as a Riley Scott MK IIIC.

Last year's LMP2 Champions Miracle Motorsports ran its Courage C65 with drivers John Macaluso, Jeff Bucknum and Chris McMurry. The team utilized its new Kumho tires to post a time of 1:52.668 - just seconds off of the LMP1 times set by Champion Audi.

The ever-popular ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R driven by Terry Borcheller, Johnny Mowlem and Ralph Kelleners was true to form running a best lap of 1:57.931 on its maiden voyage with Michelin tires. Aston Martin, the most anticipated entry of 2005, set a time of 1:58.883 led by drivers David Brabham and Tomas Enge. Aston Martin will release its drivers for the second entry tomorrow.

The familiar BAM! Racing team represented the GT2 class of the ALMS with drivers Tony Burgess, Leo Hindery, and Mike Rockenfeller, setting a fast lap time of 2:06.626

- CARE RACING LARBRE COMPETITION TO ENTER FERRARI 550 MARANELLO AT SEBRING -

The sight and sound of an ALMS race-winning Ferrari Maranello will once again be seen and heard in North America, driven by three reigning Championship titleholders.

A collaboration between Care Racing Development, owners of one of the most successful GT cars in recent years, and Larbre Competition - GTS Champions in the 2004 Le Mans Endurance Series with the same car - will see a 6-litre, V12 Ferrari enter the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The Ferrari will be driven by an all-star champion lineup. Although the team has won championships and several races in the ALMS including Chevy presents Petit Le Mans, it has never won Sebring.

Frederic Dor of Care Racing explained why the Florida classic is so important. "Our cars have been enormously successful over the last three years, thanks to the professionalism and commitment of our partners in the different series."

"This is a very refined race car," said Jack Leconte of Larbre Competition. "Whether you are talking about the aerodynamics or suspension, the engine-gearbox unit or the transmission, everything is spot-on and perfectly reliable. Christopher Bouchut (LMES GTS Champion) will be with us once again and he will be partnered with Fabrizio Gollin (FIA GT Champion) who brings with him so much experience of this car from his years with BMS Scuderia Italia. I am also very pleased to say that Sebastien Bourdais (Champ Car World Series Champion) will join us, which is very exciting news for the series and fans alike. Sabastien's hometown is Le Mans so he has sports car blood in his veins. I think he will have no trouble adapting to the car in a very short time and we will have a really magnificent driving team."

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will be Bourdais first ALMS experience in world-class sports car racing. The Ferrari Maranello that he will be driving was part of the Care Racing team that won four consecutive events to close the 2003 ALMS season. The Ferrari Maranello will be a major challenger to Corvette Racing, which won all nine GT1 events in the ALMS in 2004.

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Great guy.

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Aston Martin Racing Announces Long Awaited Driver Line-up

Sebring, FL - Aston Martin Racing has confirmed an international driver line-up for the 2005 season, which begins with the American Le Mans Series Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March and includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The six drivers introduced today were: David Brabham (Australia), Tomas Enge (Czech Republic), Peter Kox (Netherlands), Pedro Lamy (Portugal), Stephane Ortelli (France) and Darren Turner (UK). This line-up of experienced sports car drivers will share driving duties in the team's two DBR9s at each of the races during 2005. Precise teams will be announced prior to the Sebring race. All the drivers came together for the first time on January 31 at the team's latest test at Sebring, Florida.

"It's great to have such a talented pool of drivers to choose from," said Aston Martin Racing team principal, George Howard-Chappell. "Having worked with most of them before, we know they will bond as a team and work together to help develop the DBR9."

Coming off an interesting season last year in the ALMS with Zytec, competing in both the LMP1 and GTS classes, David Brabham is no less than thrilled to be a part of such an exciting addition to the ALMS.

"When I was speaking with my friends and they asked who I was going to be driving for, I sort of let it slip that I would be driving for Aston Martin," said Brabham. "There is something inside them that goes 'ahhhh, Aston Martin!' I am pleased to have the name back in racing. For me to be a part of it with this group of drivers and the Prodrive team is incredible because people will look back in history and see this as one of those special moments."

"For me its as almost the same as it is for David because driving for Aston Martin is an honor for any driver", said Lamy. "I am really happy to be here with these professionals. This is a strong team and I am excited to be here."

"I think it's important to have reasonable expectations for this year," said Jonathan Ward, Commercial Director for Aston Martin Racing. "People like David Brown (owner of Aston Martin from the 1940's to early 1960's and where the "DB" in DBR9 originates) throughout the history of Aston Martin have always said that it takes three years to develop a car that can win Le Mans. We are hoping that we can do it more quickly than that but it would be unrealistic for us to say that we will win the GT1 class here at Sebring. Clearly we are a committed team of designers, engineers and drivers and in our heart of hearts, we want to win it."

I'd hate to see that thing coming up on me in the rearview.