28th June 2003

PRODRIVE FERRARI READY TO RENEW US BATTLE

After a convincing victory in the GTS category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Care Racing Ferrari 550 Maranellos – campaigned by British motorsport specialists, Prodrive – are now in the US for the forthcoming Atlanta Grand Prix in Georgia on Sunday, 29th June.

The Prodrive Ferrari team is looking forward to renewing its challenge with rivals Corvette Racing, amongst others, on some of North America’s premier road racing circuits.

The 2.54-mile (12 turn) Road Atlanta track - home of the 10 Hour Petit Le Mans event which last October saw a fiercely competitive GTS battle between the Ferrari and Corvette – will be familiar ground for the four drivers representing the team.

International sportscar stars Tomas Enge (CZ) and Peter Kox (NL), two of the winning crew at Le Mans, will be anxious to continue their path to the top step of the winners’ rostrum and revenge their narrow defeat in the 2002 Petit Le Mans. They will be joined by sportscar debutante Danica Patrick, who gained knowledge of the track at a recent official test day as well as additional test sessions organised with the kind co-operation of IMSA and the Road Atlanta track this week. Early plans for her to test the car immediately after Le Mans had to be changed following the accident which befell the #80 car at the 24 Hour event.

The Illinois native will be partnered for the race by the experienced Frenchman, Jérôme Policand, replacing Anthony Davidson whose increased F1 testing commitments have now precluded him from entering any ALMS events.

Policand, who brings a wealth of sportscar experience with him, including an entry to the 1998 Petit Le Mans in a Riley & Scott prototype, drove the Luc Alphand Aventures Ferrari 550 Maranello at the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside Care Racing’s founder and CEO Frederic Dor, and will therefore be well equipped to set up the car for the race and guide the young North American in endurance race strategy.

The 2h45 race will be broadcast live on CBS (4pm EDT), on Eurosport (time TBA, Sunday 29th) and live on the radio web www.americanlemans.com