CARS FOR 2010 RACING OUT OF ÉLAN MOTORSPORTS TECHNOLOGIES

DP08 for USF2000 and DP02 for Cooper Tires Prototype Lites in high demand for 2010 championship seasons

BRASELTON, Ga. (March 10, 2010) – The work is steady and the results speak for themselves at Élan Motorsports Technologies. North America’s premier manufacturer of race cars and components is hard at work successfully producing and delivering the Van Diemen/Élan DP08 to satisfied customers for the 2010 Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda.

JDC Motorsports and Andretti Autosport are the latest organizations to receive the latest generation of chassis for the renowned open-wheel development series, part of the Indy Racing League’s “Road to Indy” ladder system. In addition to building and presenting turn-key race cars to its clients, EMT through its partner Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Inc., are supplying spare parts, upgrade kits and world-class service to its customer base.
“It is extremely gratifying not only to see the first deliveries of the next-generation Van Diemen/Élan DP08 but also witness the extreme amount of satisfaction our customers profess in receiving their new cars,” said Steve Makin, general manager of EMT. “This is the result of absolutely tireless dedication by what I consider to be the most capable, skilled and hardest working manufacturing team in North American motorsports.”
USF2000 announced in December the Van Diemen arm of Élan as the primary constructor for the series. Van Diemen chassis will be prominent in the 12-round 2010 season, which will feature two classes of competition at seven venues on both road and street courses as well as oval circuits. The season starts with a doubleheader weekend March 27-28 on the St. Petersburg (Fla.) street circuit.

Élan will be sole constructor in the top-level Championship class with Van Diemen models from 2001 to the next-generation DP08 for 2010 able to compete. Van Diemen cars also are eligible for the National class, which is open to cars that conform to the current SCCA Formula Continental regulations.

The new 2010-spec DP08 features improved side intrusion panels and headrest / cockpit surround for driver safety, new Élan custom-built steering rack, new uprights and brakes (in cooperation with Performance Friction Corporation). Comprehensive aerodynamic and wing update packages also available for Élan customers with previous Van Diemen models.

The updates have already proven to be of championship caliber. At the SCCA National Runoffs in October at Road America, Van Diemen cars dominated the Formula Continental feature with a podium sweep, the top-five fastest qualifiers and five fastest trap speeds in the race.

EMT also is well-positioned as the chassis supplier in the premier Lites 1 class for IMSA’s Cooper Tire Prototype Lites Championship. L1 features the Élan DP02 powered by a 2.3-liter Mazda MP2 engine. Twenty-one of the DP02s – including multiple, newly built and delivered cars – will take the grid for the season-opening event weekend at Sebring International Raceway.

“While I won’t pretend the last 18 months have been anything less than a challenge, the results and world-class product line EMT have and continue to produce are second-to-none,” said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of Panoz Motor Sports Group, to which EMT belongs. “The success EMT is currently experiencing is a testament to the leadership of Steve Makin and hard work from every EMT staff member. The advances they have made not just in the motorsport arena but in aerospace, defense and related areas continue to show that our brightest days remain ahead.”

About Élan Motorsports Technologies
Elan Motorsports Technologies, part of the Panoz Motor Sports Group, is a widely diversified, ISO 9001:2008 company that specializes in design and engineering. It is comprised of Elan Composites, Elan Power Products, Elan Precision Engineering and Van Diemen. Continually using new design and manufacturing processes, EMT offers customers a wealth of superior design and manufacturing expertise in motor racing as well as general automotive and aerospace applications. From basic design to the completion of a finished product, EMT applies the highest principles in performance engineering.

On the motorsports side, EMT manufactures chassis and parts for the Superleague Formula Series. It also manufactures chassis for IMSA’s Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship, the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda and a variety of SCCA competitions. EMT’s non-automotive divisions supply components to military, aircraft and aerospace customers in North America.

About Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Inc.
Carl Haas formed Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Inc., in 1960 to fill a need for quality race cars and parts in the rapidly growing professional and amateur racing industry. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010, the organization is the global leader in race car parts and component distribution for professional and amateur competitors and teams across open-wheel and sports car platforms. CHA is based in Chicago. For more information, visit www.haasauto.com.

About Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda
Many top drivers in the IZOD IndyCar Series and endurance sports car racing honed their skills in F2000, and the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda is an important training ground for rising stars. Debuting in 2010, it is the revival of the very popular USF2000 series of 1990 through 2006. Sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, it is one of only two series that are part of both the IRL’s Road to Indy ladder system and the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development program. For more information, see www.f2000.com.

Courtesy ALMS © RIF