Nurburgring 24H: Shane Lewis preview

Shane Lewis excited to compete in his third 24 Hours Of Nurburgring

Lewis joins Gotz Motorsports to mark his Twenty-Eighth 24 Hour Career Race

Nurburg, Germany (May 13, 2010) Shane Lewis returns to International competition for this weekend's 24 Hours of Nurburgring, Germany driving for Gotz Motorsport, Lewis will join his former 6 hour race winning team mate Vic Rice along with German Champion drivers Axel Duffner and Karl Planz in the all new No. 70 Gotz Motorsport Audi RS-4 twin Turbo V-8. Over 250 teams have entered to qualify for the massive 220 car grid on a track known as "The Green Hell" by drivers all over the globe. This 24 hour race runs on one of the last remaining, classic road courses first raced on in 1927. Nurburgring's Nordschleife. translated to English as the "North Swipe" or "North Course" is the longest closed-circuit race course in the world at 25.359 kilometers (15.75 miles). The 73-turn track is made from the original 1920's course and the 4.55 Km Grand Prix Course used in the Formula One World Championship, and is widely considered the toughest, most dangerous and most demanding purpose-built racing circuit ever built. Lewis has had a stream of success driving Porsches on this challenging course beginning with his first time competing in the 2000 European Le Mans Series taking 3rd place on the GP course. In 2004 he made his debut in the prestigious 24 Hour of Nurburgring with Vic Rice placing 3rd in class and 19th overall out of 230 entries. Last year he and Vic joined forces again, this time with Gotz Motorsports for the 6 hours of Nurburgring, taking the victory in class. With the success of the event last year, Gotz Motorsport decided to bring back the dynamic duo to co-drive with Duffner and Planz developing a fierce team to

conquer one of the most challenging events on the sports car world circuit to seek another podium finish. "The Ring is my all time favorite race course." Lewis said. "This is the greatest race course of all times. There is no other place like it in the world. It can never be replicated, copied or outdone. To drive here is the single greatest experience a racer could ever have. To win here is to be among the best that has ever driven. Winning the 6 hour last year makes me push even harder to win the 24."

The May 15th start of his third 24 Hours of Nurburgring will add a remarkable twenty-eighth 24 hour race to Shane's resume. It is his sixth 24 hour endurance race in Europe with three starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans ('99, '00 and '03) and 2 starts at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring ('04 and '05). Lewis is hoping to add another 24 hour victory to his already impressive list this weekend Practice for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring begins on Thursday, May 13 with the first of two, timed practice and qualifying sessions. The race begins at 3 pm (local time) Saturday, May 15 th and will take the checked flag at 3 pm on Sunday, May 16th . Live Broadcast Sport 1 (formerly DSF).

-source: shanelewis.com