Synergy Racing announces two cars for Daytona 24

Synergy Racing powered by Porsche ready for two-car Rolex 24 campaign; Worldwide Porsche stars and Champ Car pilots ready for hotly contested GT Class battle

(Daytona Beach, FL) 5 January 08--Famed Porsche campaigner Synergy Racing announced on Saturday ay a two-car assault on the 46th Annual Rolex 24 At Daytona as the team looks to start the 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season with a new chapter of success. One of Grand-Am's winningest teams will utilize the Grand-Am specification Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The two GT Class entries will carry on the Synergy tradition, once again carrying the traditional team numbers 80 and 81.

The powerful driver line ups for both entries boast both speed and experience as well as reflecting Synergy Racing's close association with Porsche, which will chase an unprecedented 62nd sixty-second class victory in the race and a 37th class win for the Porsche 911.

The No. 80 EMC/Gamewell Mechanical Porsche GT3 Cup will see Mark Greenberg, Damien Faulkner, Jan Heylen, and Lance Arnold team up as the No. 81 marks the return of Steve Johnson to the team to partner with Patrick Huisman, Robert Dornbos, and Richard Lietz.

"The GT Class field is amazingly competitive again this year, but we think if you are going to win this race, you are going to need to be in a Porsche," Synergy Racing team principal Cole Scrogham. "This is going to be a fantastic race for the fans, and our goal is to be the lead Porsche when the checkered flag falls on Sunday and with the driver line-ups we have for both cars, we know we have an opportunity to do just that."

Synergy Racing powered by Porsche will get warmed up for the 46th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona with three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway January 3-5 before returning in two weeks' time for the race, which will take the green flag on January 25th.

No. 80 GT- 2007 Porsche GT3 Cup "Grand Am" version, sponsored by EMC/Gamewell Mechanical.

Mark Greenberg-semi professional driver from Boston, MA, several Grand Am podium finishes, last drove with Synergy Racing in 2005. Back for '08 for several races including Daytona.

Damien Faulkner-Dublin, Ireland driver with many years of professional experience in the Porsche 997GT3, multiple British Carrera Cup Champion with podium finishes in 48 of 50 starts, runner-up in his inaugural season of worldwide SuperCup competition, exceptionally fast and talented driver.

Jan Heylen-Geel, Belgium driver currently in Champcar competition, finished 2nd in Belgian round of the Champcar series, multiple wins in both GT and open wheel competition, rising star in motorsports.

Lance Arnold-Duisburg, 21 year old German driver currently one of 2 Porsche "Junior" drivers set to move up into the factory driver ranks. Competes on the UPS Junior team in the Porsche SuperCup series, as well as the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany -- both in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer, very talented and fast young driver in the Porsche factory mold.

#81 GT-2008 Porsche GT3 Cup "Grand Am" version.

Steve Johnson-All American tight end with VA Tech, professional football player with both Dallas and New England, ankle injury ended his football career and he turned to sportscar racing. Best finish so far is 4th at both Daytona and Watkins Glen, looking for his first career podium. One of the first American drivers to run a Porsche Supercup race (Indianapolis 2003)

Patrick Huisman-Boekolo, Netherlands driver with 3 Four Porsche Supercup Championships in a row (1997 -- 2000) -- the only driver to ever accomplish this feat worldwide SuperCup Championships and multiple race wins in Europe including a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 911 in 1999 LeMans Champion in 2000. DTM series with Mercedes, Porsche factory test driver. Has never won at Daytona, been with Synergy Racing since 1998 with multiple podium finishes.

Robert Doornbos-Dutch driver that currently resides in Monaco, test driver for Minardi F1 team and primary driver for Minardi Champcar team, multiple race wins and a huge fan following in Europe. No experience in a Porsche GT car but we think he'll catch on...

Richard Lietz-Ybsittz, Austria, 2nd year as a Porsche factory driver, fresh from European LeMans series Championship in a Porsche RSR against Ferrari's F-430. Second year with Synergy Racing at Daytona. Multiple Porsche SuperCup wins, Rally experience, developed the GT3RS street version at Weissach. Most important: was on the winning Porsche 911 GT3 RSR team which won the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans -- trying to become one of the few drivers to win the two most famous 24-hour sports car races.

-credit: sr