Testing schedule set for Daytona Prototypes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 20, 2002) -- Grand American Road Racing Association has announced its schedule for testing of the Daytona Prototype coupes. Daytona Prototypes will be the featured class of the Rolex Sports Car Series beginning with the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona next February.

The first test sessions for the new cars will be on November 6-7 at Daytona International Speedway. The tests, which will run as separate sessions during open testing for Rolex Series cars competing in the Grand American Finale the following weekend, will be the first time that the public will see any of these cars in action.

The Daytona Prototypes will be back on the track at Daytona for an exclusive long distance test on December 5-7 that will have an extended 36-hour open test window. The final pre-season tests for the new class will be during the regular January Tests that are scheduled to run January 3-5.

"We have scheduled testing opportunities for Daytona Prototype manufacturers at Daytona so they can get ready for their debut next year," Grand American President Roger Edmondson noted. "At this point we expect to see a couple of teams at the first session in November, a couple more in December and then a sizable field in January. All pre-season tests for Daytona Prototypes are free of charge to teams and builders." Edmondson added that individual teams are also scheduling private testing at Daytona and at other racetracks.

The December test will have the Speedway road course open nonstop for a 36-hour period to allow teams to evaluate their cars over long distance runs. "It doesn't matter to us if they come and run short runs during the day or night or try to go for a full 24-hour test," Director of Competition Dave Watson commented. "The important thing is that they get the time to shake down their cars before February."

Information regarding the Daytona Prototypes, including complete rules and a listing of authorized constructors, is available on the Grand American website at www.grand-am.com.

-grand am-