ProRally: Prescott Forest Fact Sheet

Event: Prescott Forest PRO Rally XI - Round #8 of the 1997 Michelin PRO Rally Championship. Race cars from around the world will compete at high speeds through the Prescott National Forest, with elevation changes from 4,500 to 6,500 feet.

When: Friday - Saturday, October 2 - 3, 1998 Schedule_-_Friday

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Registration and Technical Inspection Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Parc Expose, Display of Cars Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott

3:00 PM - First car starts - Day #1 of Prescott Forest PRO Rally Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott

8:45 PM - First car finishes - Day #1 Schedule_-_Saturday

noon - 1:00 PM - Parc Expose, Display of Cars Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott

1:00 PM - First car starts - Day #2 of Prescott Forest PRO Rally Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott

8:00 PM - First car finishes Prescott Forest PRO Rally Best Western Prescottonian, Prescott

Schedule - Sunday

9:00 AM - Awards breakfast - Best Western Prescottonian

Where: Rally headquarters will be at the Best Western Prescottonian, 1317 East Gurley Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (520) 445-3096

Duration: 108 stage miles, 250 total miles, 10 stages

Rank: Full National Rally, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America, administered by the SCCA PRO Rally Board, and sponsored nationally by Michelin Tire Company. Presented by the Prescott Forest Rally Association and the Arizona Region of the Sports Car Club of America.

Interviews: Drivers will be available by contacting the press room at the Best Western Prescottonian starting October 1. Series spokes- people are also available through the press room including local driver and former national champion Roger Hull, event organizer Jeff Hendricks, owner of Willow Creek Tire; defending champion Paul Choiniere; and ESPN2 rally producer Doug Plumer.

National TV Coverage: Event will be covered in a 30-minute show which will air on ESPN2 in November - date and times to be announced - check local listings or call the ESPN programming department at (860) 585-2236. Other questions about the programs, including sponsorship opportunities, can be addressed to Doug Plumer, executive producer, at (617) 492-7444. Expected Top National Entries: Paul Choiniere - defending six-time overall national champion - in his Hyundai Tiburon, won Prescott rally in '97; Noel Lawler, second overall at Maine event, in Paul's '96 championship Hyundai Elantra; David Summerbell, from Kingston, Jamaica, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV - first in points after win in California and 2nd in Minnesota; Carl Merrill, with Ford Escort Cosworth that produces more than 400 hp - third in points; Jeffrey Panton, from Kingston, Jamaica, with an ex-Carlos Sainz Toyota Celica GT4; Tony Takaori, doctor from Kyoto, Japana, in new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III; Hiroyuki Genta, close second to Summerbell at California event, in a Subarun Impreza; Mike Whitman, top five finisher, in a Ford Sierra Cosworth; Group 5 leader Ralph Kosmides from California in a new Toyota Twin-turbo Supra -325 hp; Lee Shadbolt, from Oregon, points leader in his Production GT Subaru Impreza; Steve Gingras, '97 Production GT champion, in an Eagle Talon; Roger Hull, fastest Prescott driver, in an Eagle Talon; Janice Damitio, fastest woman driver, from Montisano, Wash., in a Toyota All-trac; Dave White, from Benicia, Calif., points leader in his VW GTI; Bill Malik, Volvo 240, currently 2nd in Group 2; Trevor Donison, from Vancouver, Wash., points leader in his Production class Plymouth Neon ACR.