RACE: Florida Region Homestead inaugural 12 hour preview

Florida Region SCCA announces the inaugural Kumho Tires Tropical 12 Hours of Homestead.

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA (January 20, 2003)- The Florida Region of the Sports Car Club of America with support from Kumho Tires is hosting its Inaugural Kumho Tires Tropical 12 Hour Endurance race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on April 18 and 19, 2003. The event promises drivers the opportunity to compete at a top-notch facility, and will allow spectators the chance to experience competitive endurance racing in the up-close, spectator friendly atmosphere, which is a trademark of SCCA amateur racing.

The Kumho Tires Tropical 12 Hours of Homestead Chairman John Anderson expects a full field of 60 cars competing among the tropical breezes and swaying palm trees of the beautiful Homestead-Miami Speedway, home to the Cart, NASCAR, IRL and Grand Am race series. The course utilized by SCCA for the Kumho Tires Tropical 12 Hours at Homestead-Miami Speedway is a challenging venue combining parts of the oval and most of the FIA infield road course. The excellent facilities available at Miami-Homestead Speedway make it the ideal location for fans and competitors alike.

The Kumho Tropical 12 Hour of Homestead will be open to competitors in the following SCCA classes: ITS-ITA-ITB-ITC-ITGT-IT7 (Improved Touring)-T1-T2 (Touring) -SSB, SSC (Showroom Stock)-P1-P2, SPU-SPO (Super Production)-Spec Miata (Equally prepared Mazda Miatas), and SRF (Spec Racer Ford). The classing system allows the event to boast simultaneous "race within a race" scenarios as each car is scored both overall and in its own class. These classes encompass a wide variety of makes and models as well as several purpose-built racecars. Each car will have three to four drivers competing as a team. Each team will complete multiple pit stops for re-fueling and driver changes throughout the event. All teams must race on DOT approved tires. Kumho Tires manufactures the DOT approved V700 Victoracer and V700 Ecsta for most of the classes competing in the 12 Hour event.

In additional to Kumho Tires serving as title sponsor, Kumho will also make available trackside tire support for all teams including additional technical support for teams using Kumho tires. Kumho is also awarding very generous contingency prizes for those class winners competing on Kumho tires and displaying Kumho decals. The Kumho class podium awards will be 1st place $600, 2nd place $300 and 3rd place $100.

The Official Brake Supplier of the Kumho Tires Tropical 12 Hours will be Cobalt Friction Technologies headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Cobalt Friction Technologies will be providing on-site customer support during the event. Cobalt Friction Technologies is offering all competitors a 10% discount on all Cobalt Friction products. In addition Cobalt is offering contingency prizes for all classes in the form of Cobalt product credit to all entrants displaying Cobalt Friction Technologies' decals. The Cobalt Friction Technologies' awards will be 1st place $100, 2nd place $50, and 3rd place $25. In addition Cobalt is offering a cash prize to the top three overall finishers, 1st place $200, 2nd place $100, 3rd place $50. Cobalt will also provide each class pole sitter with a free bottle of Cobalt Friction Technologies XRF brake fluid.

The Official Racing School of the Kumho Tires Tropical 12 Hour of Homestead will be the Justin Bell GT Racing School. Justin Bell GT Racing School will provide track prepared ZO6 Corvettes for use as the pace cars. In addition, Justin Bell GT Racing School will be offering prizes for a worker raffle in the form of racing school credits with a total value of $5,800. Credits will be redeemable for racing schools at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Virginia International Raceway, or Moroso Motorsports Park. The Justin Bell GT Racing School's generous worker awards will include three ½-day racing schools, two 1-day racing schools, and one 2-day racing school.

Established in 1960, KUMHO Tire is the tenth largest tire manufacturer in the world, with 2001 sales of $1.4 billion, and is owned by KUMHO Industrial Company Ltd. of Seoul, South Korea. Kumho manufactures and distributes a complete line of tires for passenger cars, light trucks and heavy-duty trucks. Kumho has manufacturing facilities in Korea and China and operates technical centers in Birmingham, England, and Akron, Ohio.

-www.Floridaregionscca.com