Elan Motorsports Technologies news 2009-12-10

ELAN'S VAN DIEMEN AT FOREFRONT OF REBORN USF2000 SERIES
Exclusive constructor for top-level Championship class

ORLANDO, Fla. (December 10, 2009) Elan Motorsports Technologies will be deeply involved with the relaunch of North America's premier development platforms for tomorrow's open-wheel competitors. The Van Diemen arm of Elan will be the primary constructor for the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda, both organizations announced Thursday at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Orlando, Fla.

Van Diemen chassis will be prominent in the 12-round 2010 season, which will feature two classes of competition at seven venues on both road and street courses as well as oval circuits. It will be sole constructor in the top-level Championship class with Van Diemen models from 2001 to the next-generation DP08 for 2010 able to compete. Van Diemen cars also are eligible for the National class, which is open to cars that conform to the current SCCA Formula Continental regulations.

"When you look back at the history and tradition of F2000 in the United States, it has always been an outstanding incubator of professional drivers, developing some of the greatest American road-racing and oval drivers," said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of Panoz Motor Sports Group the Georgia-based company to which Van Diemen and Elan belong. "We are proud and honored to be associated with yet another world-class championship like USF2000 and continuing the success Van Diemen has always had at this level of the sport. We wish Dan Andersen and his management team success and look forward to the coming season with Elan and Van Diemen playing a critical role."

Van Diemen designers and constructors have been hard at work developing upgrades to the DP08, which dominated the SCCA National Runoffs two months ago a podium sweep, the top-five fastest qualifiers and five fastest trap speeds in the race. New for the 2010-spec DP08 is a stronger steel chassis, improved side intrusion panels and headrest / cockpit surround for driver safety, new Elan custom-built steering rack, new uprights and brakes (in cooperation with Performance Friction Corporation) and a comprehensive bodywork and wing update package for improved aerodynamic performance. "In the F2000 world, Van Diemen is by far the chassis of choice for North American drivers, and to be able to enter into a relationship with Elan for the USF2000 series makes complete sense," said Dan Andersen, co-owner and chief executive officer, Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda. "With Elan, we're convinced that our teams and drivers will have reliable, well-built cars. We are delighted to have Elan as our partner."

Elan Motorsports Technologies, part of Panoz Motor Sports Group, is a multi- faceted technology, race car and engine building entity comprised of Elan Composites, Elan Power Products, Elan Precision Engineering and Van Diemen. Elan race cars have claimed winners' trophies and championships at the most prestigious races in the world including the Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.

About Van Diemen
Founded in 1973, Van Diemen has a long and successful tradition as one of the world's largest volume manufacturer of racing cars. With production facilities in England and Georgia, Van Diemen professionally services its clients throughout the world. Part of Elan Motorsports Technologies since 2002, Van Diemen prides itself on building a wide range of race cars that are fast, reliable and affordable to purchase and operate.

About Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda
Many top drivers in the IZOD IndyCar Series and endurance sports car racing honed their skills in F2000, and the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda is an important training ground for rising stars. Debuting in 2010, it is the revival of the very popular USF2000 series of 1990 through 2006. Sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, it is one of only two series that are part of both the IRL's Road to Indy ladder system and the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development program.

-credit: emt