Petersen/ White Lightning Picks-Up New Porsche RSR

LAS VEGAS, February 23, 2004 � The familiar Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing graphics which have appeared on American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT class Porsches since 1999; will be flown on Porsche's new 911 GT3 RSR in 2004. Petersen/ White Lightning took delivery of its new RSR in Los Angeles and has begun preparations to campaign the full, nine-race ALMS schedule with drivers David Murry, Cumming, Ga., and Craig Stanton, Long Beach, Calif., in the No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Justice Brothers Michelin-tired Porsche. The 2003 Road America 500 GT class winners have started an extensive tear-down of the latest iteration of the world's most recognized sports car, the Porsche 911, in order to learn its every nuance and make unique-to-Petersen/White Lightning �tweaks' to the car in preparation for the 52nd running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20. While each of Porsche's 445 horsepower 911 GT3 RSRs is built to the exacting standards of the Weissach, Germany-based Porsche Motorsports, the Dale White-led team incorporates special features learned from decades of endurance and off-road competition into each new race car. Due to this preparation time, time that the team feels is more valuable than on-track testing, the Las Vegas-based operation will not run on-track until March 15 at Sebring International Raceway. Following tear-down and rebuild, the all-white Porsche will be festooned in those familiar Westward Ho Casino graphics which take nearly a week to apply. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is the competitive extension of the highly successful 911 GT3 R and RS that have dominated GT class competition since GT3 introduction in its current, water-cooled (chassis designation 996) form. The RSR has extensive improvements over the 2003 RS model. Improvements include better aerodynamic downforce on the front axles, a sequential gearbox, increased horsepower and torque ratings and safety improvements. The Michael Petersen-owned car will be the primary mount of the team in 2004. However, the team's 2003 RS, which won the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans (in conjunction with Alex Job Racing) and the Road America round of the ALMS, will be utilized as a back-up car for Murry and Stanton. Uwe Brettel, Porsche Motorsport North America president: “As long-time Porsche Motorsport customers, Mike Petersen and Dale White have really risen to the top of the Porsche pack in the last year with their win at Le Mans and the ALMS victory at Road America. We are confident that they will prepare their new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR very competitively to aim for the podium all year.”Mike Petersen, owner: “Just recently the new 2004 RSR has hit the Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing shop. What a fantastic looking car! We are all very excited to get the current car stickered-up and get it to the track soon in preparation for the 2004 ALMS season. I can hardly wait to drive it!”Dale White, team manager: “I couldn't be happier with the new car. Porsche has done another exceptional job with design and manufacture. Combined with Kent Moore's meticulous preparation and we will have a winner.” Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing began operation as an off-road team in the 1980s winning over 50 truck victories, including three-consecutive overall wins at the Baja 1000, and multiple championships. Since beginning sports car racing, the effort has scored victories in the ALMS, the Trans-Am Series, Speed Challenge Series and endurance sports car wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Alex Job Racing, Watkins Glen and at the Rolex 24 of Daytona. For more, please visit www.petersenmotorsports.com. To learn more about the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, please visit www.porsche.com .###