Shane Lewis Returns to N�rburgring with Top Porsche Drive for 24 Hours

by Thomas Moore

N�RBURGRING, Germany, May 2, 2005 � Steam-racing GmbH announced Shane Lewis as the final driver for its assault on the 33rd Annual ADAC Z�rich 24-Hour Race N�rburgring Nordschleife. The announcement, made today in Germany, marks the second straight year the Jupiter, Florida-resident has been asked to drive the No.3 steam-racing Porsche 911 GT3 ST at the 24 Hours of N�rburgring. In 2004, Lewis made his debut at the world famous N�rburgring Nordschleife, finishing seventh in class, 19th overall in a field of more than 240 cars. With an entry list of over 270 production-based sports cars for the May 7-8th race, the 2005 24 Hours of N�rburgring promises to be one of the most competitive motorsports events in the world. Lewis will be joined in the A7 class steam-racing Porsche by multi-time teammate Vic Rice (San Rafael, Calif., USA). The remaining two drivers in the car were also with Lewis at the 2004 event; Achim Berg (Hennef, Germany) and Michael Schratz (Leverkusen, Germany). The quartet of drivers will ride on Michelin's newest racing tires in a specially-prepared and modified 996-based Porsche built in steam-racing's German facility. The 24 hour race runs on one of the last remaining, classic road courses built in the tradition of the early part of the 20th century; N�rburgring's Nordschleife. The Nordschleife, translated to English as the “North Swipe“, is one the longest, closed-circuit race courses in the world at 25.359 kilometers (15.75 miles). The 73-turn road course is made up of sections of public road and the 4.55 Km Grand Prix course used in the Formula One World Championship. Lewis will be attempting to give Porsche its 23rd victory at the 24 Hours of N�rburgring as well as fighting for his third overall title in a 24 hour race.With the May 7th start of his second 24 Hours of N�rburgring, Lewis will add a remarkable 21st 24 hour race to his resume. It is his fifth 24 hour endurance race in Europe following three starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans ('99, '00 and '03) and last year's event with steam-racing. Driving a Porsche 911 GT3 RS in '04, Lewis completed 123 laps after starting seventh overall. The Porsche's fast lap in the race was nine minutes, 26.137 seconds. Lewis leaves for Germany today after racing to eighth in the Daytona Prototype class of the Road & Track 250 Grand American Rolex Series race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca yesterday. Practice for the 24 Hours of N�rburgring begins on Friday, May 6th with the first of two, timed practice and qualifying sessions. The race begins at 3 pm (local time) Saturday, May 7th and will take the checked flag at 3 pm on Sunday, May 8th. Shane Lewis: “I'm really looking forward to getting back to N�rburgring with steam-racing. When I got the call to come over and race I couldn't say �yes' fast enough. N�rburgring, the race and the track, are awesome and I think we have a great chance. Steam has given us one of the strongest Porsches in the field. With the Michelin tires and getting to race with the same lineup we did last year, I have a good feeling about this weekend. The track is the most challenging you'll drive anywhere. Throw almost 280 cars out there and suddenly you're in the most intense deal you'll ever find behind the wheel of a race car.”For more on Shane Lewis please see www.shanelewis.com. Steam-Racing can be found at www.steam-racing.com. Information, in both English and German, on the 24 Hours of N�rburgring, is available at adac.24h-rennen.de###