DeTomaso Mailing List: September 2000, Message #17

This (off the Trans-Am Series website) will definately effect the design
of next years Qvale Mangusta race car.  They actually have to make it LOOK
like the production car.  This will be interesting!

Bryan S.
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BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series

Announces Major Rules Enhancements

Bodywork, Pit Stops, Longer Races All New In 2001

Elkhart Lake, Wis. — The BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series has unveiled a 
bold new look and exciting competition enhancements as part of the series’ 
new 2001 rules package.

The cornerstone of this rules package is new body styles that will bring the 
BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series a look that is in line with today’s 
production cars. Trans-Am race cars will conform to production car templates, 
including exact roof and deck lid reproduction. The new style bodies will 
duplicate their production counterpart down to such styling details as body 
joint lines, side view mirror housings, door handles and tail lights.

Minor exceptions to the production car theme will be the bottom 10 inches of 
the bodies, the four wheel arches and hood clearance modifications.

On the competition front, the BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series will 
introduce fuel stop strategy and a 200-kilomoter race format (125 miles) on 
select weekends, as well as a new race finishing procedure that will allow 
for a two-lap green flag dash to the checkered.

"The Trans-Am fans and the manufacturers have spoken loud and clear, and we 
have delivered them an exciting concept that makes our cars much more 
identifiable, and delivers a better entertainment package to the fans," said 
Ralph Sanchez, President of the Panoz\Sanchez Group.

The cosmetic changes to the Trans-Am cars were the primary adjustments made, 
as the core of the Trans-Am rules remained unchanged.

"There was a great deal of speculation about how far reaching the changes 
would be," said John Clagett, Trans-Am Series Executive Director. "The 
Trans-Am body styles needed some adjustment, but the rest of the rules 
package is very sound. We have an outstanding field of cars and there was no 
point in wholesale changes that would antiquate current chassis. The beauty 
of the changes introduced as part of the 2001 rules package is they can be 
accomplished economically, and even the new bodywork will be implemented over 
time to ease the transition. We will allow existing bodywork to race in the 
BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series until 2003, but we’re going to provide 
financial incentives that will encourage the teams to make the changes 
sooner, rather than later."

The BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series has already received strong interest 
from at least three manufacturers, Panoz (Esperante), Chevrolet (Corvette) 
and Qvale (Mangusta) to support the development of the new body styles. Other 
manufacturers that are eligible include: Audi (A4), BMW (M3), Mercedes (SLK), 
Toyota (Solara), Mercury (Cougar), Nissan (Maxima) and Dodge (Stratus, Viper).

"The rules changes of 2001 builds on what we have introduced in 2000 – 
multi-valve engines and fuel injection," said Clagett. "The BFGoodrich Tires® 
Trans-Am Series is now an option for nearly every major manufacturer in the 
world looking to showcase their cars in a production-based racing series."

Currently there are six car manufacturers and eight models participating in 
the BFGoodrich Tires® Trans-Am Series, including: Chevrolet (Corvette, 
Camaro), Ford (Mustang), Oldsmobile (Aurora, Cutlass), Pontiac (Grand Prix), 
Jaguar (XKR), Qvale (Mangusta).