For Immediate Release
Contact: Harry Capehart
770-965-2020


DICK BARBOUR RACING SWEEPS GT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH AUSTRALIA WIN


Road Atlanta, GA December 31, 2000 – The Dick Barbour Racing Team, with its ninth win at The Race of A Thousand Years in Adelaide, Australia, has scored the 2000 American Le Mans Series GT Driver's Championship and the Overall GT Championship.

The number 5 Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, piloted by Dirk Muller and Lucas Luhr, crossed the finish line first in today's twelfth and final round of the ALMS series - giving the Team its ninth victory and securing the Driver's Championship for Muller.

The drivers of both the number 5 – Dirk Muller and Lucas Luhr, and the number 51 – Sascha Maassen and Bob Wollek - started the last race of the season as the top four leaders in GT Driver's Points. At the finish of the race the Team drivers were still the top four in drivers points – with Muller capturing the Driver's Championship.

Luhr helped propel his teammate Muller to the first place finish - and the Driver's Championship - by not only putting the number 5 in pole position but also turning the car over to Muller midway in the race with the GT lead.

The number 15 Dick Barbour Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, expertly handled by Randy Wars, John Graham and Christian Menzel, crossed the line in second and delivering the third one-two finish of the season for the Team.

Maassen and Wollek, behind the wheel of the number 51, were in second place in the early part of the race when Wollek made the first of two unscheduled trips to the pits. After a second unscheduled pit stop the duo finished the race in ninth position.

The Team has achieved tremendous success in its inaugural season with nine first place victories, nine pole positions, the fastest lap of the race in ten of the events and has set new GT Qualifying Records at eight of the tracks as well. In the twelve-event season the Team has earned nine victories, five second place finishes, three third place finishes and eighteen top ten finishes.


"What a tremendous way to end the season – the Team is absolutely ecstatic. We had an amazing season thanks to Porsche, who make the best racecars in the world, and Michelin for providing us with the world's best tires!" said Dick Barbour. "I would like to thank my entire team for a season-long 100% winning effort and our drivers for their amazing driving skills and dedication to winning!"