For Immediate Release Contact: Harry Capehart 770-965-2020 SPORTSCAR LEGEND RETURNS! DICK BARBOUR RACING TO COMPETE AT CHARLOTTE Road Atlanta, GA., March 20, 2000 - Sportscar legend Dick Barbour will field two entries at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte on April 1 for the second race of the American Le Mans Series Championship. The Dick Barbour Racing Team is hot off winning the first race of the ALMS - the 12 Hours of Sebring - in the GT class. The team's car number 5, piloted by Dirk Muller and Lucas Luhr, not only qualified for the pole with a track-breaking speed, but finished the race first in class - 6 laps ahead of the nearest competitor in their Porsche 911 GT3R. The team's second entry, car number 51 - driven by Bob Wollek and Sascha Maassen, went out at 8:01PM due to a suspension failure after having qualified third – also breaking the track record. Barbour, the three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans, and now four-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring - has returned to sportscar racing and will contend the 2000 American Le Mans Series Championship and the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans. Barbour retired from professional driving after an incredibly successful year in which he posted 14 victories; The 12 Hours of Sebring, The Road Atlanta Grand Prix (2), The Riverside Grand Prix, The 24 Hours of Le Mans, The 1000K's of Nurburgring, The Norrisring Grand Prix, The Mosport 1000K's, Daytona, The Sears Point Grand Prix, The Grand Prix of Laguna Seca, The Portland Grand Prix and The Road Atlanta Grand Prix (2) again. To cap off this incredibly successful season Dick Barbour Racing also walked off with the Overall IMSA Championship and was the first American team to be awarded the coveted Porsche Cup. - more - Barbour has recreated and repositioned Dick Barbour Racing as the ultimate sportscar racing team for the new millennium. "I've been planning to return to my passion for many years, but I've been waiting for the perfect opportunity - that perfect opportunity is the ALMS," said Barbour. "With my love of Le Mans and victories at the three tracks owned by Don Panoz (Road Atlanta, Mosport and Sebring), all signs pointed to the creation of this series as the perfect time to return. On top of this, Porsche has introduced the beautiful new 911 GT3R, and having enjoyed my greatest success with the 911 Series, this also added tremendously to the magic." The team is headquartered in a newly designed and completed state-of-the-art 8000 sq.ft. racing facility at Turn One at Road Atlanta, and is fully equipped with the newest and most technologically advanced racing equipment available. The team will contend the ALMS in the GT class with two 2000 Porsche 911 GT3R's. As an indication of Dick Barbour Racing's competitive ability and exceptionally high operational standards, the team has been awarded "Porsche Junior Team" status from Porsche. The team is very proud to have on-board the highly regarded and well respected Tony Dowe as Race Director. "It's really nice to be part of a new team that also has a history," said Dowe. "The success that Dick Barbour has enjoyed in the past gives this new team a goal upon which to build. We come to Charlotte with a terrific driver line-up in both cars, and I know I can speak for the whole team when I can say how enjoyable it will be to compete against our friends at Alex Job Racing and Champion Motorsports. We know it's going to be a very competitive season against these strong teams." Dick Barbour Racing has long been a magnet for some of the world's best and most popular drivers including Brian Redman, Rolf Stommelin, John Fitzpatrick, Rick Mears and Johnny Rutherford – and this new effort will continue that tradition of excellence with Porsche factory drivers Dirk Muller and Lucas Luhr in car number 5 and Bob Wollek and Sascha Maassen in car number 51. "It has always been important to me that my return to sportscar racing would be as strong as when I left. The opportunity to return with the world's best cars - Porsches, riding on the world's best tires - Michelins, with four of the world's best drivers - Dirk, Lucas, Bob and Sascha - all being directed by the best - Tony Dowe - is fantastic! I fully realize that to be successful with all these incredible elements will still take hard work and dedication from the entire team. We, as a team, are fully committed to achieve our goals - which are to win both the race at Charlotte and the ALMS Championship!" Barbour is available for interviews. Contact Harry Capehart at 770-965-2020.