16.02.2004 US BASED VICI RACING ARE WEIGHING UP THE OPTIONS FOR THEIR AMBITIOUS SPORTSCAR PROGRAM

VICI Racing have announced that they are at present gearing up for a sportscar racing program this year that will be the first step in an extensive multi-year on track operation.

The highly experienced team, based in Tampa Bay, Florida, have been carefully putting in place long term sponsorship deals over the winter period and with these finalised, they are now weighing up two of the most exciting prospects for 2004, the Maserati MCC and the Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT.

Well known for racing their fearsome Lamborghini Diablo GTR in sportscar racing worldwide over the last few years, the team now plan to strengthen their Italian links.

A wide ranging program for this ambitious outfit, who also boast a state of the art German engineering facility, will culminate in an all out assault on the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours next year.

Team owner and driving force Ron Meixner, previously a GT winner in the tough Daytona 24 Hours, enthuses about VICI Racing’s future. “We have a team which is strong technically, highly race experienced and we are just about to move into a new purpose built development close to the Homestead track.

“With our long term funding secured and ambitious partners on board, we can now take VICI Racing on to the next level,” concludes Ron, who also includes driving for Joest in both IMSA GTP and Le Mans 24 Hours during his successful career.

The team is now considering either the Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT or the Maserati MCC, for a challenge which will take in both the American Le Mans Series and the European-based Le Mans Endurance Series.

Both alternatives set the pulse racing. Two famous Italian marques that are seeking to re-establish their credentials on the race tracks, and VICI, a team looking for a challenge.

First up is the Murcielago R-GT. Unveiled last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the dark, aggressive looking prototype made a only brief track appearance at Monza before embarking on a winter development program. VICI Racing, who have lots of Lamborghini experience after developing their Diablo GTR in-house, have been keeping a close eye on how the R-GT project is developing.

The second option is the new Maserati MCC racer, and Ron Meixner has been impressed by the impetus of the program. “The Maserati is a stunning looking racer and our confidence has been enhanced by our contact with Maserati Reparto Corse. The marque has a rich history and it would be great to be part of its racing future.”

To widen the team’s exposure, VICI plan to launch a Grand American program using one of the new Daytona Prototype class racers fitted with an Italian engine, the power unit currently being tailored for this application. While the team were not keen to divulge any detail of this exciting project as yet, they promise that the car will be a contender for overall wins straight out of the box, and the new engine is set to provide an interesting diversity to what is rapidly becoming the growth racing series in the US.

The team will be introducing their sponsors in the coming weeks. New partners will join historic German wristwatch and jewellery manufacturer, Wempe Jewellers New York, who are long time supporters.

No word on any drivers as yet. However Ron finishes by saying, ‘expect to be surprised’, with established stars keen to become involved with the team. Finally, VICI Racing will launch an exciting initiative shortly which will aim to involve race fans closely with the team activities.