31.01.2004 FOUR FERRARIS AND TWO MASERATIS WILL TAKE THE START OF THE DAYTONA 24 HOURS TODAY

Scuderia Ferrari of Washington Maserati GT Light during qualifying. Click to enlarge.

The sportscar racing season will roar into life today when at lunchtime, local time, the lights will go green for the rolling start of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. 55 cars will line-up on the grid chasing glory in the race, second only to the Le Mans 24 Hours in terms of sportscar prestige, and among the hopefuls in the GT class will be four Ferrari 360's and two Maserati GT Lights.

All eyes will be on the brand new Maserati GT Light, which today opens a new racing chapter in the marque's glorious history, with what promises to be a real baptism of fire for the GT Light in its first ever competitive race. Developed from the Trofeo GT one-make racer which, last year heralded the marque's toe-dipping return to the tracks, now the GT Light pits Maserati head to head for the first time with its sportscar rivals, which include the proven Ferrari 360 Modena and Porsche GT3.

Two Maserati GT Lights will take up position on the starting grid. The Scuderia Ferrari of Washington car, crewed by one Italian, Fabrizio De Simone, and three Americans, Stephen Earle, Emil Assentato and Nick Longhi will start a very credible 10th in GT. The team, which last year comfortably won the GrandAm GT drivers and teams titles with its Ferrari 360 Modena, are looking forward to turning their expertise towards repeating their success with the GT Light this year.

A second entry from the Trident marque, is from another long time Ferrari sportscar specialist Risi Competizione. The team, run by Guiseppe Risi, has entered a single car piloted by experienced German racer Ralf Kelleners, American team regular Anthony Lazzaro and have pulled of something of a coup by bringing reigning FIA GT Champion Matteo Bobbi across the Atlantic to complete the driver line-up.

Four Ferrari 360's will be on the grid, two from Mastercar, and single entries from BE Racing and JMB Racing USA. The BE Racing crew have a wealth long distance racing experience, having competed together both in last November's Le Mans 1000 kms and the following Bathurst 24 Hours. JMB Racing USA celebrate their first anniversary with an all Daytona rookie line-up, while the solid Mastercar Ferrari entries are expected to show strong reliability.

The six teams are all looking forward to the green light this afternoon and are hoping to survive 24 hours of the hardest racing in the legendary sportscar race.

2004 ROLEX 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA: FINAL GRID
Pos. No. Class Pos. Driver Team Time Speed
1 01 DP 1 Scott Pruett, McMinnville, Oregon; Max Papis, Italy; Jimmy Morales, Mexico; CGR Grand Am / Lexus Riley 01:45.783 121.154
2 10 DP 2 Max Angelelli, Monaco; Wayne Taylor, Altamonte Springs, Fla.; Emmanuel Collard, France; SunTrust Racing / Pontiac Riley 01:46.095 120.797
3 54 DP 3 Terry Borcheller, Gainesville, Ga.; Forest Barber, Fort Worth, Texas; Andy Pilgrim, Delray Beach, Fla.; Christian Fittipaldi, Key Biscayne, Fla. Bell Motorsports / Pontiac Doran 01:46.283 120.584
4 2 DP 4 Andy Wallace, England; Tony Stewart, Davidson, N.C.; Dale Earnhardt Jr, Cleveland, N.C.; Howard - Boss Motorsports / Chevrolet Crawford 01:46.376 120.478
5 58 DP 5 David Donohue, Malvern, Pa.; Darren Law, Phoenix, Ariz.; Sascha Maassen, Belgium; Lucas Luhr, Monaco Red Bull - Brumos Porsche / Porsche Fabcar 01:46.441 120.405
6 4 DP 6 Butch Leitzinger, Rebersburg, Pa.; David Brule Sr, Iron Mountain, Mich.; Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Sherrills Ford, N.C.; Jimmie Johnson, Mooresville, N.C. Howard - Boss Motorsports / Chevrolet Crawford 01:47.780 118.909
7 6 DP 7 Kelly Collins, Newport Beach, Calif.; Brent Martini, Corona del Mar, Calif.; Cort Wagner, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mike Newton, England; Thomas Erdos, Brazil Michael Shank Racing / Lexus Doran 01:48.228 118.417
8 09 DP 8 Doug Goad, Farmington Hills, Mich.; Stephan Gregoire, Carmel, Ind.; Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C.; Milka Duno, Venezula Spirit of Daytona Racing / Pontiac Crawford 01:48.643 117.964
9 59 DP 9 Hurley Haywood, Ponte Vedra, Fla.; JC France, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Scott Sharp, Jupiter, Fla.; Scott Goodyear, Carmel, Ind. Brumos Racing / Porsche Fabcar 01:48.662 117.944
10 7 DP 10 Shane Lewis, Jupiter, Fla.; Jack Baldwin, Marietta, Ga.; George Robinson, Houston, Texas; Vic Rice, San Rafael, Calif.; Steve Southard, Powell, Ohio Southard Motorsports / BMW Fabcar 01:48.879 117.709
11 70 DP 11 Sylvain Tremblay, Coral Springs, Fla.; Selby Wellman, Cary, N.C.; Larry Huang, Ponte Vedra, Fla.; Chris Hall, Port Orange, Fla. SpeedSource / Ford Multimatic 01:49.240 117.320
12 5 DP 12 Scott Maxwell, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Justin Pruskowski, Woodinville, Wash.; Ross Bentley, White Rock, B.C., Canada; Joe Pruskowski, Woodinville, Wash. Essex Racing / Ford Multimatic 01:49.502 117.039
13 9 DP 13 Mike Borkowski, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Paul Mears Jr, Orlando, Fla.; Arie Luyendyk Jr, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Nick Ham, Evergreen, Colo.; Justin Bell, Delray Beach, Fla. Mears Motorcoach / SpeedSource / Ford Multimatic 01:50.304 116.188
14 45 DP 14 Gunnar Jeannette, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Kyle Petty, Trinity, N.C.; Paul Newman, Westport, Conn.; Michael Brockman, Orlando, Fla. Gunnar Racing / Porsche Fabcar 01:50.419 116.067
15 80 DP 15 Hugo Guenette, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Steve Marshall, Christiansburg, Va.; Danny Marshall, Danville, Va.; Fabio Spatafora, Italy; Jason Workman, Flowery Branch, Ga. G&W Motorsports / BMW Picchio 01:51.920 114.510
16 74 GT 1 Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, Calif.; Seth Neiman, Burlingame, Calif.; Lonnie Pechnik, Pacific Grove, Calif.; Peter Cunningham, West Bend, Wis.; Mike Rockenfeller, Germany Flying Lizard Motorsports / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:53.357 113.059
17 15 DP 16 David Gaylord, Graham, Wash.; Don Kitch Jr, Bellevue, Wash.; John Olson, Pismo Beach, Calif.; Tom Hessert Jr, Cherry Hill, N.J.; Tom Hessert III, Cherry Hill, N.J. Essex Racing / Ford Multimatic 01:54.486 111.944
18 75 GT 2 Lonnie Pechnik, Pacific Grove, Calif.; Seth Neiman, Burlingame, Calif.; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, Calif.; Peter Cunningham, West Bend, Wis.; Mike Rockenfeller, Germany Flying Lizard Motorsports / Porsche GT3 RS 01:55.292 111.161
19 21 GT 3 Bill Auberlen, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.; Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif.; Justin Marks, Chico, Calif.; Joey Hand, Concord, Ohio; Niclas Jonsson, Buford, Ga. Prototype Technology Group / BMW M3 01:55.645 110.822
20 57 GT 4 Chip Vance, Dublin, Ohio; John Stevenson, Swansboro, N.C.; John Buttermore, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Piers Masarati, England Stevenson Motorsports / Auto Assets / Porsche GT3 RS 01:55.764 110.708
21 88 GT 5 Pedro Couceiro, Portugal; Miguel Amaral, Portugal; Carlos Barbot, Portugal; Manuel Giao, Portugal ASM Team / Porsche GT3 RS 01:56.088 110.399
22 56 GT 6 Tony Burgess, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Philip Collin, Deerfield, Ill.; P van Merksteijn, Netherlands; Gabrio Rosa, Italy; Fabio Rosa, Italy Seikel Motor Sport / Porsche GT3 RS 01:56.122 110.367
23 24 GT 7 John Heinricy, Holly, Mich.; Jeff Nowicki, Troy, Mich.; Tom Bambard, South Lyon, Mich.; Pete Halsmer, Bloomfield, Mich. Specter Werks / Sports / Corvette 01:56.356 110.145
24 22 GT 8 Niclas Jonsson, Buford, Ga.; Justin Marks, Chico, Calif.; Joey Hand, Concord, Ohio; Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif.; Bill Auberlen, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. Prototype Technology Group / BMW M3 01:56.638 109.878
25 83 GT 9 Rob Wilson, New Zealand; Frank Mountain, England; Martyn Konig, England; Cirtek Motorsport / Porsche GT3 RS 01:57.034 109.507
26 33 GT 10 Fabrizio De Simone Niquesa, Italy; Stephen Earle, Garden Ridge, Texas; Emil Assentato, Locust Valley, N.Y.; Nick Longhi, Valley Cottage, N.Y. Scuderia Ferrari of Washington / Maserati Light GT 01:57.321 109.239
27 93 GT 11 Luca Drudi, Italy; Matteo Meneghello, Italy; Ferdinando Monfardini, Italy; Joe Colasacco, Greenwich, Conn.; Ross Fonferko, Mastercar / Ferrari 360GT 01:57.385 109.179
28 72 GT 12 Jack Lewis, Norcross, Ga.; Edison Lluch, Ponce, Puerto Rico; Tom McGlynn, Orono, Minn.; Manuel Matos, Arecibo, Puerto Rico Jack Lewis Enterprises / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:57.437 109.131
29 38 SGS 1 Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga.; Marc Bunting, Monktow, Md.; Andy Lally, Northport, N.Y.; John Littlechild, Medfield, Mass.; Michael Levitas, Jessup, Md. TPC Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:57.517 109.057
30 63 SGS 2 Hugh Plumb, Chadds Ford, Pa.; Geoff Escalette, San Dimas, Calif.; Kim Wolfkill, Newport Beach, Calif.; Mike Lewis, Escondido, Calif. Glenn Yee Motorsports / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:58.785 107.892
31 27 DP 17 Didier Theys, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Fredy Lienhard, Switzerland; Jan Lammers, Netherlands; Marc Goossens, Belgium Doran Lista Racing / Lexus Doran 01:47.751 118.941
32 44 GT 13 Mike Fitzgerald, Fountain Hills, Ariz.; Joe Policastro, Greensburg, Pa.; Jay Policastro, Greensburg, Pa.; Robin Liddell, Scotland; Johnny Mowlem, England Orbit Racing / Porsche GT3 RS 01:53.543 112.874
33 66 GT 14 Kevin Buckler, Sonoma, Calif.; Timo Bernhard, Germany; Jorg Bergmeister, Germany; Patrick Long, Westlake, Calif. The Racers Group / Monster Cable / Porsche GT3 RS 01:53.543 112.874
34 68 GT 15 Ian James, Kissimmee, Fla.; RJ Valentine, Hingham, Mass.; Chris Gleason, Johnstown, Pa.; Abraham Zimroth, New York, N.Y.; Bohdan Kroczek, Winnetka, Ill. The Racers Group / Monster Cable / Porsche GT3 RS 01:53.660 112.757
35 67 GT 16 Robert Nearn, England; Pierre Ehret, Santa Rosa, Calif.; Jim Matthews, Chapel Hill, N.C.; Lars Nielsen, Denmark The Racers Group / Monster Cable / Porsche GT3 RS 01:54.268 112.157
36 73 GT 17 Philipp Peter, Austria; Klaus Engelhorn, Austria; Dieter Quester, Austria; Andrea Montermini, Italy Red Bull BE Racing / Ferrari 360 Modena 01:54.629 111.804
37 11 GT 18 Iradj Alexander, Switzerland; Edi Gay, New York, N.Y.; Diego Alessi, Italy; Maurizio Mediani, Italy; Paul Dana, Indianapolis, Ind. JMB Racing USA / Ferrari 360GT 01:54.963 111.479
38 60 GT 19 Anthony Puleo, St Augustine, Fla.; Robert Dubler, Switzerland; Squeak Kennedy, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Joe Evans, Xtreme Racing Group / Corvette 01:56.649 109.868
39 30 GT 20 Anthony Lazzaro, Hickory, N.C.; Ralf Kelleners, Germany; Matteo Bobbi, Italy; Risi Competizione / Maserati Light GT 01:56.882 109.649
40 13 SGS 3 Andrew Davis, Athens, Ga.; Michael Cawley, Atlanta, Ga.; Charles Espenlaub, Winter Park, Fla.; Joe Foster, Lawrenceville, Ga. Foxhill Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:57.025 109.515
41 97 GT 21 Robert Orcutt, Santa Cruz, Calif.; Ken Dobson, Sonoma, Calif.; Kurt Teal, ; Paul Jenkins, Chicago, Ill. Graham Nash Motorsport / Porsche GT3 RS 01:57.114 109.432
42 98 GT 22 Ron Zitza, Maitland, Fla.; Marc Feinstein, Somerville, Mass.; Bill Riddell, Jacksonville, Fla.; Hartmut Von Seelen, Greenwood, S.C.; Carlos de Quesada, Miami, Fla. GT Technologies / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:57.222 109.331
43 91 SGS 4 Jean-Francois Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada; Robert Julien, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Greg Pootmans, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Marc Lieb, Germany Doncaster Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:57.837 108.760
44 14 SGS 5 Cory Friedman, Charleston, S.C.; Lynn Wilson, Westport, Conn.; Bransen Patch, Matthews, N.C.; Adam Merzon, Greenwich, Conn.; Mike Smith, Panama City, Fla. Autometrics Motorsports / Porsche GT3 Cup 01:58.906 107.783
45 41 SGS 6 Joe Nonnamaker, Massillon, Ohio; Will Nonnamaker, North Canton, Ohio; Charlie Menard, Eau Claire, Wis.; Paul Menard, Eau Claire, Wis.; Wayne Nonnamaker, North Canton, Ohio Orison-Planet Earth Motorsports / Porsche GT3 Cup 02:00.635 106.238
46 00 SGS 7 Dwain Dement, Laguna Hills, Calif.; Steve Bernheim, North Hollywood, Calif.; Doug Baron, Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Dennis Puddester, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. Team Vision / Porsche GT3 Cup 02:00.727 106.157
48 86 SGS 8 Tracy Krohn, Houston, Texas; Andres Van Der Dys, Houston, Texas; Mae Van Wijk, Kingwood, Texas; Armando Trentini, Houston, Texas; Ron Forristall, G&W Motorsports / Porsche GT3 Cup 02:04.426 103.001
49 71 SGS 9 Dave Lacey, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Greg Wilkins, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mark Wilkins, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Tom Nastasi, Stamford, Conn.; Kenny Wilden, Oakville, Ontario, Canada Doncaster Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup 02:06.401 101.392
50 94 GT 23 Mauro Casadei, Italy; Francois Labhardt, Switzerland; Manfred Jurasz, Austria; Jim Michaelian, Long Beach, Calif. Mastercar / Ferrari 360GT no time -
51 82 SGS 10 Steve Lynn, Martinsville, Ind.; Jim Brillhart, Indianapolis, Ind.; Terry Heath, Fishers, Ind.; Jack Henricks, Anderson, Ind. dds Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup no time -
52 17 SGS 11 Joe Kunz, Laguna Beach, Calif.; Mark Webber, Hidden Hills, Calif.; Gary Becker, Encino, Calif.; Patrick Flanagan, Laguna Hills, Calif.; Derek Clark, Los Angeles, Calif. AASCO Motorsports / Porsche GT3 Cup no time -
53 47 SGS 12 Michael Baughman, Clear Spring, Md.; Bob Ward, Casselberry, Fla.; Brad Jaeger, Cincinnati, Ohio; Frank Del Vecchio, Trumbull, Conn. Michael Baughman Racing / Porsche GT3 Cup no time -
54 46 SGS 13 Peter Argetsinger, Weston, Fla.; John Pew, North Palm Beach, Fla.; Mark Patterson, Bronxville, N.Y.; Dario Cioti, Armonk, N.Y.; Jim Victor, Davenport, Iowa Michael Baughman Racing / Corvette no time -
55 16 SGS 14 Craig Stanton, Long Beach, Calif.; David Murry, Cumming, Ga.; Tim Sugden, England; AASCO Motorsports / Porsche GT3 Cup no time -