02.06.2004 Final preparations are now underway at the Banbury, base of the Prodrive Ferrari team, as they prepare to defend their GTS title at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Final preparations are now underway at the Banbury, England base of the Prodrive Ferrari team, for departure to France for the 72^nd running of the most famous sportscar race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on 12^th/13^th June.

The small, privately funded team, which last year so convincingly won the GTS class within the multi-category field, is returning to La Sarthe with two Care Racing sponsored Ferrari 550 Maranellos.

While confident of the car’s proven speed and reliability, no one is under any illusions about the increased challenge ahead from all the GTS competitors, particularly the powerful factory Corvette team.

A focused development programme has taken place since the end of last year’s American Le Mans Series season, and this will be the team’s first outing of 2004, but Prodrive Ferrari is confident of the car’s capabilities and its talented and experienced driver line up.

Team Director, George Howard-Chappell, “In a similar vein to last year, I’m confident we’ve got a good package with a race-winning, proven car, a strong engine, great tyres and consistent, solid drivers. Having said that, we know how much work our competitors have done since last year and that will keep us sharp.

"We did not go for the best single lap time at the test in April and we have made some small improvements since then so I'm very interested to see how qualifying and the race pace comes out. The team is really up for a 'battle royale' and I hope we see one of those like we did in some of the ALMS races last year.”

The ‘right’ package includes the Prodrive-developed 6-litre V12 engine, a good aerodynamic set up, race-proven Michelin tyres, and a multi national, all-star driver line up which includes a mix of experience, youth and international racing success.

Car 65 will be the focus of much media and public attention thanks to the inclusion of Colin McRae, former World Rally Champion, who is making his debut at Le Mans thanks to Care Racing. Care’s founder and Chairman, Frédéric Dor, was a long time admirer of the Scot’s skill and talent in a rally car and it was he who re-united McRae with Prodrive who, amongst many other areas of business, operate the Subaru World Rally Championship team.

McRae shares the car with former British Touring Car Champion and current SEAT European Touring Car driver, Rickard Rydell, and McLaren F1 test driver Darren Turner. Both drivers have great experience with the Ferrari, having driven it at a number of races in Europe and the USA as well as at Le Mans, and their knowledge and advice has been invaluable in preparing for the race.