28.04.2005 TEN DAYS AGO AT ROAD ATLANTA VICI RACING LAUNCHED THEIR 2005 PROGRAMME IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY

With new long-term partner XM SATELLITE RADIO on-board, VICI RACING launched their 2005 sportscar racing programme at Road Atlanta two weeks ago on the occasion of the opening round of the ALMS-supporting inaugural IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup.

With Alfred Renauer in the cockpit, VICI RACING got the ball rolling by posting the fastest times overall in the opening free practice sessions. The 20-year-old German driver then followed this up by leaving his rivals trailing as he stormed to pole position with over two seconds in hand, and then sealing a 'dream' start by winning the 45 minute race, having fended off several older and more experienced drivers along the way.

"We just couldn't have asked for a better start," reflected Team President Ron Meixner earlier this week. "The programme literally fell into place in the weeks preceding Road Atlanta. The new team pulled together superbly, we quickly found ideal qualifying and race set-ups, and Alfred lived up to all the high expectations we had when we invited him to drive the no 11 car.

"A debut victory in a new racing series for VICI with a new team and a new driver, is reminiscent of possibly our greatest race victory, a GT class win in the 1993 Daytona 24 Hours. Then we were making our US endurance racing debut with what was an all-new team, and many of our personnel and the drivers only actually meeting when we arrived at the Daytona track.

"Despite the language barriers everyone pulled together perfectly and we swept aside all our factory rivals to lead for the last 17 hours of the race and win GT with well over an hour in hand," concludes Ron, himself a former prototype Porsche pilot both in IMSA GTP and in Group C at Le Mans.

In German youngster Alfred Renauer, VICI RACING undoubtedly has a future sportscar racing star in the making. Despite his experience being limited to go-karting and a recent mix of European Porsche Cup races with VICI's Bavarian arm, he quickly adapted to the new challenges posed by the Road Atlanta circuit to take a truly memorable victory. "It's all hardly sunk in yet," comments Alfred, "I was looking for a steady result, but the team handed me a perfect car, and although I found track conditions very different to what I'm used to, with the team's guidance I was just delighted to repay the faith that they showed in me by giving me the drive.

Meanwhile VICI GROUP Commercial Manager Bill Colleran was also delighted. "Road Atlanta was very significant for us as it marked the start of our exciting new partnership with XM Satellite Radio, and we were all very keen to repay the faith they have shown in us. Together we can proceed forward with renewed confidence."