Porsche Power for Dyson in 2007 Rolex Series

In a furthering strengthening of the relationship between Porsche and Dyson Racing, the team's Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series effort will be running Porsche's Daytona Prototype 3.8 liter engine in 2007 starting with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. For the past two years, Dyson Racing has teamed with Howard Motorsports and Crawford Race Cars to run selected Daytona Prototype races and this year will see a six-race partnership which includes the Florida endurance classic.

"Porsche and Porsche Motorsport North America are very excited to have Dyson running a Porsche engine in the Rolex Series," said Uwe Brettel, President, PMNA. "This is a great extension of our renewed relationship with Dyson for 2007, and it is wonderful to have them as part of the Porsche family in Grand-Am."

"Porsche and the Crawfords are making a huge effort to install the engine for the Rolex, but this is a terrific development for us," said Chris Dyson. "The engine has proven to be a fantastic performer. It has strong power, is well packaged and it suits the Crawford chassis. Howard Motorsports are great partners with us in Grand-Am. Last year we were competitive and led races in this series, but this really pushes our effort forward. Our bolstered alliance with Porsche positions us for consistent success in 2007.

In addition to the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 27, Rob and Chris Dyson will pair up in the #16 Thetford/Norcold entry at Homestead Miami Speedway on March 24, Virginia International Raceway, April 29, Watkins Glen June 9, Daytona International Speedway, July 5, and Watkins Glen again on August 10.

The Dysons were joined by Oliver Gavin and Guy Smith in Daytona at last weekend's official Grand-Am test in perpetration for the Rolex 24. Gavin and Smith will be rejoining the Dysons for the 24 hour enduro after a strong showing with the team in the 2006 event.

"It was a productive test last week," stated Chris Dyson. "The biggest changes are the tires. The car itself is step forward with improvements in damping and suspension geometries and Crawford continues to make aerodynamic progress. Rob ran a lot of laps and on Friday morning, we were fifth fastest, just over a second slower than the fastest overall time posted during the three-day test. We weren't really focusing on headline lap times, and we have a reasonable handle on the car. We are optimistic for the Rolex 24 Hours. With Porsche joining us and our Grand-Am partners, we should move to the front. We enter races to win and the Porsche engine is what we need to contend for victories in the Rolex Series."

This year's Daytona race marks a historic occasion. Ten years ago, the Dyson team scored its first of two overall triumphs in the Rolex 24, with Max Crawford managing the race-winning car.

"Anything can happen at Daytona," said Rob Dyson, who will be making his 18th career Rolex 24 start and was part of the 1997 race-winning driving team. "But it's a place that has been very good to us in the past."