MOWLEM ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR 2007 RACING SEASON

Source: Lee Elder
Date: 01/25/2007

Mowlem will drive a Ferrari 430 GT Berlinetta in the GT2 class for the factory-backed GPC team in the European Le Mans Series and in the International GT Open Championship. He will also compete in the 12 Hours of Sebring in April and the blue riband Le Mans 24 classic in June, driving a Ferrari for the Risi Competizione team.

“I’m thrilled to be joining two factory-backed Ferrari efforts.” Mowlem said. “I am very grateful not only to the Ferrari factory for their support but also to Mr. Risi and Mr. Coppi for the opportunity to drive the same car throughout the entire season. The 430 is a tremendous car and I hope we’ll be very successful.”

The Mowlem-Ferrari combo was successful in 2006. Mowlem won the GT2 class with Risi Competizione in the Grand Prix of Mosport in Canada. Risi Competizione went on to win the ALMS GT team championship.

Mowlem’s co-drivers at Sebring and Le Mans will be Mika Salo and Jaime Melo.

“Obviously, this is a team that knows how to win,” Mowlem said. “Mika and Jaime are arguably the two fastest Ferrari GT drivers in the world and we will have the tools in place to win races.”

While the European Le Mans Series puts several classes of racecars in contention at the same time, the International GT Open series is strictly for the production-based GT cars.

“The competition is very close,” Mowlem said. “It’s tough to win. But the GPC team are already proven winners in both those series from last year and with Gianluca Roda, Gabrio Rosa and Luca Drudi as my teammates I am sure we can continue that success. The International GT championship is perhaps lesser know than the Le Mans Series, but it is only in it’s second year as a series, and it is growing rapidly in terms of numbers and quality of teams and drivers. Plus it will be nice in that series to be going for the overall win!”

One of Britain's most successful and personable sports car drivers, Mowlem started his career behind the wheel at age 19. He was named the 2005 UK Reading Sports Personality of the Year, an honor reserved for the top sports performers in his region. A married father of two, Mowlem was raised in Majorca, Spain. He has earned university degrees in economics and Spanish. More information on Mowlem is available at www.johnnymowlem.com.

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