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Honda is the new OfficialAutomobile and Motorcycle of Laguna Seca Raceway, and Honda will titlesponsor two major events at America's premier road racing track, the HondaChallenge of Laguna Seca and the Honda Grand Prix of Monterey. As well,Honda will be the presenting sponsor of the VISA Sports Car Championships.
These are the key elements of a three year sponsorship agreement jointlyannounced today by John Stornetta, General Manager of Laguna Seca Racewayfor the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP),and Tom Elliott, Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor Co.
"We could not be more pleased to have Honda as our partner for our effortsto increase the positive impact of events on the community," saidStornetta. "It's a natural match. Honda has a winning heritage and is aleader in both the automobile, motorcycle and racing industries. Just likeSCRAMP produces exciting, world-class events at Laguna Seca Raceway, Hondaproduces outstanding, exciting automobile and motorcycles. We look forwardto a successful long-term relationship leading into the next millennium."
"Laguna Seca Raceway is a world class facility with a first classheritage," said Elliott. "This is Honda's first expansion into name andtitle sponsorship, and partnering with Laguna Seca Raceway makes eminentsense. Honda is a company rooted in racing and built on a foundation ofquality, innovation, and customer service: all premier qualities sharedwith the Laguna Seca Raceway family. As Honda celebrates its 50thanniversary, we can't think of a better pairing of values, history andvision for the future."
The Honda Challenge of Laguna Seca on the weekend of April 17-19 featuresthe third round of the 1998 MBNA Superbike Championship and other races ofthe MBNA Superbike Tour organized by the America Motorcycle Association(AMA).
The 1998 Honda Grand Prix of Monterey featuring the Texaco/Havoline 300round of the FedEx Championship Series for CART (Championship Auto RacingTeams) Champ Car (formerly IndyCar) teams is scheduled for the weekend ofSeptember 11-13.
The VISA Sports Car Championships presented by Honda is on the weekend ofOctober 23-25, 1998.
Honda engines powered the winners of six out of 17 series race winners in1997. In 1996, Honda won its first CART Manufacturers Championship with 11victories in 16 races, including six 1-2 finishes. Honda madde its ChampCar racing debut in 1995 when its first CART series race and pole wins werescored.
Honda is also the reigning manufacturers champion of both the AMA and WorldSuperbike championships.
Prior to the agreement with Honda, Toyota was the official vehicle andtitle sponsor of the AMA Superbike and Monterey Grand Prix events. "LagunaSeca Raceway and Toyota enjoyed a great working relationship for manyyears," said Stornetta. "They were an outstanding sponsor and we wish themcontinued success in developing their racing program."
Laguna Seca Raceway has been operated by the Sports Car Racing Associationof the Monterey Peninsula since its opening in 1957. SCRAMP is a non-profitorganization chartered to "benefit local charitable and non-profitorganizations and to promote the economic vitality of Monterey..." Over 40years, SCRAMP has distributed more than $8 million for youth programs andcommunity service projects organized by groups which, in turn, providevolunteer workers for events. In addition, more than $1 billion in revenuehas been generated by Laguna Seca race events for businesses on theMonterey Peninsula and in surrounding communities.
Source: Laguna Seca Raceway
