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Honda: New Laguna Seca Raceway Sponsor

28 February 1998

MONTEREY, California -- Honda is the new Official Automobile and Motorcycle of Laguna Seca Raceway, and Honda will title sponsor two major events at America's premier road racing track, the Honda Challenge 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 jointly announced today by John Stornetta, General Manager of Laguna Seca Raceway for 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 efforts to increase the positive impact of events on the community," said Stornetta. "It's a natural match. Honda has a winning heritage and is a leader in both the automobile, motorcycle and racing industries. Just like SCRAMP produces exciting, world-class events at Laguna Seca Raceway, Honda produces outstanding, exciting automobile and motorcycles. We look forward to a successful long-term relationship leading into the next millennium."

"Laguna Seca Raceway is a world class facility with a first class heritage," said Elliott. "This is Honda's first expansion into name and title sponsorship, and partnering with Laguna Seca Raceway makes eminent sense. Honda is a company rooted in racing and built on a foundation of quality, innovation, and customer service: all premier qualities shared with the Laguna Seca Raceway family. As Honda celebrates its 50th anniversary, we can't think of a better pairing of values, history and vision for the future."

The Honda Challenge of Laguna Seca on the weekend of April 17-19 features the third round of the 1998 MBNA Superbike Championship and other races of the MBNA Superbike Tour organized by the America Motorcycle Association (AMA).

The 1998 Honda Grand Prix of Monterey featuring the Texaco/Havoline 300 round of the FedEx Championship Series for CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) Champ Car (formerly IndyCar) teams is scheduled for the weekend of September 11-13.

The VISA Sports Car Championships presented by Honda is on the weekend of October 23-25, 1998.

Honda engines powered the winners of six out of 17 series race winners in 1997. In 1996, Honda won its first CART Manufacturers Championship with 11 victories in 16 races, including six 1-2 finishes. Honda made its Champ Car racing debut in 1995 when its first CART series race and pole wins were scored.

Honda is also the reigning manufacturers champion of both the AMA and World Superbike championships.

Prior to the agreement with Honda, Toyota was the official vehicle and title sponsor of the AMA Superbike and Monterey Grand Prix events. "Laguna Seca Raceway and Toyota enjoyed a great working relationship for many years," said Stornetta. "They were an outstanding sponsor and we wish them continued success in developing their racing program."

Laguna Seca Raceway has been operated by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula since its opening in 1957. SCRAMP is a non-profit organization chartered to "benefit local charitable and non-profit organizations and to promote the economic vitality of Monterey..." Over 40 years, SCRAMP has distributed more than $8 million for youth programs and community service projects organized by groups which, in turn, provide volunteer workers for events. In addition, more than $1 billion in revenue has been generated by Laguna Seca race events for businesses on the Monterey Peninsula and in surrounding communities.