Literally hours before the engine will fired up for the first Monza practice the french
JMB team announces their driver line-up. The two leading cars from Team JMB
Racing are therefore made up of experienced drivers, whose performances have
enlivened Championships as prestigious as Formula One…
"Racing for Austria"
The nr 17 Ferrari 575 GTC will therefore be in the hands of a 100% Austrian team,
led by Karl Wendlinger, a former Formula One and DTM driver ; Robert Lechner,
who has had a fine career in single-seaters, and Toto Wolff, who has already
significant experience in the FIA GT Championship.
"Expirenced Mix"
The second car will be shared by two experienced drivers who are no strangers to
the FIA GT Championship, and who have driven in the N-GT category in previous
years: Bert Longin, from Belgium, and British driver Ian Khan. They will be joined
by Swiss driver Christophe Pillon, double winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the
LMP 675 category.
"The Gentleman Team"
Finally, Peter Kutemann and Antoine Gosse, both faithful partners of JMB Racing,
will share the third 575 GTC car, which will carry the number 19.
Toddler or winner - in Sebring the 575 GTC's were not at Corvette's pace
If Monza is still resounding with the echo of the victory of the Team’s Ferrari 360
Modena at the end of the 2003 season, JMB Racing’s ambitions will be more
modest on the occasion of this first race of the season.
The Ferrari 575 GTC is not new to the team, as it has already gained significant
experience over the last two races of 2003, but it should not be forgotten that these
cars are totally new, and that they will be taking to the track for the first time in
Monza.
Moreover, it will be a baptism of fire for the 2004 JMB Racing drivers, driving a 575
GTC for the first time : not only the newcomers, but for our two gentlemen drivers
Peter Kutemann and Antoine Gosse, who have opted to take the ‘big step’ up to
the GT category.
2004 also sees the return of MICHELIN, with whom JMB Racing claimed two
world titles: the Sports Racing World Cup in 1998, with a Ferrari 333SP and the
FIA N-GT Championship in 2001 with a Ferrari 360 Modena. Having lived through
some of the finest moments of its history with MICHELIN at its side, JMB Racing
fully intends to add some more chapters this season.
All the ingredients are therefore in place, so that JMB Racing will continue to be a
first-class competitor once more this season.
Cars which proved their potential in Estoril in 2003, talented and homogenous
driver line-ups, and the manufacturer of the reigning World Champion for the
category.
There is no doubt that with such a combination of abilities, JMB Racing will be
able to take its place among the leaders of the 2004 FIA GT Championship.
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