GILBERT RACING PORSCHE ‘KNOCKS ON THE DOOR’

Co-Drivers Randy Pobst and Henry Gilbert Charge Hard at The Glen
But Are Disappointed By Results After Promising Weekend

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 23, 2002). All weekend at Watkins Glen, The Gilbert Racing / Gemballa Porsche GT3 Cup Car was fast, leaving team members – including drivers Randy Pobst and Henry Gilbert – with a positive feeling about being a competitive factor in today’s Grand Sport Race of the Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series, part of the Sports Car Grand Prix at the historic racetrack this weekend.

At the start, Pobst saw the green flag and went for it, grabbing the lead from pole-sitter Darren Law’s Porsche. On that first lap alone, the two cars swapped positions a few times with Law getting the lead as they crossed the line for the first time – but Pobst would stay right on his tail. Unfortunately, the rest of the day for the #25 Porsche was much like that – falling just a little short.

“The car was running great. Even after the guys tweaked it all day yesterday, I felt like there was just something a little more in that car,” Pobst said. “I am pretty disappointed for all of the guys but, on the other hand, the team showed its competitive edge today.”

Pobst is a busy driver this season. In pursuit of the Porsche Super Cup Championship, he’ll get behind the wheel of almost any Porsche to gain precious points. Next weekend, he re-joins 3R Racing, driving a 911 GT3 Cup Car in the SPEED World Challenge GT event at The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He’ll miss next weekend’s Grand-Am Cup event at The Virginia International Raceway but will return later on in the season to again drive the Gemballa Porsche with Gilbert.

Gilbert has a full calendar as well. He’ll be at Mid-Ohio with his Gilbert Racing / Aqua Velva / Chevrolet Corvette Z-06 racing against Pobst in the World Challenge GT race - part of the ALMS at Mid-Ohio weekend. Gilbert has been working hard on building this team and its cars into contenders at any racetrack they visit, no matter what the series is they compete in.

“I have been lucky to be able to surround myself with just a couple of guys who work very hard for me and right along side of me,” Gilbert said earlier this weekend. “I don’t do these races just to do them. I want to have people around me who want to work hard, succeed, and have a good time doing just that.”

In today’s Sports Car Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, The Gilbert / Gemballa Porsche was on its way to a possible podium finish; running in the top two or three most of the time when a small error in pit strategy slowed the team just enough to get off of the lead lap. Pobst managed to get that lap back; however, there was just not enough time to get back through the tight field.