Champ Car Superstar and Daytona 24Hrs Winner Max Papis Joins ASCAR Days of Thunder Series with HTML

29 May 2003

Max Papis, Champ Car star, winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona race last year and current American Le Mans Series driver for JML Team Panoz, has signed to drive for top Days of Thunder racing team, HTML, commencing with the next round at Rockingham, near Corby in Northamptonshire on June 8.

The recruitment of the highest-profile driver yet, is regarded as a major coup for the series. The 32 year-old Italian will drive the HTML team's McDonald's-sponsored Ford Taurus. The Days of Thunder series now boasts leading names from Italy, Germany, Sweden, Holland, Columbia and Britain who have formerly competed in top international motorsport series including F1, Champ Cars, Le Mans, FIA GT Championship and F3000.

"Max signing up with the HTML team demonstrates the Days of Thunder Series is a true challenge for the highest standard of driver" said Rockingham CEO Ashley Pover. "It also clearly confirms the international status of the Days of Thunder racing series, with drivers from across the world racing both at Rockingham and at Eurospeedway Lausitz in Germany,"

"I am pleased to have my stock car debut in an ASCAR," said Papis. "After the first test I had with Travis Carter and the recent test in an Evernham Motorsports Dodge Winston Cup car, I believe the Days of Thunder series will enhance my knowledge about these cars and the competition in this type of racing."

Papis will be joining the most successful race-winning team in the Days of Thunder series in HTML. The Silverstone-based outfit have won seven out of 15 races so far, the most recent being at the last event at Rockingham on May 11.

HTML team boss Jonathan Heynes said: "We're delighted to have Max race with us - he's a true motorsport hero and a big coup for us. I'm certain he will be a major factor in the Days of Thunder series and driving alongside his new team-mate Roland Rehfeld, who won the last round at Rockingham, we have one of the strongest driver line-ups imaginable."

Papis, who resides in Miami, Florida, has had an illustrious racing career spanning 20 years, realising a lifetime ambition last year by winning the Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona race with Doran-Lista Racing. Max will also be competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, June 14-15, with JML Team Panoz. He previously competed with the Panoz team at this year's 12 Hours of Sebring event, finishing fifth overall.

Max first raced at Rockingham in 2001, in the inaugural Rockingham 500 Champ Car event at the 1.5-mile Corby oval and achieved a remarkable record. Although not officially in the Guinness Book of Records, Papis was recorded by the timing beam at the Rockingham track at 208mph - going backwards. Max's spin, and keeping the car off the wall, remains the fastest-ever speed achieved by a driver while driving under control in reverse!

"It happened on the very first lap of the race," said Papis, "but I still ended up in the points. I'm hoping to do that again at Rockingham - but this time to celebrate after the chequered flag doing donuts!"

See series calendar for ASCAR Days of Thunder Series

See events calendar for Rockingham

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