For more information: 
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Cell: 317-201-0729
 
 
 
Andersen Racing's Vassmer Is Going
For 2008 F2000 Championship Title 
 
PALMETTO, Fla., Jan. 7 - Ricardo Vassmer is expected to once again mount a 
serious challenge for the title in SCCA F2000 Championship Series action with 
today's announcement that he'll return to Andersen Racing for the 2008 season.
 
Although he didn't compete in last year's season-opening doubleheader, the 
charismatic 24-year-old driver from Caracas, Venezuela and Coral Springs, Fla. 
still finished fifth in the F2000 series last year out of 52 drivers earning 
points.  He was one of three Andersen Racing drivers to place in the top five in 
the very competitive series that is conducted on doubleheader weekends. 
 
In the 10 F2000 races he ran last year, Vassmer was in the top five half of 
the time and out of the top 10 only twice.  He posted one victory, winning from 
the pole with a new track record in the first round of the doubleheader at 
Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland on June 23.  Other highlights of his year 
were both starting and finishing second at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course July 
14 and then starting first and finishing second there the following day. 
Challenging Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y. was also a good venue 
for Vassmer, as he started third in both of those races and took home fourth 
and third-place finishes.
 
The series expands from 12 races in 2007 to 14 in 2008.  The season-opening 
doubleheader is slated for April 18-20 at VIRginia International Raceway in 
Alton, Va. 
 
Andersen Racing is Van Diemen's official factory team. Vassmer's Van Diemen 
will carry decals advertising at least two sponsors in 2008: Petroleos de 
Venezuela (PDVSA) and ZOOM, a top courier service. Additional marketing 
partnerships are still available for his effort. The series will be presented by Hoosier 
Racing Tire in 2008. 
 
"We're delighted to have Ricardo Vassmer return for a full season of F2000," 
said team co-owner Dan Andersen.  "He has the skill, experience and 
temperament to win the championship in 2008, and we expect him to be strong right from 
the start. He works well with our entire crew and he will be a huge asset as we 
develop the team cars with the support of Élan."
 
"It's great to be back with Andersen Racing," said Vassmer.  "The team is 
working full time to have an even better platform than last year to give their 
drivers a better chance of winning, and I'm very happy to be one of them!
 
"Having the track at Palmetto is excellent, because it makes it a lot easier 
to test and prepare ourselves for next season," added Vassmer, referring to 
the team's test track, Andersen RacePark. 
 
"Last year I had a lot of fun in the F2000 series," Vassmer said.  "The races 
are pretty intense at the front, and the series has a lot of good drivers. I 
also like the way the series is organized and the races venues that we do.
 
"Everybody is working as hard as we can, and we hope to see the results of 
that pay off in the new season," he concluded.
 
Andersen Racing, long a powerhouse in F2000 racing, strives to provide the 
best training possible for future open-wheel stars.  It fields multiple entries 
in three different series: F2000, Star Mazda and the Indy Pro Series.  It is 
the official development team of Rahal Letterman Racing.  The team is 
headquartered at Andersen RacePark, an 18-acre facility in Palmetto, Fla. that includes 
a 1-mile test track. 
 
Andersen Racing's F2000 and Star Mazda contingents are testing at Sebring 
International Raceway in Sebring, Fla. today and tomorrow, Jan. 7-8.
 
For more information see andersenracingteam.com, ricardovassmer.com, 
andersenracepark.com and f2000championshipseries.com.