For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Note: Photos of test are available for media use.
Aranha Completes Successful Test
With APR Motorsport
HOUSTON, Dec. 28 - In a major step towards his goal of competing in the
Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge's Street Tuner class in 2010,
Houston-based driver Jason Aranha recently participated in a very successful test with
APR Motorsport at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway in Munford, Ala.
Aranha completed 37 laps in one of the Opelika, Ala.-based team's VW GTI
MK5s.
Although he'd never driven this particular car before and he was making his
first laps on the 1.34-mile road course, Aranha quickly got up to speed and
left no doubt that he could be competitive in the series.
"Jason was very impressive during our recent test. His speed,
professionalism, and technical abilities were exceptional," said Jeff Mishtawy, APR's
director of motorsport.
Professional race car drivers must be consistent as well as fast, and
Aranha was both at the test. He posted a time of 1:06.93 on his seventh lap, and
then consistently ran in the low 1:07s and high 1:06s during his first
session behind the wheel. By the end of the day his fastest lap was timed in
1:06.20.
"The APR Motorsport VW GTI was simply amazing on the track; the preparation
that went into the car was evident and it really showed how much this team
has accomplished in just two years of competition," Aranha said. "The
professionalism and synergy of the team are on par with, if not better than what
I've seen at the highest levels of international motorsports, and I am
certain that this team will have a very successful future.
"Having amassed most of my experience over the past few years in
front-wheel drive cars developing the Diniz Design Mini Cooper S, I was thrilled to
test the APR Motorsport GTI," he added. "With Daytona just around the corner,
I hope that I can finalize the right marketing partnerships to run with the
team in 2010."
The first race of the season is the Fresh From Florida 200 Jan. 29 at
Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., which is part of the
prestigious Rolex 24 program.
Aranha is searching for additional sponsors for the 2010 season to join
Diniz Design, a Baton Rouge, La.-based company that manufactures products made
from natural stone, and GoPro, a Northern California-based company whose
HERO line of cameras is ideal for use during athletic activities and other
demanding conditions.
In addition to his skills as a driver, Aranha brings a wealth of knowledge
and mechanical and engineering experience to the table for his marketing
partners and teams.
While attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach,
Fla., he formed its Kart Racing Club and worked as a mechanic for BGB Motorsport
(Porsche 996) and Spirit of Daytona Racing (Daytona Prototype).
As a driver, Aranha's focus moved from karting to open-wheel Formula Fords
in 2004. The following year he and co-driver Steve Diniz developed and
campaigned a 2003 Mini Cooper S in National Auto Sport Association and BMW Club
events.
Upon graduation from Embry-Riddle with a degree in aerospace engineering,
Aranha moved to England to participate in a three-month internship with the
Williams F1 team, where he did aerodynamic development work on the team's
2006, 2007 and 2008 cars. While at Williams he also served as a mechanic for
its test team.
He moved to Houston, Texas in 2006 to work on the Orion Crew Exploration
Vehicle for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He
continues to work full-time at Lockheed Martin on NASA projects today.
His racing Web site is under development at spiderspeed.com. Other
information is available on Grand-Am's Web site at grand-am.com and APR Motorsport's
Web site at goapr.com.
About Diniz Design:
Steve and Connie Diniz opened Diniz Design in 1994 after realizing there
was a need for a natural stone showroom in Baton Rouge, La., to produce
countertops, sinks, cabinets and other similar items. The company works with an
extensive selection of materials, including granite, marble, onyx, travertine,
slate, limestone, quartzite, metal, glass, mosaics and more.
The company fabricates its products on site in its state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility. Its staff utilizes various precision machines to produce
finished products of any complexity, including a waterjet for custom
medallions or intricate inlays.
Diniz Design's knowledgeable design staff can assist customers in selecting
the best choice of materials and then educate them on their care and
maintenance. The company prides itself on being the only local showroom with a
licensed interior designer and a sales staff comprised entirely of interior
design graduates. Its goal is to provide the highest quality materials and
superior craftsmanship for every job, no matter how big or small.
For more information see dinizdesign.com.
About GoPro:
GoPro is a Northern California-based team of inventors and athletes
dedicated to making it easy to use a camera despite the setting. It makes it
possible to capture exciting photos and video while surfing with friends, airing
it out on the mountain, hiking favorite trails, or railing favorite tracks.
Most cameras are too inconvenient to use during many such activities.
GoPro's line of HERO cameras makes it easier than ever to shoot digital photos
and video during life's most exciting moments.
With GoPro, there are no more rubber bands, wrist ropes or homemade mounts,
and no more missed footage because the camera was stuffed in a backpack.
Users can get the shot that makes them look like a HERO - GoPro.
For more information see goprocamera.com.
About APR:
APR's sole mission is to provide the highest quality and most highly
engineered aftermarket performance products available for Porsche, Audi and
Volkswagen vehicles. It is an automotive engineering firm operating a
36,000-square-foot performance campus in Opelika, Ala. It was founded in 1997 with a
corporate philosophy of integrity, excellence and innovation.
For more information see goapr.com.