For more information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
 
 
 
Lee Enjoys Being Back Behind the Wheel
And Hopes for Future Opportunities
 
SYOSSET, N.Y., March 6 - When opportunity knocks, Matt Lee will be ready.
 
The global economic downturn has affected racing sponsorships, but Lee 
continues to search for partners to join him in a motorsports marketing program.  
Since his last race was his impressive debut in the Firestone Indy Lights Series 
last July, Lee wanted to get back behind the wheel in the new year to make 
sure he would be ready for any opportunities that should develop in 2009.
 
The result was added confidence, as the 19-year-old driver from Syosset, N.Y. 
quickly proved he hasn't lost a thing despite the mini layoff.
 
First he went back to his roots of karting, a form of the sport that many top 
racers use as part of their regular training regimen.  Running with PSL 
Karting based in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, he finished on the podium in both of the 
pro shifter races he entered Feb. 20-22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 
Homestead, Fla. The races were part of the very competitive Florida Winter Tour, and 
Lee drove in the "Formula Kart" categories on the facility's newly repaved, 
7/10-mile circuit.
 
Driving a CRG/Maxter kart in the pro shifter category, Lee finished a solid 
third that Saturday. 
 
On Sunday Lee had trouble in the prefinal and retired early, so he had to 
start the main event from 12th place.  Despite that setback, he recorded a 
thrilling performance and was up to second when time ran out and the checkered waved.
 
"I knew he was good, but this was the first time I worked with him, and he 
impressed me a lot," said PSL Karting's Dominic Labrecque of Lee's performance.  
"Pro shifter is really a tough class; it has pretty good power. 
 
"If Matt would have had more time in the car he would have won the race," 
Labrecque continued. "He was pretty quick right out of the box. Then on Sunday he 
beat Gary Carson, the national champion and the best shifter kart driver in 
the United States right now.  So if Matt did more races in the future, I'm sure 
he'd win.  He hasn't been in a kart for some time, but he really impressed 
me."
 
After that tune-up, Lee was ready for his next opportunity: an Atlantic test 
with another Canadian team, Jensen MotorSport of Toronto, that was held Feb. 
26 at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Fla.  Lee competed in the 
Atlantic series full-time in 2007 with another team after earning second place 
in the Formula BMW USA series in 2006.
 
"That went really well too," Lee said. "I want to thank the team owner, Eric 
Jensen, for the opportunity.  I hadn't been in a race car since the Firestone 
Indy Lights doubleheader at Watkins Glen last July, but by the second practice 
session I was feeling good.  We made some improvements to the car, and then I 
was right back being as fast as ever.  I got to work with Steve Erickson, who 
was my engineer in 2007, again, as well as my driver coach, Christian Boudon. 
 The team worked together well and responded well to my set-up suggestions.  
Everyone was very professional."
 
Lee will test with that team again at the same facility this coming Tuesday 
and Wednesday at the series' first official test of the year. He'll be in the 
No. 22 car. 
 
"I'll do my best, and hopefully we'll be able to put something together for 
the season," Lee added of the 12-race series, which is officially called the 
Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.
 
The Atlantic season opener is Friday, March 20 at Sebring International 
Raceway in Sebring, Fla., as part of the prestigious Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of 
Sebring presented by Fresh From Florida weekend.
 
For more information on Lee, see mattleemotorsports.com.