For media information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Cell: (317) 201-0729
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
Canada's Grenier to Return
To Andersen Racing
For Complete 2010 Star Mazda Season
PALMETTO, Fla., Jan. 8 - Canadian racing phenom Mikael Grenier plans to
contest the entire 2010 schedule in the Star Mazda Championship presented by
Goodyear as a member of Andersen Racing.
The announcement was made this morning at a press conference in Quebec
City, Quebec at the law offices of Heenan Blaikie Aubut. One of its lawyers,
André Lapage, is Grenier's legal advisor. One of that firm's principals, Marcel
Aubut, is the former president and chief executive officer of the Quebec
Nordiques National Hockey League team in Quebec, and is currently the
president of the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held
in Vancouver next month.
Grenier, 17, of Stoneham, Quebec, tested the waters in the Star Mazda
series last year by running in six of its 13 events as a member of the Palmetto,
Fla.-based super team. He finished on the podium in both races at New Jersey
Motorsports Park, which were won by two of his teammates, Conor Daly and
Richard Kent. Grenier placed fourth at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec in his
homeland, and had two other strong top-10 finishes in his initial foray into the
series.
He'll attempt to build on that in 2010, and will test with the team at
Sebring, Fla. Jan. 22-24 in preparation for the season opener at Sebring
International Raceway on March 19. The first Star Mazda race of the year is a
support event for the American Le Mans Series' Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Sponsoring the young gun will be NAPA Auto Parts, CAA Québec, HS Télécome,
Desharnais Pneus & Mécanique and 66graphx.
"Mikael drove for us last season in six races, and in that short time he
demonstrated what a remarkable talent he is," said Andersen Racing co-owner
Dan Andersen. "He combines tremendous ability, focus and determination with
maturity beyond his years, and there is no doubt that he will win races and
challenge seriously for the Star Mazda championship title in 2010. We expect
a lot from him, and I am delighted to add him to our full-time driver
lineup."
"It is a pleasure for me to be back with Andersen Racing in 2010!" said
Grenier. "I did six races with them last year and I really felt great! It is a
very professional team, and they all have the same goal as I do - to win
the 2010 championship - and I really think we can do it!
"A special thanks to Dan Andersen for giving me the opportunity to drive
for him and for everything he did for me last year," Grenier added. "Now I
can't wait to show everybody what Andersen Racing and I can do on a racetrack!
"Also, thanks to my sponsors, NAPA Autoparts, CAA Québec, HS Télécome,
Desharnais Pneus & Mécanique and 66graphx!" he added. "Without them I would just
be watching racing at home!"
"I am very happy that we have reach an agreement with Andersen Racing early
in the year," said Vincent Bernier, Grenier's agent and the former
president of the Quebec Kebs, the only professional basketball team in Quebec
province. "I feel that Andersen Racing is the best racing team for Mikael to be a
part of in order to reach his goal of becoming the Star Mazda champion in
2010."
One of Grenier's teammates at Andersen Racing in 2010 will be Anders Krohn
of Sandnes, Norway, whose signing was announced on Dec. 21. A limited
number of additional seats are still available with the team. Potential drivers
may obtain more information by contacting the team by telephone at (941)
723-3900 or by e-mail at info@andersenracingteam.com.
Grenier started his racing career in karts at the age of 5. Andersen
Racing, the development team of Rahal Letterman Racing, uses karting, Star Mazda
and Firestone Indy Lights to prepare young drivers for careers at the top of
the sport. The team, which is sponsored by Allied Building Products and
Lafarge North America, even has its own 1-mile road course test track at its
headquarters in Palmetto, Fla.
Andersen Racing's sister company, Andersen Promotions, will also administer
a new Indy Racing League-sanctioned F2000 series called "The Cooper Tires
presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda" in 2010. That
series and Star Mazda are both part of the IRL's Road to Indy program and the
MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development system.
Andersen Racing's Web site is at andersenracingteam.com. Grenier's is at
mikaelgrenier.com. The Star Mazda series' Web site is located at
starmazda.com.
About Allied Building Products Corp.:
Allied Building Products Corp., headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., is
one of the largest roofing and siding distributors in the United States.
Founded in 1950 with five employees and two trucks, today it is a $1.8 billion
building material distribution company with over 3,500 employees, more than
200 branches in 30 states, well over one million square feet of office and
warehouse space, and an inventory of approximately 85,000 products, from
residential roofing and siding to doors, windows, waterproofing, manufactured
stone, interior products and commercial roofing systems. For more information
see alliedbuilding.com.
About Andersen Racing:
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best and most comprehensive training
possible for future open-wheel superstars while giving its marketing
partners media exposure and hospitality opportunities at some of the most
prestigious events in North America. It provides a unique program utilizing multiple
entries in three different platforms: karting, Star Mazda and Firestone
Indy Lights. A sister company, Andersen Promotions, administers a series
called "The Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by
Mazda." It is part of both the Indy Racing League's Road to Indy program and
the MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development system.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. and Lafarge
North America. 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 road course test track. For more
information see andersenracingteam.com, andersenkarting.com, andersenracepark.com
and usf2000.com.