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Saleen PR – Collin Whitley

[email protected]

FIRST SALEEN CUP SERIES CHAMPIONS

CROWNED AT LAS VEGAS FINALE

Paul Terry of Nephi, Utah and Carter Fartuch of Schnecksville, Pa. crowned series champions, becoming official GT4 drivers for Saleen in 2020.

Three events at Las Vegas Raceway, Oct. 18-20 marked the final round of Saleen’s inaugural “arrive and drive” racing series, driving the new Saleen 1 model

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 21, 2019) — The world’s newest GT racing champions were crowned Sunday at the grand finale of the inaugural Saleen Cup Racing Series in Las Vegas.  

Paul Terry of Nephi, Utah and Carter Fartuch of Schnecksville, Pa. topped the final points-race after three events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 18-20, each becoming category champions in the inaugural Saleen Cup, a single-make racing series by Saleen Automotive.

Carter Fartuch earned his first GT championship racing title in the Young category with consistent results throughout the inaugural season. With previous experience in other racing series and karting, driving in the Saleen Cup represented a chance to compete in high-level GT racing, with a factory seat driving in GT4 with Saleen next year.  

“This season has been career-changing and has helped shape where my racing career is going” said Saleen Cup Young category champion Carter Fartuch. “Saleen has been like a family this season and that kind of teamwork will be important next year in GT4. I look forward to the chance to win in the GT4 Series, driving for such an iconic racing brand.”

Paul Terry topped the Pro-Amateur (Pro-Am) category in the Saleen Cup, with consistent results throughout the inaugural season. A veteran driver in numerous other GT series and racing programs, Terry entered the Saleen Cup for a chance to win a factory seat driving in GT4 for Saleen.

“I’m looking forward to driving the GT4 car next year” said Saleen Cup Pro-Amateur champion Paul Terry. “Saleen has a great racing heritage and I look forward to helping the brand bring home a title in GT4 next year.”

The Saleen Cup series was introduced to demonstrate the new Saleen 1 sports car while offering a professional-quality racing experience for drivers in two distinct classes. The Pro-Am category includes experienced racers, while the Young category gives prospective young drivers an opportunity to start a career in professional motorsports. As category champions in the Saleen Cup, both Terry and Fartuch will each secure a factory seat driving in Saleen’s GT4 entry for the entire 2020 season.

Following a make-up race on Friday, the Saleen Cup continued Saturday, Oct. 19 with a race won by Cameron Lawrence in the Young category and newcomer Bill Hynes in the Pro-Am class. A final race on Sunday, Oct. 20 saw close competition with a shared car between #6 Johan Schwartz and Bryce Miller winning the Pro-Am class and Carter Fartuch taking top position in the Young category, along with the championship title.

As the official return to professional-level motorsports for Saleen Automotive, the Saleen Cup series paves the way for the company’s first entry into GT4 in 2020. Earlier this week, Saleen unveiled its new GT4 Concept vehicle in Las Vegas, a turnkey track version of the Saleen 1 mid-engine sports car, developed specifically for racing in the GT4 category.

 “With the Saleen Cup series, we set out to back our reputation as a leading name in motorsports, and also prove the racing capabilities of the Saleen 1 – and ultimately we succeeded on both goals” explained Steve Saleen, CEO and founder of Saleen Automotive. “We are incredibly proud of our drivers and team for a great inaugural season and look forward to even more racing action next year in the Saleen 1.”

2019 Saleen Cup – Final Points Standings “Pro-Am Drivers” Class

• Paul Terry – Nephi, Utah (107 points)
• Brandon Davis – Sonoma, Calif. (92 points)
• Eric Powell – Orlando, Fla. (88 points)

2019 Saleen Cup – Final Points Standings “Young Drivers” Class

• Carter Fartuch – Schnecksville, Pa. (141 points)
• Austin Riley – Uxbridge, Ontario Canada (141 points)
• Cameron Lawrence – Windermere, Fla. (107 points)

Tying for the points lead in the Young category was Austin Riley of Uxbridge, Ontario Canada. The 20-year-old driver maintained a consistent, strong season with three race wins and a podium finish at every event in the 2019 Saleen Cup schedule. To celebrate his impressive first season, Steve Saleen awarded Riley with the Scholarship Award, including a $25,000 prize and sponsored entry throughout the 2020 Saleen Cup schedule. 

“We’re serious about our commitment to bringing up the next generation of racing drivers,” said Steve Saleen. “This is a development series for the cars and the drivers and Austin showed impressive progress and natural talent throughout the season. We look forward to having him back racing with Saleen next year.”

As a single-make series with an “arrive and drive” format, the Saleen Cup delivers a professional-quality racing experience, with a grid of fully prepared Saleen 1 Cup Cars featuring Iconic, Contemporary and Saleen racing liveries. Full trackside support and hospitality amenities add to the professional-level racing experience. The Saleen Cup is presented via a partnership with SRO Motorsports Group, and runs concurrently with the Blancpain GT World Challenge America. Trackside tire support for the entire Saleen Cup is provided by series sponsor Continental Tires.

For more information on the Saleen Cup, visit www.SaleenCup.com.For more information on the Saleen 1 model, visit www.Saleen.com, or follow Saleen on social by using on Facebook at Facebook.com/Saleen , or by using @Saleen on Twitter and @Saleen on Instagram.

About Saleen Automotive, Inc.

Saleen is dedicated to transforming the transportation experience. For over 35 years, the California-based automotive manufacturer has redefined driving through high-performing vehicles that combine championship-winning racing pedigree with innovative technology and distinctive styling.

From the first Saleen Mustang in 1984 to the legendary S7 in 2000 and the groundbreaking new Saleen 1, founder Steve Saleen has continually set the bar for vehicle design and performance engineering on streets and racetracks worldwide. In addition to its distinctive Saleen Signature and Saleen Original vehicle lines, Saleen offers a wide variety of technical parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel for those with a passion for performance. Learn more at www.saleen.com. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        Media Contact:

Saleen PR – Collin Whitley

[email protected]

SALEEN UNVEILS GT4 CONCEPT RACE CAR

High-performance automaker introduces new factory-built race car concept
based on Saleen 1 model, designed to compete in SRO Motorsport Group’s GT4 Series

New turnkey track cars to be manufactured in California by Saleen
and available for order immediately following homologation approval by SRO

LAS VEGAS (Oct 18, 2019) — One of the most legendary names in GT racing will soon return to the starting grid at the world’s most prestigious racetracks with an original new machine designed specifically for track competition.

At a press conference and demonstration event held yesterday at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Saleen Automotive announced it will soon offer specially-built versions of it’s new Saleen 1 turbocharged, mid-engine sports car designed to compete in GT4 racing series worldwide.

The new Saleen GT4 concept model – which will be built at Saleen’s Corona, Calif.-based facilities starting in November 2019 – is based on a dedicated racing version of the Saleen 1 model, which debuted in the 2019 Saleen Cup racing series. The single-make “arrive and drive” series concludes its inaugural season with a grand finale event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 18-20.

Saleen’s GT4 concept features distinct changes from the standard production model Saleen 1, including updates designed to comply with GT4 series specifications. The Saleen GT4 concept features updates to the car’s front splitter and fenders, plus new advanced rear diffuser to improve aerodynamics. Per GT4 specifications, a large rear wing is included to add maximum downforce and traction. Saleen’s GT4 concept car also offers front and rear anti-lock braking systems and other GT4-specific equipment.  

“We developed the Saleen 1 to be fully capable on the track and easily adapt to racing applications,” said Steve Saleen, CEO and founder of Saleen Automotive. “Our company was founded on racing DNA and the track is where we prove our reputation. We look forward to completing the homologation process with SRO and seeing these cars compete at GT4 events around the world.”

The GT4 category was created by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) in 2007 to offer a championship that featured a wider range of manufacturers and better affordability than other racing series. Starting with an initial series in Europe, GT4 racing has expanded worldwide with additional championships in the United Kingdom, North America, Asia and Australia.

“The Saleen Cup has been an important and exciting addition to our race weekends in 2019 and we look forward to the Saleen GT4 joining our Pirelli GT4 America grids in 2020,” said Greg Gill, President and CEO of SRO America.

Boasting innovative chassis design and performance influenced by Saleen’s legendary S7 supercar, the mid-engine Saleen 1 marks the latest in the company’s Saleen Original vehicles line. With its turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine producing 450 horsepower, plus lightweight chassis and carbon fiber bodywork, the Saleen 1 is a formidable track car – even in street form.

“We found during the inaugural Saleen Cup season, our test session lap times were already competitive with the top GT4 times, regardless of the track,” said Saleen Director of Motorsports Gabriele Cadringher. “The performance of the Saleen 1 has exceeded even our high expectations and we expect this car to be very competitive in GT4 next year.”

Once Saleen’s GT4 concept car completes homologation approval and begins production, the expected price for each car will be $225,000. For information on pre-ordering, please contact Gabriele Cadringher at [email protected] or call (800)888-8945.

For more details on Saleen, including product info and racing information, visit www.Saleen.com, or follow Saleen on social by using on Facebook at Facebook.com/Saleen , or by using @Saleen on Twitter and @Saleen on Instagram.

About Saleen Automotive, Inc.

Saleen is dedicated to transforming the transportation experience. For over 35 years, the California-based automotive manufacturer has redefined driving through high-performing vehicles that combine championship-winning racing pedigree with innovative technology and distinctive styling.

From the first Saleen Mustang in 1984 to the legendary S7 in 2000 and the groundbreaking new Saleen 1, company founder Steve Saleen has continually set the bar for vehicle design and performance engineering on streets and racetracks worldwide. In addition to its distinctive Saleen Signature and Saleen Original vehicle lines, Saleen offers a wide variety of technical parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel for those with a passion for performance. Learn more at www.saleen.com. 

About SRO Motorsports Group

The global leader in GT racing. With more than 25 years’ experience at the forefront of a continuously evolving industry, SRO Motorsports Group is the established international leader in GT racing.

Best known for the development and implementation of the GT3 and GT4 regulations, SRO promotes and organizes championships that embrace professional and amateur competitors. Its portfolio of highly regarded series spans Europe, America and Asia, while its flagship Intercontinental GT Challenge features events on five different continents.

The 2019 season will see more than 100 races run under the SRO Motorsports Group banner, highlighted by the prestigious Total 24 Hours of Spa. In addition to promotion and organization, the company operates SRO Race Centre by MMC – a high-level technical centre at Circuit Paul Ricard – and provides the ultimate driving opportunities at world-renowned facilities through Curbstone Track Events.

SRO Motorsports Group is chaired by company founder and CEO Stephane Ratel. With offices in London, Paris, Liège, Austin, and Hong Kong, its work is facilitated by a dedicated global team of full-time and freelance staff.

Combining a passion for performance with industry-leading experience, SRO is ready to play a key role in shaping the future of international GT racing.

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