Genoa Racing to miss Laguna Seca

Genoa Racing Will Miss Atlantic Season Finale; Vervisch Will Finish Fourth in Point Standings

ZIONSVILLE, Ind., Oct. 7 - Genoa Racing will miss the season finale of the Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Sunday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. due to budget constraints, but it can still look back on a very successful 2009 season.

"Laguna is a particularly expensive event for our team to attend, and unfortunately we just have no budget to do so," said Thomas Knapp, the team manager and chief engineer. "Our highest-placed driver in the championship, Frederic Vervisch, is fourth in the standings and the highest-ranked rookie, and he cannot make or lose any positions by competing in the season finale. We regret not being able to support the series by participating, but this season has taken a particularly heavy toll on our finances. We wish the championship contenders all the best as they head into the finale."

Genoa Racing, one of the top teams in the series, fielded up to three cars this year in selected Atlantic events for Vervisch, James Winslow, Jonathan Summerton, Tonis Kasemets, Greg Mansell and Robert Wickens. The team had one victory, six other podium finishes and five additional top-five finishes in 11 of the 12 events.

Genoa Racing will now prepare for the 2010 season.

-credit: gr