Grand-Am

Doran Enterprises Daytona Prototype designs approved

Doran Enterprises Daytona Prototype chassis designs approved for construction. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 1, 2002) -- Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf announced today that Grand American Road Racing has approved chassis designs from ...

Published: May 3, 2002, 6:41 PM

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Doran Enterprises Daytona Prototype chassis designs approved for construction.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 1, 2002) -- Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf announced today that Grand American Road Racing has approved chassis designs from Doran Enterprises for the Daytona Prototypes, the Rolex Sports Car Series premier class in 2003.

"The train is picking up speed with Doran's Daytona Prototype design. We expect to have several more sets of plans submitted for approval in the next couple of weeks," Raffauf remarked. "Doran Enterprises has a well-established reputation as a race car builder, and we are happy to see them committed to the Daytona Prototype program."

"Now that we have been granted approval, we will start production of our first car this week," Doran Enterprise founder Kevin Doran stated. "We expect to sell three cars for (the Rolex 24 At) Daytona, and we hope to test the first one the first of October."

Doran is well established as a builder and preparer of race cars ranging from NASCAR Super Trucks to Indy cars, but he is best known for his sports car accomplishments, which includes four Rolex 24 At Daytona victories as team manager. "Recently I have been looking back at the history of sports car racing. The Porsche 935 ran for seven to nine years. Then the GTP came along, and it ran for eight or nine years. Now the World Sports Car has been here eight or nine years. It looks like there is a trend in sports car racing," Doran explained. "It's time for a change. It's time for a new car, and the Daytona Prototypes are coming along at just the right time."

The Ohio-based constructor anticipates the Daytona Prototypes drawing larger fields and more exciting racing. "It's going to be an exciting car to see. It's going to have a little more style and flair than the current cars. If we can have 20 or 30 cars running around on any given day, you're going to have a good race," he said. "These cars are going to be at a cost that we can easily have that many racing. They are going to be 30 to 40 percent less than the current cars in cost. And when you add in the manpower need to run them, it will be half of what we are spending now."

Doran admits he has not yet decided on an engine for his Daytona Prototype, but says he is favoring the Chevy Corvette engine. "I think it will be a strong performer for the series, but I'm talking to others, as well. I hope to have a decision by the end of the month."

Although the Doran chassis design has been approved for construction, it must still submit its bodywork for approval. "We have the design and concept of the body firm in our mind and in 2-D drawings. Now it is just a matter of software data input, so we can have it approved," Doran noted.

The first Doran Enterprises Daytona Prototype has already been sold to an unnamed buyer, and Doran reports he has had several inquirers about the remaining two slated to be built. "In order to stay on schedule, we really need to sell the second prototype by the end of the May. There has been a lot of interest about the other two cars, so hopefully we will have a confirmed buyer soon. But, it is key to have something come together soon in order to stick to our schedule."

Additional information on Doran Enterprises is available online at www.doranracing.com or by calling 513-336-0819. More information on the Daytona Prototypes and the Rolex Sports Car Series is available online at www.grand-am.com.

-grand am-

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