JAS Motorsport announces 2005 program

JAS CHALLENGE IN WTCC 2005 TAKES OFF!

WTCC 2005 Program announced
JAS Motorsport will participate to the WTCC 2005 with two cars. Awaiting the final decision for the drivers Roberto Colciago, took the new Accord Euro R -- FIA Super 2000 for its first laps in Monza last Thursday, February 24.

"I am very impressed" Roberto commented "only a few laps and we are already on the pace. Here in Monza we could not do a lot due the very cold ambient conditions, but I could really feel how good is the package. Engine and suspensions are already at the top of the category, we just need to develop the set-up to suit my driving style. I do hope we could finalise the agreement and I look forward for a highly competitive season".

"It has been a highly intensive winter time" claims Team Principal Alessandro Mariani "that we have spent to manufacture our cars for the WTCC and those for our customers. Although we will participate to the WTCC as indipendent team we hope to capitalize the development work that we have done last year in the ETCC. This year the WTCC will be even more competitive than before, but we are sure that we can do well in spite of the very poor budget we have in comparison to the works team.

Drivers for out Team are not finalised yet but we hope to sign Roberto, whose experience and driving skills would be a key factor to make our Accord win.

Italian Champion to drive for JAS
Reigning Italian Touring Car champion Adriano De Micheli is the first driver signed by JAS Motorsport for their 2005 campaign in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

De Micheli, 30-year old from Genoa, has reached the agreement with JAS through the Scuderia Niosi LLC (U.S.A.). He will drive one of the two Honda Accord cars built and run by the Italian team.

In 2004 De Micheli took part in the Italian Touring Car Championship; at the wheel of a Super Production Scuderia Bigazzi Alfa Romeo 147, he scored five wins out of ten races and claimed the title with a comfortable margin (nearly 50 points) from his own team mate Andrea Bacci and BMW's Gianluca De Lorenzi.

De Micheli is not unfamiliar with the FIA Touring Car championship. In 2003 he took part in the season's finale at Monza, with excellent results; driving a Bigazzi Alfa Romeo 156 Gta he managed to finish 7th and 8th in the two races, scoring a total of three points on his first appearance.

The technical evolution
"The new Accord is a significant evolution of last year's car" says Technical Director Stefano Fini "It has been revised completely, the aero kit is the most evident change but any single component has been redesigned to improve the reliability and the serviceability. The engine is going through a severe development phase and we have really high expectations from our new baby. Here in Monza the lap times were immediately very promising, but unfortunately it was too cold (5 degrees) for a serious development work".

Accords for Honda Customers
As Official Partner of Honda in Customer Support, JAS Motorsport will supply race cars to Super 2000 racers in local championship. "This is our mission for Honda" Mariani continues "and our cars will be well represented in Sweden, the Baltic countries and Denmark".

One Accord at the Nurburgring 24 hours
Aside the cars for the WTCC and the national championship, JAS Motorsport is developing a customised version for the Nurburgring 24 hours, which will be entered by a company-team of Honda R&D. "That is a very exciting technical challenge" - Mariani goes "this Accord is going to be the very first Super 2000 car used for a 24 hours race"

-www.jasmotorsport.com