Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2001
Contact: Marty Allen
Focus Motorsport
E-mail: RallyIre@aol.com

What was Valvoline Team Eire, has now become Focus Motorsport!!!

North Andover, Massachusetts -- It has been some time now since the Allen Family from North Andover, Massachusetts have competed in an SCCA ProRally. Their Valvoline sponsored Mazda 323 GTX became familiar at east coast rallies during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, but was sold to a rally rookie from Tennessee in September 2000.

Undaunted by the loss of their car, they have, this week, emerged with what can only be described as a ' sheep in wolves clothing'. Team owner and father to 20 year old Marty and 19 year old Stewart, Martin Snr. has created the ultimate Gp.2 rally car. With support from their old sponsor Valvoline and newcomers, Martini, KW Suspension, Team Dynamics and numerous other secondary sponsors, they have created a 2.0l Ford Focus Maxi Kitcar.

Part of the agreement with their sponsors is that the car will be used for promotional purposes through the Summer of 2001 before it can be rallied. It is scheduled to appear at a number of autoshows and events on the east coast between now and late Summer. The building of the car involved many well known rally personnel including Lance Smith Inc. who built the FIA spec rollcage. " Lance built the cage in the GTX that Marty and Stew rolled numerous times in Maine in 1999" said Allen," The cage held up perfectly so I went back to Lance to have him fit a cage in the new car." Much of the work was done at Mitsubishi Lancer driver Vinnie Frontinan`s workshop, Vinnie's Autosport, in Cambridge, Massachusetts with the assistance of Orlando Montero. Orlando has been around rallying all his life but is an renown expert on Subarus.

Allen admits that building the car has been a labor of love. "At the moment modifications to the car are on going.", he says. The car will use the latest in aftermarket racing technology and should set a new standard for sport compacts.

The car will not be competing at STPR or Maine, although the team is looking into the possibility of a rental for the Maine event. Depending on its promotional commitments, the car may be seen on stages in either Canada or at a Northeast club event.

The car has been out for preliminary testing and has shown tremendous potential. Marty admits that the change from AWD to FWD is still taking a little time to adjust to, but continuous testing will help him adapt to the new formula." The Focus is so stable and it reacts very positively in the turns" the younger Allen admits." Younger brother Stewart, who co-drives for Marty has not committed to any rallies yet as he may have business commitments in Ireland.

The car will be seen at various events on the East coast this Summer.

WWW.FOCUSMOTORSPORT.COM is under construction and will be up and running within a few weeks. This site will carry more information on this new and exciting Rally Team. Please feel contact them at RallyIre@aol.com or Skysigns@aol.com. -

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