Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Valencia Volvo R Sport and their Group 2 Volvo 240 are preparing to head to the 2002 Cherokee Trails ProRally. Over 50 rally cars are currently entered for the Cherokee Trails ProRally, the 2nd event in the 2002 SCCA performance rally championship. The Cherokee Trails ProRally is being held March 14-17th, 2002 and the event headquarters will be at the Carter Marriott, in downtown Chattanooga, TN.

Driver Bill Malik, of Burbank, California, and co-driver Christian Edstrom, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania expect to be contenders for the top spot in Group 2, a class for extremely modified two wheel drive cars.

"We completed building the car late last year, and were able to run at two events to test the package. We're very excited to campaign the car in the full series this year," said Malik. "The new motor and transmission are working extremely well, and we expect to be right near the top of the two-wheel drive class."

"The fact that this is a [reconnoitered] event, where we drive the competition stages at low speeds and make notes on all the corners, cautions, and jumps, the day before the actual race, also helps us," added co-driver Edstrom. "Our experience with recce events is deeper than many teams, and we hope that that will add to our advantages. We hope for a win in Group 2, and a top 10 placement overall."

Cherokee Trails is the 2nd SCCA ProRally event of the year, but the first for Team Valencia Volvo R Sport. "Being originally from Kenya, I elected to skip the winter rally on the calendar," joked Malik. "We'll make up for it at the next few events."

The Cherokee Trails ProRally course is a total of 287 miles long, with 119 miles of special stages, where the actual racing takes place. The majority of the special stages will be held in the Ococee/Hiwassee District of the Cherokee National Forest in Polk County, Tennessee.

Spectators will have the opportunity to see the team compete in the forest, and will have a chance to see all the cars and meet the drivers at the Carter Marriott in downtown Chattanooga, on Friday, March 15, at 7:30pm.

Be sure to watch for coverage of the Cherokee Trails ProRally on Fox's Speed Channel and for a profile of the Valencia Volvo R Sport Team in an upcoming issue of Sport Compact Car. More information can also be found at the team's website: http://www.volvoracing.com

Team Valencia Volvo R Sport is supported by Valencia Volvo Independent, a Volvo repair and race car fabrication shop, in Santa Clarita, CA.