RICHMOND, VERMONT -- Today Metalmarks announces the signing of a new sponsor, Samuel Adams Beer. This is the first auto racing endeavor for Sam Adams, who are very excited to be adding their name to the list of other major sponsors benefiting from ProRally series exposure.

The Metalmarks Golf III, clad with new Sam Adams livery, made its public debut at a recent corporate function for Sam Adams Beer. President and founder of the Boston Beer Company, Jim Koch, along with many other attendees, were impressed with the ProRally car's eye-catching appearance.

Jim Koch founded the Boston Beer Company in 1984 and launched Sam Adams Lager in 1985. Since then the company has won more then 120 international awards for their outstanding brews.

The announcement of a new sponsor comes on the heels of the team's success at Maine Forest ProRally, July 27th and 28th. The Metalmarks International Rally Team emerged victorious in the Group 2 category at the Maine Forest ProRally, the largest rally ever held on the North American continent. A staggering field of over 120 cars left Rumford, Maine for the sixth round of the 2001 SCCA ProRally Championship.

Driving a 1994 VW Golf III, driver Chris Havas, teamed for the first time with co-driver Ben Bradley, finished twentieth overall and first in the Group 2 class for small-displacement, modified two-wheel-drive vehicles. Only two two-wheel-drive cars finished ahead of the Metalmarks Golf, and they were both in the substantially more powerful Group 5 class.

"I am very happy with the result," said Havas, "I haven't driven in a rally in almost a year, so to win Group 2 with this strong a field is a significant accomplishment." Bradley added, "Chris hardly put a wheel wrong all weekend. The car ran well, and it was great to see all the spectators out there."

Metalmarks will contest selected ProRally events for the remainder of 2001 and a full season in 2002. Local events will include the Mt. Philo Hillclimb, hosted by the Sports Car Club of Vermont in October of 2001.

Metalmarks Rally Team is also supported by Simon's-Gracey's stores, Mid-Atlantic Trading, PIAA Corporation, 1-800-VWPARTS, Panasport, Washburn's Auto Body and Cherrybone.