Franconia, New Hampshire -- Tim O誰eil is hoping to secure the Group N Championship this weekend over points leader Ralph Kosmides. O誰eil痴 class win and third-overall finish at the last rally, Wild West, has put him in contention for the championship with a five-point deficit to Kosmides. O誰eil must win the category with Kosmides finishing no better than third for O誰eil to win the Group N Championship. With many of the class championships already decided heading into the final event of the 2002 SCCA ProRally season, the Group N Championship is one of the tightest battles remaining. O誰eil痴 championship standing is all the more remarkable considering the limited number of events that he has participated in, as this season was intended to prepare the Air Force Reserve-backed team for a full-season campaign in 2003.

"We started the season with low expectations, since it had been several years since I had been competing," said the Franconia, N.H. resident. "The goal was to get myself and the team up to speed to prepare for next season, but we have been very competitive and so now find ourselves looking for a championship this weekend. No matter what the outcome of the event is, this season has still been fantastic for us and for the U.S. Air Force Reserve, our primary sponsor, since we have been fortunate enough to take two wins in our category and also be very competitive with the entire field."

The SCCA ProRally Championship is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and is a flat-out race over closed sections of rural roads by modified production automobiles, with each car racing against the clock rather than directly against each other. O誰eil Racing competes in the Group N Class, which is comprised of Production-based vehicles which have been modified for speed and safety.

Tim O'Neil is a winner of five U.S. and North American Rally championships. Tim first got his hands dirty operating and repairing equipment for his family's logging business in Whitefield, New Hampshire. He began rallying in 1986 and formed Team O'Neil Motorsport in 1989 and was quickly competitive, winning six of the first eight SCCA National Pro Rally Championship Events. He then became the first American in years to compete in Finland's 1000 Lakes Rally, a World Rally Championship Event.

Between 1993 and 1997, Tim worked with a number of major automotive manufacturers to teach advanced driving techniques and introduce new products. In 1997, Tim opened the Team O'Neil Rally School and Car Control Center in Franconia, New Hampshire to teach rally and winter driving techniques. Tim leads every class and is supported by a group of instructors whose varied backgrounds serve to complement the learning experience.

Team O誰eil 2002 Results To Date:

• 3rd Place Group N, 11th Overall Cherokee Trails;
• 2nd Place Group N, 10th Overall, Pikes Peak;
• 1st Place Group N, 11th Overall, Maine Forest;
• 2nd Place Group N, 6th Overall, Ojibwe Forest;
• 1st Place Group N 3rd Overall, Wild West.