Grand Rapids, Michigan -- Team Yo! Rallysport is proud to announce its new season sponsorship partner, Benteler Automotive Corporation. Benteler, a German-based automotive supplier who's North American operations are based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a perfect fit for rally sponsorship. "Benteler Automotive specializes in chassis and impact products as well as frontal exhaust products. There is no better sport can I think of to showcase their technology," says Jerry Brownell, Team YO! driver and Sales Engineer for Benteler. "From the start, we've tried to take a professional approach with our team, and we are thrilled to see that it's paid off for us."

Benteler's Worldwide headquarters are based in Paderborn, Germany where rallying is a more popular sport. Performance rallying is the second largest spectator sport in Europe and parts of South America and is growing in North America. The worldwide appeal to rallying also fits well with Benteler's worldwide organization. Benteler Automotive supplies the industry with modules and systems from its 25 locations and employs over 10,000 people worldwide. Worldwide sales total over $4 billion annually, and the company ranks in the top 75 suppliers (in sales) to the industry.

"We intend to make Benteler a household name," says John Swint, Commercial Director for Benteler's Impact Systems Group, "and supporting Team YO! Rallysport gives us the most 'bang for the buck' available to us. We hope to be able to support Team YO! to help them increase their competitiveness and compete at the National level. We've discussed some partnership ideas that could have them competing for a National class championship within two years."

"This is really going to act as a springboard for us," says Jim Windsor, co-driver for Team YO! "We've been running the team on a tight budget. Now, with some working capital, we'll be able to make some upgrades on the car so we can be more competitive, as well as run the national series next season."

Team YO! Rallysport races one of the most unique cars on the circuit. It is a highly modified 1983 Chevy Citation X-11, originally built by Guy Light and Light Performance Works for Gail Hoult (Truess). In 1999, Gail became the first ever female National class champion in SCCA ProRally, winning the Production GT class. She raced the car, which she named 'Oskar', to a second place finish in the Midwest Division Championship and won the Jamaican National Rally with it in 1993. Team YO! Rallysport acquired the car in January of this year.

Remaining races planned for this season include the 10,000 Lakes and Paul Bunyun's Ride ClubRallys in Minnesota, the Magnum Opus ClubRally in Munising, Michigan, and the Ottawa Challenge and Keweenaw Challenge ClubRallys in Houghton, Michigan. With Benteler's sponsorship, Team YO! plans to compete at the National ProRally level next year, which will include races nationwide from Maine to Oregon.

For more information on Benteler Automotive, contact the US Marketing office at 734-432-6730, or visit the Benteler web site at http://www.benteler.de/engl/index.htm. To find out more about ProRally/ClubRally, visit the SCCA website at http://www.sccaprorally.org.

Visit the Team YO! Rallysport website at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/webpages/teamyo.

Information:
Team Yo! Rallysport
1567 Coit N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Phone 616-361-2516
E-mail: brownell@benteler.com