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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">FIA SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">02/07/2002</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">JCI happy with first outing</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Team go testing with info in hand</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"><B>First Event Deemed a Success for Team JCI</B><BR> <BR> Despite failing to finish on the debut of the Team JCI Tampolli Opel in the 2002 FIA Sportscar Championship at Magny Cours, France at the weekend, Michael Mallock and Darren Manning hailed their run a success. <BR> <BR> Driving the all-new Swindon built Opel-engined Tampolli SR2, experienced sportscar driver and BRDC Rising Star member Mallock and new signing for the weekend, BAR Formula 1 test driver Manning, provided useful feedback over what was being approached by the team as a test event. Despite limited seat and set-up time in the car Darren placed the car in Sixth place on the grid for the two and a half hour race on Sunday afternoon. More work was done overnight on the car and team spirits were buoyed further when Michael set the 3rd fastest time in class in the 20 minute Warm Up session whilst bedding in new Hawk brake pads and Dunlop tyres. <BR> <BR> Manning started the race and was up to third place when after 50 minutes, a broken throttle cable left the car stranded on the circuit, putting it out of the race. Despite not finishing the team were left in a positive mood, "This race was always going to be a test for us," said team principal John Christie, "and we learned a lot more about the package than we could have ever imagined.".<BR> <BR> "The entire package gelled very well," picked up Mallock, "the car felt strong and we know Swindon are working very hard on the Second Evolution of the engine, which we will be running at the next event in Dijon, Dunlop supplied us with great tyres and the Magnetti Marelli electronics never missed a beat all weekend, I'm sure we will be fighting for the top-step of the Podium in France next month." Manning echoed Mallocks views, "Although this is the first open-top sportscar I have driven I felt at home straight away, it is obviously a strong package and now the guys at JCI know which area's need working on this is definately going to be a car and team to watch out for."<BR> <BR> Testing will resume shortly before the next round of the FIA Sportscar Championship at Dijon, France on the 18th August.<BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>