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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">AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">08/02/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Olive Garden Team Rafanelli</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Year Off</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/elliYearAME.jpg"></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"> Olive Garden Italian Restaurants and Team Rafanelli have announced that they will be taking a year off from the ALMS. Their target in this series is now 2002.<BR> <BR> This year will see Team Rafanelli concentrate on their well publicised FIA GT programme with the Ferrari 550 Maranello. Olive Garden will not sponsor the Rafanelli GT program in Europe this year, but it will maintain a close association with Team Rafanelli, planning to return to the ALMS in 2002. <BR> <BR> “The American Le Mans Series has provided Olive Garden with a great opportunity to broadcast its values of Italian inspiration, excellence and teamwork,” remarked Olive Garden President Brad Blum. “Equally, we couldn’t have more praise for Team Rafanelli’s racing expertise, hard work and passion to succeed. Together with ‘The Team from Tuscany’ - Team Rafanelli - we believe the high profile international character of the ALMS is an outstanding environment for our authentic Italian brand.”<BR> <BR> Team chief Gabriele Rafanelli added, “For 2001 we’ll miss our many fans and friends in the U.S. but together with our partner, Olive Garden, we are working very hard to return with a winning program in 2002.”<BR> <BR> The ALMS will miss the colourful Italian / American team. They didn’t quite manage a win in 2000, but Silverstone, Adelaide and other races showed that the independents have a place in the ALMS, battling against the factories. Sadly, luck never seemed to be on their side. They’ll be missed.<BR> <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>