Photo by John Thawley Sebring, Florida - B-K Motorsports will debut the BP Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R LMP2 featuring its new livery at the 56th running of the American Le Mans Series 56th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring presented by Florida Fresh, March 12-15. The team plans to capitalize on the well developed MAZDASPEED MZR-R engine’s strengths during the grueling 12 hour event while using E85 and supporting the “Green” movement within the American Le Mans series. This years 12 Hours of Sebring will be aired live on SPEED starting at 9:30AM EDT, March 15.
 
Driver Ben Devlin returns to the B-K fold in 2008. Devlin's hopes and spirits are high.
 
“The team tested over the winter and we're very encouraged by the gains,” said Devlin. “We have great car and an awesome powerplant in the MZR-R. Going the full 12 hours will be key. That in itself is a feat at Sebring and we really want to welcome our new friends at BP and Castrol with a good outing.”
 
Joining Devlin for 2008 will be 2007 IMSA Lites series champion Gerardo Bonilla. Most of Bonilla’s previous experience is behind the wheel of various formula type cars, he's relishing the opportunity to climb aboard the BP LMP2 machine.
 
Bonilla had this to say about the new challenge: “I'm excited to compete with a world class team in a world class series. The  BP Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R LMP2 car is just incredible. I'm quite confident we will have a successful outing.”
 
The addition of this year's sponsors is more than just a color change for the team and car. BP, Castrol and Yokahma Tire Corportation are key contributors to the team’s overall program with both technical and marketing collaboration.  BP is a global energy leader with extensive experience with alternative and future fuels and lubricants.  With the “greening” of the ALMS series, BP’s direction will complement the Mazda program.  Yokohama has a storied history in motorsports and has multiple past collaborations with Mazda for production and motorsports programs.  Mazda and Yokohama have enjoyed joint success and are looking to build on that foundation.   
 
“We are thrilled to have BP, Castrol and Yokohama working with us in 2008,” said Robert Bach, owner, B-K Motorsports. “With everyone’s combined efforts, I am certain we will see the Mazda powered B-K Motorsports team at the front of the pack.”
 
The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by “Fresh from Florida” is the opening race of the prestigious American Le Mans Series.  For six decades Sebring has hosted the most important endurance race in North America, a key prelude to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, America’s premier sports car endurance race runs Saturday, March 15, 2008 at the famed raceway in central Florida and airs live on SPEED starting at 9:30AM EDT, March 15.
 
About Mazda:
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle.  At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car.  In fact, the largest road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA’s Spec Miata class, with over 1,500 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America’s racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world.  Mazda’s involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.
 
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers.  Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information go to www.mazdausa.com
 
About BP:
BP markets more than 15 billion gallons of gasoline every year to U.S. consumers through 13,000 BP and ARCO branded retail outlets and supplies more than four billion gallons of fuel annually to fleets, industrial users, auto and truck manufacturers, railroads and utilities.

BP is the single, global brand formed by the combination of the former British Petroleum, Amoco Corporation, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) and Burmah Castrol. BP is a global producer, manufacturer and marketer of oil, gas, chemicals and renewable energy sources. For more information go to www.bp.com
 
About Yokohama Tire Corporation:
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global producer and distributor of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation offers a complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. For details on Yokohama’s environmental efforts, go to www.ecotreadsetters.com.
 
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series is the premium brand of motorsport in North America, featuring high-tech sports cars from the most prestigious automobile manufacturers in the world. Its unique four classes of competition showcase exotic, open-top prototypes and sophisticated production-based GT cars, all competing on the track at the same time. The American Le Mans Series competes at the premier road racing tracks across North America and at selected temporary street circuits in major urban markets. With a 2007 television package that includes five network broadcasts on CBS and NBC and seven telecasts on SPEED, plus live broadcasts across Europe, the Series delivers a global marketing platform that is unmatched in motorsports. The Series, founded in 1999 by Georgia entrepreneur Don Panoz, represents a mirror image to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most famous and authentic automobile race. The American Le Mans Series features elite marques such as Audi, Porsche, Corvette, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Panoz, and premium brands such as Michelin, Yokohama, Kumho, Lowe’s, Shell and many others. To follow the series, go to www.americanlemas.com.