Tri-Point Motorsports and MAZDASPEED Announce 2008 Driver Lineup to Defend SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship Titles.

Feb 11, 2008

Tri-Point Motorsports and Mazda had a stellar season in 2007 and are looking to repeat their success in 2008 with a fresh and potent driver lineup. SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car competition is intense and provides an ideal venue for Tri-Point to showcase Mazda’s race driven engineering.

A trio of top-level drivers will be leading the charge to defend both manufacturer and driver’s titles in the distinctive blue and white Tri-Point MAZDA6 race cars when the green flag drops at the traditional World Challenge season-opener March 12-14 in Sebring, FL. Returning for 2008 is longtime Tri-Point pilot and 2007 series champion Jeff Altenburg. He will be joined by touring car veteran and friend Charles Espenlaub, making the move from Tindol Motorsports. Rounding out the Tri-Point squad is 2007 MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini who is making his World Challenge debut

as he advances to the next rung of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder.

Craig Nagler, owner and director of Tri-Point Motorsports, is once again ready to test the MAZDA6 against some of racing’s best. He notes, “I am looking forward to defending our hard-fought championships this year; it’s going to be very tough with all the great teams we race against in SPEED World Challenge. We are changing things up for 2008 by adding drivers Charles Espenlaub and Jason Saini alongside Jeff, and they are bringing a lot of excitement to our team. In addition, I think Jason has an excellent shot at winning Rookie of the Year.” Craig feels that a solid team both on and off the track is a critical component of Tri-Point’s success. “As we have been testing and making plans for the start of our season I really like the way Jeff, Charles, and Jason work together. Another important point is there will be very little change in our crew, which should allow us to continue where we left off in 2007.”
Jeff Altenburg

Jeff has been a consistent and critical component of Tri-Point’s racing success and 2008 should be no exception. He will be shouldered with the difficult task of besting his 2007 record of 2 race wins, 5 podium finishes, and a driver’s championship, all while wearing the iconic #1 on the door of his MAZDA6.
“I am very happy to be trading my trusty #72 for the #1 on my MAZDA6 in 2008. It will be a reminder all year of what was accomplished in 2007 through hard work, tough battles, and support from many, many people. It's good to know that we will have the continued support and expertise of companies like Comptech Engines, Stop Tech Brakes, Sachs Shocks, Chase Cams and, of course, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development. 		 
It's great that there will be two new drivers in Tri Point's stable. Charles has been a friend for a long time and I'm sure he will bring much to Tri Point's efforts both technically and behind the wheel. Jason just won the 2007 MX-5 Cup Championship showing he has the ability to rack up points for Mazda as well. I think we're going to have a blast racing together this year!”


  Charles Espenlaub

Joining the Tri-Point squad this season should be an easy transition for Charles, no stranger to the Mazda family. He comes to Tri-Point with 3 years of experience behind the wheel of a MAZDA6, driving for Tindol Motorsports where he played an important role in Mazda’s quest for a manufacturer’s championship and finished 9th in points in 2007. Charles brings to the team nearly a decade of professional racing and instructing experience in a wide variety of sports and touring cars.
“I am really excited about the 2008 season for many reasons. I’ll be able to continue my relationship with Mazda and MAZDASPEED, who have given me an opportunity to work with the championship winning Tri-Point team. Another bonus is that I will join forces with my good friends and A-list drivers Jeff and Jason. This will be an incredible year and I hope to do my part in bringing home another championship for both Mazda and Tri-Point.”


Jason Saini

Jason’s 2007 racing season was a runaway success in the ultra-competitive Mazda MX-5 Cup series where he scored a staggering 5 wins in 8 races, catapulting him into the championship and into a Tri-Point MAZDA6 Touring Car courtesy of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder. The switch from a rear-drive spec MX-5 to the more advanced front-drive MAZDA6 will be an exciting challenge Jason is happy to accept.
"I'm incredibly excited at the opportunity Mazda is providing for me, advancing from the MX-5 Cup to Speed World Challenge. It's always been a dream of mine to drive in this series, and to get the chance to join a championship team like Tri-Point is just amazing. I've got a ton of respect for what Tri-Point has accomplished, and I'm proud to drive for them in 2008."		  
"There will obviously be a learning curve switching to front-drive, but the crew at Tri-Point has made the car handle so well that it's like driving a race-car, not necessarily a front-drive race car. Also, the momentum nature of the MX-5's I've been driving begs the same driving style as these Touring cars, so I think I'm ready to make the transition. The best part is, I'll only get faster as the year goes on!"
"To have teammates like '07 Champ Altenburg, and long time professional Espenlaub is a unique opportunity. I hope to make a long career out of driving race cars, and these are great teachers for me. Also, the team chemistry is great - Jeff and I both started out in autocross, and Charles and I have raced endurance races together and are great friends. I think that will only help us make Tri-Point even stronger in '08!"

Info

The new 2008 Tri-Point driver lineup makes their debut March 12-14, 2008 at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring where they will begin their quest to keep the manufacturer and driver’s crowns in the Mazda trophy cabinet. Joining their efforts in the Mazda camp are Tindol Motorsports and Horton Motorsports, both fielding MAZDA6 sedans. They face stiff competition in SPEED World Challenge from Acura, Audi, and BMW race cars fielded by top-flight organizations RealTime Racing, Bimmerworld, Stasis, and others. 2008 is shaping up to be another hotly contested season in SPEED World Challenge Touring Car competition and Tri-Point is aiming once again for the top step of the podium.

Sponsors

The Tri-Point team is proudly supported by the following sponsors whose involvement is critical to the team’s 2008 efforts and continued success.


Mazda, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, Racing Hart, Comptech, Sachs, Stop Tech, Sparco, Chase Cam, Crocotile, Quarter Master, Ron Davis Racing, Hawk, Pro Parts USA, Mazdas247.com, and Race Sign Specialists.

 

Release Contact:  
 Andris Laivins
Tri-Point Engineering