PHARAON PROVES HE´S READY TO BE A FACTOR IN 2002 TITLE CHASE!
FLORIDA´S LAKE “X”TESTING GROUND FOR TEAM GREEN´S OFF SEASON WORK!

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (23rd December) - While most of the European continent continues to be, well, Europe in December; cool, wet and foggy with temperatures rarely out of the single didgets, Team Green lead driver Laith Pharaon has headed for the warmth and some serious testing in the USA at Mercury Marine´s “Lake X” super secret testing facilities in Central Florida.

The 33 year-old Hyatt Hotels sponsored driver has come back to his roots, feeling comfortable at the site where he once tested for his US and World Championship runs in the mid-90´s in the offshore class. Laith, sat down with his team at the end of the season and made a promise to them that 2002 would be totally dedicated to moving to a new level in the challenge for his first U.I.M. F1 World Championship title. A natural talent, Laith scored his first victory in only his 6th official start last February by winning the Malaysian Grand Prix in one of the closest finishes in U.I.M. F1 World Championship history. But the season wasn´t all roses as the native of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia went through a mid season slump with 3 straight DNF´s before reaching the podium in Cagliari.

His skills of the start of the events this past season were evident with his rocket starts and finding himself leading in almost half of the events during 2001 while reaching the podium 3 times in 10 race events. His qualifying was punctuated with 7 trips to the final “shootout” session with his best shot at the pole coming at season´s end with a 2nd place start behind defending World Champion Scott Gillman of the Emirates Team in Abu Dhabi.

“Once I got confidence in my new longer boat, I felt I could challenge anyone,” stated the University of Southern California graduate. “I also realized that by studying Scott Gillman and Guido Cappellini, I  know that you can´t win World Championship´s yet without more seat time in the boat, this is the key.” Under race conditions he is getting stronger and stronger as he learns to read the water better with time.

Seat time in the boat also comes with testing and that´s what Pharaon is doing this winter setting up shop with no prying eyes under almost perfect conditions everyday at Lake X. With his crew chief on hand, along with engine wizard Dr. Alex Hledin and partner Anthony de Gravina who became notable by making the Seebold racing family so lightning quick for so many years, they seem to be enjoying their Florida experience away from the cold and snow of Canada and Italy during the winter months.

Starting only his 2nd full season in 2002, Pharaon is down playing his role in the title for the upcoming season. “We are hoping to move up from 5th in the world title chase a year ago to the top 3 in 2002. I feel we will be ready for the title chase in 2003. That´s what we are shooting for.” Someone who seems to down play his own success, the rest of the 2002 racing field should look for Laith to push for the title this season, not in two years. He is just starting his testing in Florida and will have the team coming back and forth from Italy and Canada until the boat is shipped back at the end of March. Hopefully, for the rest of the grid in 2002 it won´t mean the “ides of March” in the run for the championship. Pharaon knows word titles, he´s looking to be the first ever to win the Offshore and F1 title in a career. Stay tuned!