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FOR RELEASE: April 25, 2003 CONTACT(S):
Front-Wheel Drive Drag Racing Sunfire Shines in New Sport Compact Circuit
Pontiac made a fast start in the new world of Sport Compact drag racing in 2002. Jumping into the Ecotec-powered Sunfire for the first time at the season-opening IDRC event in Palmdale, Calif., driver Marty Ladwig won seven rounds of eliminations in the Super Comp bracket to post Pontiac's historic first victory in Sport Compact competition. That was only the beginning. Competing in the Hot Rod class of the NHRA Sport Compact Series, Ladwig ended the year with 16 round wins for an impressive .640 winning percentage, a fifth-place finish in the points standings and four consecutive races where he qualified fourth or better. Ladwig advanced to the final round at NHRA events in Sonoma, Calif., and Pomona, Calif. "Scoring Pontiac's first victory in Sport Compact drag racing was very exciting," said Ladwig. "To do that in our very first race says a lot about the quality of this program, GM Racing and the aerodynamic characteristics that make the Pontiac Sunfire an outstanding race car. "I see only good things happening in 2003," he added. "The Ecotec engine never ceases to amaze me, and a driver couldn't ask for a better racing team." Pontiacs have competed in organized drag racing since the sport's infancy, but the arrival of the Sport Compact classes presented a new challenge. "We're really excited about the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire," said Linda Pesonen, Sunfire marketing director. "The new front end has a completely different look, with a clean appearance. Winning on the track will increase the attractiveness of these vehicles to today's youth. Racing demonstrates Sunfire's performance and its sporty appearance. Fans will see that Sunfire can be personalized and that it's a fun vehicle to drive. "Sunfire's performance clearly separates it from the competition," Pesonen noted. "Sunfire is loaded with power and personality, thanks to its available sport suspension and muscular Ecotec engine." The racing Sunfire is powered by a race-prepared version of the Ecotec 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine that sends its power to the pavement through the front tires. The Ecotec is an advanced engine that is available in production Sunfires and a variety of GM vehicles worldwide. In showroom trim, the Ecotec engine produces 140 horsepower; the racing version tops 1,000 horsepower. A Hydra-Matic 4T65-E four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission handles the Ecotec's considerable torque. The surging popularity of Sport Compact drag racing gave GM Racing engineers an opportunity to design a vehicle to meet the unique demands of this specialized form of motorsports. "The numbers speak volumes," said Josh Peterson, GM Racing Sport Compact program manager. "We started out the 2002 racing year with a stock Pontiac Sunfire that ran 12-second elapsed time, and by May the e.t.s were below 10 seconds flat. We debuted the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire in June, and it's now running the quarter-mile is less than 8.70 seconds. "We did a lot of development work on the Sunfire throughout the season," Peterson said. "By getting the 2003 Sunfire out as early as we did, we were able to start competing so race fans could see the new product before it hit the showroom floor. The 2003 Pontiac Sunfire has proven to be an outstanding race car and once again shows that we're racing what we sell." Safety was a top priority throughout the preparation process. The Sunfire racecar is outfitted with sealed steel firewalls, a fire-suppression system, an impact data recorder and a full roll cage. Ladwig wears a HANS device and a six-point safety harness. By incorporating these advanced safety features in the race-prepared Sunfire, GM Racing is leading by example in the new arena of sport compact drag racing. Sunfire's model lineup gives buyers a choice of three well-equipped versions: SE sedan, SE coupe and GT coupe. Sunfire is an affordable, sporty and safe automobile that provides serious fun - on the highway and on the drag strip. 2003 Sunfire Specifications
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