Penske and Porsche announce full Rolex program

Penske Racing today announced that the organization will campaign the No. 7 Penske Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype in the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, continuing one of the most successful and enduring partnerships in all of motorsports – Penske Racing and Porsche. Porsche’s history with Penske Racing dates back to 1972, and since the relationship started, the two organizations have shared more than 35 wins and five championships.

“We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Porsche," said Roger Penske, founder, Penske Racing. “We look to continue our considerable sports car success and our team is working hard to prepare for the first event in Daytona."

Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, Porsche factory racers and multiple sports car series champions, will be the primary drivers of the No. 7 machine.

Bernhard and Dumas, co-driving for Penske Racing and Porsche since 2006, have shared 14 wins and two driver championships. Both Bernhard and Dumas have experience in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, highlighted by their individual successes in the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona. Of his six starts in the day-long race (2002 – 2005, 2007 – 2008), Bernhard posted an overall win in 2003 and a class win in 2002. Dumas has competed four times in the Rolex 24, with a best finish of third in class in 2002 and 2008. The No. 7 Porsche-powered Daytona Prototype is a Riley Mk. XX, created at Riley Technologies, which is located near Penske Racing’s headquarters in Mooresville. The powerplant is a four-liter “flat" six-cylinder engine, similar to the Porsche 911 street cars.