Leading High-Tech Product Distributor to Back Tafel Ferraris in American Le Mans Series
Atlanta-based Tafel Racing has announced a season- long marketing partnership with San Jose, Calif.- headquartered Bell Microproducts, Inc (NASDAQ:BELM). The second year American Le Mans Series team will enter the No. 71 Tafel/Bell Micro Racing Ferrari F430 GTC for the full 2008 GT2 season. The Bell Microproducts-backed Ferrari will be driven by Dominik Farnbacher (Ansbach, Germany) and 2000 American Le Mans Series GT2 class Champion Dirk Müller (a native of Germany now living in Monaco). Bell Microproducts (BellMicro.com), a world- leader in computer-based storage solutions as well as other high-tech products and services, will also provide support to the No. 73 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GTC during the 10th Anniversary season of the American Le Mans Series.
Bell Microproducts, which has a long history in professional sports car racing, will make its debut with the Jim Tafel (Alpharetta, Ga.) owned team at the 56th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh From Florida on March 15th. 2007 Le Mans Series GT2 Champion Rob Bell (Northants, England), no relation to Bell Microproducts founder Don Bell, will join the driver lineup in the No. 71 Bell Microproducts Ferrari at Sebring.
The No. 73 Tafel Racing Ferrari F430 GTC will be piloted by team owner/driver Jim Tafel, 2005 24 At Daytona GT winner Pierre Ehret (Germany) and 2007 Australian GT Champion Allan Simonsen (a native of Denmark now living in Melbourne, Australia) in the upcoming season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring. The W. Donald Bell-led company will support the two- car operation at all 11 American Le Mans Series events. Included on the '08 schedule is the season- closing "home" event for Bell Microproducts, the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
About Bell Microproducts Inc. Bell Microproducts [NASDAQ: BELM] is an international, value-added distributor of a wide range of high-tech products, solutions and services, including storage systems, servers, software, computer components and peripherals, as well as maintenance and professional services. An industry- recognized specialist in storage products, this Fortune 1000 company is one of the world's largest storage- centric value-added distributors. Bell Microproducts is uniquely qualified with deep technical and application expertise to service a broad range of information technology needs. From design to deployment, its products are available at any level of integration, from components to subsystem assemblies and fully-integrated, tested and certified system solutions.
QuotesDon Bell, CEO of Bell Microproducts: "I am very excited to be associated with Tafel Racing. The partnership between Bell Microproducts and Tafel builds on the success we have achieved over the last three race seasons. Our program provides an incredible opportunity for Bell Micro to build and strengthen its customer relationships."
Jim Tafel, Team Owner/Driver: "We are very excited to welcome Bell Microproducts to Tafel Racing. Bell Microproducts is not only a perfect technological fit to the American Le Mans Series but also with our approach to the sport as well. I believe this will be an ideal match of company, series and team. We're looking forward to a strong season representing Bell Microproducts on the track and off."
