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[Jim Daniels - FIG]

Eric Foss Joins Freedom Autosport in No. 27 MAZDASPEED3

RALEIGH, N.C.—One year after he first stepped into the No. 27 Freedom Autosport MAZDASPEED3, Eric Foss returns to co-drive with Brad Rampelberg for the remainder of the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season.

In addition to being a veteran Mazda driver, Foss’s experience with the front-wheel drive MAZDASPEED3 gives him a distinct advantage. Foss and Randy Pobst drove the car for Freedom Autosport at Barber Motorsports Park last year. Foss qualified second, and the car went on to finish 11th despite two pit stops.

Foss impressed again at Virginia International Raceway, qualifying third in the No. 27 MAZDASPEED3 and running fourth before a mechanical issue forced the team to retire the car.

“Last year was an opportunity to help Freedom Autosport develop the MAZDASPEED3,” notes Foss. “Now they’ve had a year of development and I’m anxious to come back and drive the car again. Freedom is a great team and I’m looking forward to renewing my relationship with them.”

Another relationship that Foss will be renewing is with Brad Rampelberg. The two have become friends through their work as Mazda drivers, but they have always been rivals on the track.

Foss and Rampelberg competed against each other in the Spec Miata National series in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008, they battled for the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup championship. Foss eventually took the title, winning Spec Miata honors the same year.

“Eric and I have a long history together,” says Rampelberg, who won his own Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup championship last year. “He’s super fast, super talented, and I’m looking forward to finally racing with him instead of against him! This is a great opportunity to put our talents together for Mazda.”

Freedom Autosport team owner Derek Whitis is confident that the combined talents of Foss and Rampelberg will be a perfect pairing. He says, “Having another top Mazda driver like Eric join Brad makes for one of the top driving duos in GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge racing.”

That driving duo will make their debut together during round two at Homestead-Miami Speedway from March 4-5 behind the wheel of the No. 27 Freedom Autosport MAZDASPEED3. The rest of the Freedom Autosport lineup includes the No. 25 Mazda MX-5 of Derek Whitis and Tom Long, the No. 26 MAZDASPEED3 of Rhett O’Doski and Andrew Carbonell, and the No. 28 ModSpace/Construct Corps MX-5 of Sam Barnett, Nick Igdalsky, Bruce Ledoux and Charles Paquin.


ABOUT MODSPACE
Modular Space Corporation (ModSpace), based in Berwyn, Pa., is a leading provider of modular buildings, portable storage and services for temporary or permanent space needs. Building on more than 40 years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets—including commercial, construction, education, government, healthcare, industrial/energy and special events—through an extensive
nationwide branch network throughout the United States and Canada. www.modspace.com

ABOUT CONSTRUCT CORPS
Construct Corps is a leading provider of temporary skilled workers for construction, disaster response, environmental and manufacturing companies throughout the U.S. Through its exclusive Construct Buddy recruiting system, Construct Corps provides more workers in more locations with one point of contact than any other company. For more information on Construct Corps please visit www.constructcorps.com

ABOUT MAZDA
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the largest road-racing class in the world is Spec Miata, with more than 2,500 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America’s racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda’s involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.
www.mazdausa.com