Monterey, CA --- The JeanRichard Autocon Creation team might not have seen the checker flag at the 2007's final event at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, having experienced a rare mechanical failure deep into the event, but it reaped the rewards of many excellent performances throughout the year at the Annual ALMS awards banquet held on the day following the event.

Autocon scored an outstanding second place in the team championship, only bettered by the factory Audi effort and was the top gasoline powered P1 effort, truly a high achievement for the scrappy privateer team from San Diego in only their third season in the top prototype class. In addition, team co-driver Chris McMurry scored an impressive 5th in the driver championship behind three Audi pilots and Intersport's young talent, Clint Field. McMurry was also honored with a nomination for the prestigious Founders Cup, an award singling out outstanding driving by those not employed as race drivers. Autocon further contributed to their partner's successes as Creation finished second in the chassis standing, Dunlop second in the tire war, and Judd second in the engine competition. An outstanding effort indeed considering a mid-season switch of cars and the resulting absence at two events.

At the Laguna event McMurry was joined by co-drivers Bryan Willman and Tony Burgess with team owner/driver Michael Lewis electing to direct the efforts from the pit box. A combination of cool temperatures and sand on the track contributed to Laguna being even more slippery than usual. That made it extremely difficult to build temperature in the tires and inhibited gaining speed in both practice sessions as well as qualifications. However grid positions are less important in a four hour event and prospects for a good, points yielding position at the finish. Indeed McMurry laid down a team best time during morning warmup before the race and knew there was much more time to be gained.

Willman took the initial stint in the late afternoon start. Laguna Seca has gone through massive modernization in recent seasons, mainly to adapt this historic venue in the foothills inland of Monterey for the challenges of MotoGP, the premier motorcycle series in the world. One byproduct of these changes is the large use of fine sand in the runoff areas around the track surface. They make the track much safer for an errant motorcycle but create headaches for a race car as the sand blows onto the track surface or is kicked onto the surface as race cars put a wheel off course. Bryan encountered sand and, in combination with the cold track temperatures, it made for a very slick surface requiring great care. Bryan did a great job however the progress was stalled by a power steering issue which caused an unscheduled pit stop.

Bryan worked to make up the positions lost in the pits before turning the car over to Tony Burgess who was shooting for his second podium of the year after helping Autocon score a third place finish at Mosport. He also was forced to deal with cold conditions and had two yellow flag spins aand he fought to get heat into the tires. Still he guided the car without major incident and moved the car into higher points paying position before turning the car over to McMurry for the run to the checkered flag. On Tony's final laps he began informing the crew of  noises somewhere in the driveline and this information became the end of the Autocon effort. McMurry got into the car, fuel and tires were added, but when he fired the engine and went to engage the gearbox there was no drive and a broken drive shaft was diagnosed. End of the race was called and Autocon finished sixth in the P1 class.

"The Creation has been remarkably free of mechanical issues since we introduced the car mid-season." stated McMurry. "We were trying to be careful, avoid any mistakes, and hopefully move up a bit in the driver standings but it was not to be. Now it is time to plan for next year and enjoy some of the rewards we gained at the banquet. Autocon has a lot to be proud of and 2008 can be even more rewarding."

Indeed the plans for 2008 are very aggressive. Autocon will be shipping the Creation back to the UK where it be fitted with a new tub to comply with 2008 ACO regulations, and will return basically as a new car. An aggressive testing program will follow and the team is considering the introduction of some new faces in the cockpit.

"2007 was the finest of the years of Autocon's participation in ALMS," stated Lewis. "We got points in seven races and reached the podium three times. Our goals for 2008 include even better results and we are working hard for an opportunity to represent ALMS at the 2008 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans."