ERIC CURRAN RACING

Guardian Angel Motorsports and Banner Racing are returning to North America's toughest endurance race, the 49^th Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Oliver Gavin, Gunter Schaldach, Eric Curran and Bruce Ledoux will race the COOLTV / KWL Trucking / EMC Chevrolet Camaro in the GT category of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season-opening race on January 29-30 at Daytona International Speedway.

Leighton Reese's Banner Racing team is doing the preparation work on the new Camaro and will provide the race week support in the pits and garages.

"It's such a thrill to be driving with such a strong line up," says Ledoux, "I'm humbled to be with such a strong team and excited about the exposure we should be able to gain for our target charities this year.

"Guardian Angel Motorsports has donated more than $115,000 the past two 24-hour races at Daytona, and this year we're raising funds for a young girl who could really use our help."

Samantha is the orphaned granddaughter of Krohn Racing transport driver Sam Dunlap. Her mother was killed in a December 2009 motor vehicle accident. Her personal tragedy continues today -- facial injuries require another five or six operations to fully repair her vision and facial scars, and none of the surgeries are covered by insurance.

The Guardian Angel Motorsports team will help Samantha raise the remaining $80,000 required to pay for the surgeries.  Watch for Samantha's favorite teddy bear to appear throughout the practice and race.

Fans watching the race on SPEED TV or online, and who would like to make a donation to the Guardian Angel project for Samantha, can do so through the team's website at www.guardianangelmotorsports.com

Eric Curran, lead driver of the #31 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette, which will race in the Rolex GT category races for the rest of the season after Daytona, says, "Driving with and against Leighton's team has always been fun for me.  Gunter and Bruce have been long-time friends and opponents.  I'm looking forward to sharing the race with these two and getting to better know Ollie Gavin.

"It's also exciting to stay in the General Motors family for this fantastic race while we continue our development on the Whelen Corvette GT for the rest of the 2011 season." Curran will again team with Boris Said.

The upcoming Rolex 24 At Daytona will be Curran's fourth start in the world-famous race.  His best finish was a third place in the former American GT category in 2000, ironically driving a Chevrolet Camaro.

Gunter Schaldach's Lala Motorsports charity efforts share a strong alliance with the Guardian Angel Motorsports team.  Gunter's past SCCA World Challenge entries focused on raising awareness for children suffering from Leukemia.  "Racing isn't the only place to find a challenge," says Schaldach. "Everyday life is filled with them too, and the continually amazing thing is to see all those people who step forward to help others."

"Nobody travels through life without some scars," comments Ledoux. "Our mission is to ask motorsports fans to help children who need help with their scars.  Imagine what we could accomplish by getting just half of those 72 million fans to each give $1.00 and be a child's Guardian Angel.  Now that would be the real victory."