SPEED GT - Reese to Return with Banner Corvette in '06
Written by: News Wire

Leighton Reese, of Minnetonka, Minn., announced that he and Banner Engineering will return in 2006 with an elevated program that will see Reese campaign his familiar black and yellow Chevrolet Corvette in the SPEED World Challenge GT Championship.

“We at Banner Engineering are delighted to continue the relationship we have had over the years with Leighton Reese,” said Bob Fayfield, CEO of Banner Engineering.

“In 2005 we demonstrated that we can run up front in the very tough SPEED World Challenge GT series but we feel that we have some unfinished business and will be looking to place the Banner Engineering Chevy Corvette on the top step of the podium in 2006,” said Leighton Reese.

“Of course Joe is returning to honcho the effort,” Reese said of Joe Kantarik, of Superior, Wis., who will return as crew chief. “I wouldn’t even entertain a project like this without Joe there to run the operation at the track! His experience and hard work help make Banner Racing a super competitive operation!”

Reese and his Banner Racing Team are scheduled to begin their 2006 SPEED World Challenge schedule in March at Sebring as part of the world famous 12 Hours of Sebring event. Reese will be running a partial schedule in the Grand-Am GT series as well.

“Right now our plans are to compete in the opening three or four rounds in each series, but our schedule is flexible,” Reese said. “Obviously we cannot race the entire schedules of both series due to conflicts. Also, we are still a relatively small team so we need time between races to prepare for the next event.”

“We will see how things progress and possibly adjust our schedule from there,” Reese continued.

Leighton Reese and his Banner Engineering Chevy Corvette finished 6th in the 2005 World Challenge GT driver’s championship (which was the highest placing for a Corvette driver). Leighton recorded two pole positions in 2005 with his highest finish being second at Portland.

Hope it kicks ass, it would look menacing and sleek if the banner logo was not splattered over the fascia. Eh, necessary evil.