Microsoft Announces Sponsorship of American Le Mans Series Race Team

May 24, 2006 - Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios today announced the sponsorship of Risi Competizione's Ferrari 430GT for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). As the official racing simulator during the entire race season, the Ferrari's paint scheme will display Forza Motorsport 2 and Xbox 360® on the hood of the car. The new look 430GT debuted during the inaugural Lone Star Grand Prix in Houston, TX, Saturday, May 13, where Risi drivers Mika Salo took third place and teammate Jaime Melo posted the fastest lap time of the race at 1:11.383.

ALMS fans will also get an in-depth look at life in the fast lane when the Forza Motorsport 2 team gets its hands dirty from inside the Risi racing pits. Racing fans and gamers can visit www.forzamotorsport.net for behind the scenes look at all the competitive action.

Forza Motorsport 2, the sequel to Microsoft's award-winning, fully-customizable driving simulator Forza Motorsport, speeds its way onto the Xbox 360 this Holiday. With authentic simulation physics, bone-jarring damage, and photo-realistic graphics as well as licensed tuning and customization options; the franchise improves on the unprecedented features gamers enjoyed in its debut instalment. Loaded with over 300 of the world's hottest cars for you to collect, personalise and race; Forza Motorsport 2 gives you the complete racing experience.

"The addition of Forza Motorsport to the Risi Competizione team is a landmark for me personally, stated Risi Competizione Managing Director Giuseppe Risi. This type of opportunity is very rare in our sport and came about as the result of a lot of hard work, over a period of almost three years, by members of both teams. It's a new world, both on and off the track."

The 2006 debut of the Ferrari 430GT has served the Risi Competizione race team well thus far, with third place finishes at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Lone Star Grand Prix. Risi is one of the most consistent race teams on the circuit. To date, the team has won two championships, achieved 29 podium finishes and has a race completion ratio of 84% along with a podium place ratio of 64%. For more information, please visit www.risicompetizione.com.

"During the development of [the original] Forza Motorsport, our relationship with racing teams including Risi Competizione was vital to achieving a real and challenging racing experience for our fans. Taking our partnership with Risi to the next level will enable us to engage the drivers as well as a world class support team to push Forza Motorsport 2 on the Xbox 360 to a whole new level of realism. Plus, the Ferrari 430GT is HOT!" stated Alan Hartman, Turn 10 Studio Manager.

-ends-

About Xbox and Xbox 360
Microsoft revolutionized the gaming industry with the November 2001 launch of Xbox (http://www.xbox.com), its first-generation video game and entertainment system, now sold in 26 countries. Microsoft introduced its next-generation system, Xbox 360, in the 2005 holiday season in Europe, Japan and North America, and launched the system in Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan in 2006. Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com/xbox360) is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live entertainment network, and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers.

For further information please contact:
Sophie Jackson, sophie.jackson@redconsultancy.com, 0207 025 6412