17 January 2005
Team Plans for 2005 Season
With the 2005 Season only ten weeks away, Team Diablo 666 Bolliger Kawasaki are busily preparing to launch another successful campaign in the World Endurance Racing Championship.

The ZX-10 Kawasaki’s are once again being prepared by Hanspeter Bolliger and his team under the watchful eye of Diablo’s own Geoff Randall. Geoff brings to the Team a wealth of experience with his years with many of the top teams in British Superbikes. After a successful first season with the new ZX-10’s, which in the 2004 season were run totally standard, as anyone could buy out of dealer showrooms, plans are afoot to increase the BHP sensibly without affecting reliability. In standard form and running with non-top spec race and qualifying tyres many superbike riders commented on how quick the Diablo riders were on the standard machines. It will still be the case though, in 2005, the Diablo Kawasaki’s will still not be running at full superbike spec level without the substantial further funding needed. A disadvantage against the top teams that the talented riders will again have to make up for.

In the five rounds entered by Diablo during 2004, the only mechanical problems encountered, was a loosening oil filter spraying out oil as the sun was rising at the Oschersleben 24 hr race after nearly 18 hours.This was the only DNF that the Team suffered during 2004 and illustrates the professionalism of the Bolliger mechanics preparation aided by Geoff Randall.

The riders this year will be young English riders James Hutchins and Kevin Falcke with young German rider Steve Mizera, seconded from the Bolliger Kawasaki Team for the final round of the 2004 season at Vallelunga. Here the team secured a fantastic 9th position, being the first non superbike spec machine home. These riders will again provide one of the most talented, quickest young rider combinations available in World Endurance racing.

The backup team for the forthcoming season will again comprise Team Principal, Miles Hutchins, Team Manager, former WEC Champion (twice), British Superbike Champion and GP rider, Terry Rymer, Senior Mechanic, Geoff Randall, assisted by Mechanics Mark and John Currier. Bolliger Kawasaki team pit crew members will again be assisting with regular pit stops, refuelling and tyre changes. Bolliger Kawasaki provide without question the most professional pit crew back up in the entire WEC paddock having gained many years experience racing at the highest level of endurance racing.

2005 Pre-season testing
Plans are currently being made for pre-season testing during February and March, where much needed, and welcome, full shake down tests of the up-rated ZX-10’s will be carried out. (Full report in next press release.)

All is in place for another exciting season with the newest top British Team in WEC. The one main limiting factor for the Team could again be the lack of funding needed to run at this level of World Championship. Due to lack of funding, being unable to enter the 8hr Suzuka race during 2004 and to carry out much needed testing on the new ZX-10’s, unlike some of the other 'works' teams, running with only one race bike and the DNF in the double points scoring round at Oschersleben, the Team’s final Championship position was seriously affected. Without these setbacks a top ten placing in only the Team’s first full season had looked on the cards. The Team are aiming to put that right in 2005!

A current campaign is in place to generate additional funding and any prospective sponsors wishing to be associated with one of the top young gun Teams in WEC should contact:- Miles Hutchins, Diablo Team Principal, at Fourth Quarter on +44(0) 207 340 1970 or +44(0) 7768 356177. A 2005 prospectus is available by contacting Miles.

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