MAZDASPEED Teams up With BP and Yokohama Tire Corporation

2008 ALMS Effort a Three-Way Partnership

SEBRING, Fla., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development
used the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Winter Test to unveil their 2008
colors, reflecting the addition of two new partners. BP and Yokohama Tire
Corporation have joined the B-K Motorsports Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R LMP2 team
with multi-year partnerships.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080129/LATU203)
This is not just a sponsorship arrangement -- both partners will be key
contributors to the team's overall program with both technical and marketing
collaboration. BP is a global energy leader with extensive experience with
alternative and future fuels and lubricants. With the "greening" of the ALMS
series, BP's direction will complement the Mazda program. Yokohama has a
storied history in motorsports and has multiple past collaborations with Mazda
for production and motorsports programs. Mazda and Yokohama have enjoyed
joint success and are looking to build on that foundation.
Key BP Points:
-- The ALMS program is part of a larger partnership which includes:
* Alternative and renewable fuels research -- first shown with the
Furai concept car at the North American International Auto Show.
* Castrol lubricants will be available at Mazda dealership service
centers.
* Joint marketing and co-branding programs, including events and
outreach that teach race fans about the importance of quality fuel
as it relates to engine performance.
-- The BP commitment to the environment and renewable fuels, and their
ongoing search for realistic alternative fuels aligns perfectly with
the Mazda "sustainable Zoom Zoom" mission, especially based on today's
industry landscape. In addition, the American Le Mans Series allows
Mazda and BP to showcase solutions for relevant fuel solutions like
the ALMS Green Racing Challenge.
-- Castrol sees the endurance-racing arena as a perfect venue to further
test lubricants, and the addition of this relationship complements
their existing motorsports activities.
-- This is the BP brand's first involvement with motorsports in the U.S.
BP is currently active in motorsports with their Castrol lubricants
brand and has had past motorsports programs with Amoco.

Key Yokohama Tire Corporation Points:
-- Yokohama will devote critical resources towards development and
service of the tires supporting the Mazda team:
* Yokohama will engineer and construct an all-new purpose-built LMP2
tire under the company's flagship brand, ADVAN. Yokohama has a
strong history in the ALMS, including the 2004 LMP2 Championship,
and is confident in their ability to challenge the class leader.
* Yokohama will support the BK Motorsports Team at all races and
tests with a full engineering and service team hailing from the
United States and Japan.
-- The engineering partnership between Mazda and Yokohama is strong on
both the passenger car and motorsport sides. Yokohama tires are OE
fitment on multiple Mazda vehicles around the world, including the
MX5 Miata in the USA.
-- Yokohama's consumer and dealer ride-and-drive programs with RX-8s are
under development to reinforce the connection between motorsports and
passenger cars. These programs will be announced at a later date.
-- Yokohama has been recognized in Japan as one of the ten most
environmentally-conscious companies in the country. All of its
factories are ISO 14001 certified, and those in Japan have achieved
zero emissions one year ahead of the Kyoto Protocol. Yokohama is
continuously developing its manufacturing and technology to produce
tires that minimize environmental impact.

Key Mazda Points:
-- This is the second year of competition for the MZR-R engine. 2007 was
a development year for the all-new engine that was designed and
constructed in just 17 weeks.
-- B-K Motorsports will remain the primary development team for the MZR-R
engine. Jamie Bach and Ben Devlin return as the primary drivers. A
third driver for Sebring and the Petit Le Mans will be announced at a
later date.
-- Lease programs for the Mazda MZR-R engine are available for qualifying
motorsports customers.

Quotes:
"A key to MAZDASPEED's motorsports success has been with strategic
partners who have the same passion for excellence as Mazda. BP and Yokohama
will be active partners in our ALMS program as we enter our sophomore year
with our Mazda MZR-R powered program, and we look forward to our most
successful ALMS project yet," Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product
Development and Quality, and the man responsible for Mazda's North American
motorsports operations under the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development banner.
"Just like our need for the best drivers and best engineers, a team needs
the best partners. We are thrilled to have BP and Yokohama working with us to
move the Mazda powered B-K Motorsports team to the front of the pack," Robert
Bach, Owner, B-K Motorsports
"BP's fundamental values are to be performance driven, innovative,
progressive and green," said Kevin Phelan, Senior Vice President of Marketing
and Cards. "And we're excited to be partners with the American Le Mans
Series, Mazda and B-K Motorsports, who operate under very much the same
guiding principles."
"Yokohama is happy to be reunited with our friends at Mazda. There are
many who recall our past successes with RX-7s in IMSA GTU racing. The
challenges in ALMS are huge, but we are looking forward to the opportunity to
showcase our latest ADVAN tires against the best in the world," said Fred
Koplin, Director, Marketing Communications, Yokohama Tire Corporation
Corporate information:
About Mazda:
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of
America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata,
RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because
every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the largest road-racing
class in the U.S. is the SCCA's Spec Miata class, with over 1,500 first- and
second-generation Miatas tearing up America's racetracks, making it the
most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports
extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's
premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and
racing.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees
the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in
the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations
in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and
in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
About BP:
BP markets more than 15 billion gallons of gasoline every year to U.S.
consumers through 13,000 BP and ARCO branded retail outlets and supplies more
than four billion gallons of fuel annually to fleets, industrial users, auto
and truck manufacturers, railroads and utilities.
BP is the single, global brand formed by the combination of the former
British Petroleum, Amoco Corporation, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) and Burmah
Castrol. BP is a global producer, manufacturer and marketer of oil, gas,
chemicals and renewable energy sources.
About Yokohama Tire Corporation:
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and
marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global
producer and distributor of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of
more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation offers a
complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger
car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction
applications. For details on Yokohama's environmental efforts, go to
http://www.ecotreadsetters.com.
SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Dean Case of MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, +1-310-318-4582,
dean@rwb-llc.com; or Valerie Corr of BP Products North America,
+1-630-821-3206, Valerie.Corr@bp.com; or Bill Groak of Yokohama Tire
Corporation, +1-310-224-4940, bgroak@pcgcampbell.com