FULLERTON, Calif. (April 18, 2008) — Yokohama Tire Corp. and Warner Brothers Pictures have joined forces to bring a bit of the upcoming Speed Racer movie to motorsports fans early.
The Fullerton-based tire firm will sponsor a Mazda LMP2 race car at two upcoming competitions — the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 19 and the Grand Prix of Utah on May 18. The car will be designed based on the WB film, which is set to be released May 9.
The car's number will be changed to 5 from 8 exclusively for the races, a tribute to the Speed Racer “Mach 5” car, and will feature logos from the movie as well as an “M” on the hood. Drivers Ben Devlin and Gerardo Bonilla will wear Speed Racer-inspired suits, as will the team's crew, Yokohama said.
Stars from the movie, Matthew Fox and Emile Hirsch, will attend the Long Beach race as co-grand marshals and will give the start command to the drivers.