MACKEY MARKETING GROUP SIGNS AMERICAN VINAY BASAVARAJA

American driver aims to return to race in Asia market


Marietta, GA, November 6, 2007: Mackey Marketing Group’s (MMG) international experience is broadening with the signing of driver, Vinay Basavaraja. The Muncie, Indiana native is best known as an American who has lived and raced in China over the past several years. Now, with ambitions set even higher, Basavaraja and MMG will focus on development of a high profile entrée into the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series.

 “I am excited about the opportunity to work with Vinay,” noted Brian Mackey, president of Mackey Marketing Group, Inc. "He is a strong racer with a very successful record. Take an American and put him in China to race and obviously, we have a unique story to tell as well as a formidable marketing platform.”

Mackey Marketing Group’s experience has often included international clients and contact. The agency founded in 1986 presently has clients in Europe and now gains a foothold in Asian markets. It is an opportunity that the Agency plans to focus upon and optimize.

In the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, American drivers are a rarity. Most are from England, France, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore or Malaysia. Races are held in Malaysia (2), Indonesia (1), with three races in China and one in Macau. Television coverage spreads across China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UK.

Basavaraja holds the unique distinction of being the first American to win a race at the Shanghai Formula One Circuit in China (2004 Asian Formula Renault Challenge). Basavaraja competed in the Asian Formula Renault Challenge and was the top American driver in Asia with two wins, one pole position and one second place in five races competed.