PokerStars.com and Aston Martin Racing Ready to Blast Off in Houston

PokerStars, the world's largest poker tournament site, and Aston Martin Racing, have extended their relationship following the hugely successful partnership in March where the team recorded a double podium finish at Sebring, Florida. The deal will see Aston Martin's two DBR9 race cars branded with PokerStars.com throughout the remainder of the American Le Mans Series (including Houston this weekend), two events in the United Kingdom, and the world-renowned Le Mans 24-hour endurance race in France later this year. The partnership will also involve both brands working together in a number of interesting and innovative ways over the coming year, including the use of a fully-themed show car at public events like the World Series of Poker . The partnership will also offer players at PokerStars.com the chance to get involved at races across America and Europe.

The team is currently preparing for the second race on the 2006 American Le Mans Series. The Lone Star Grand Prix will be held on Friday, May 12th in and around Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans.

Houston poses significant challenges for all the competitors, as the race will take place on a nine-turn, 1.7 mile track composed of streets around the stadium and the downtown Houston area. The track is notable for having several hairpin turns and fast straightaways, which will test even the best drivers on the series.

Aston Martin Racing Team Principal George Howard-Chappell said, "The next (race) will be interesting as we have never been to (the venue) before. The street course in Houston will present its own challenges for the team .... The two DBR9s have been given a performance break and will run 25 kg lighter than at Sebring, which should result in really close racing between Aston Martin Racing and our competitors."

The two cars will be numbered 007 and 009. Car 007 will be driven by Tomas Enge from the Czech Republic and Darren Turner from the UK. Car 009 will be driven by Pedro Lamy from Portugal and Stephane Sarrazin from France.

Official Partner, PokerStars.com is looking forward to the race in Houston. Texas is home to an estimated 350,000 players with accounts at PokerStars. As many as 80,000 players live in the Greater Houston area.

"There are thousands of loyal poker players from the Great State of Texas, many in the Houston area," said Chris Welch, PokerStars.com Group Marketing Director. "We are eager to join forces with the elite Aston Martin Racing team and compete in what should be a thrilling race. I know that many auto racing fans are already poker players. In turn, we hope to introduce the American Le Mans Series to a whole new audience of poker playing Texans."

The Lone Star Grand Prix started with qualifying at 6:15 pm CDT on May 11th. The race will begin at 8 pm CDT on May 12th.

For more information about Aston Martin Racing, please visit: www.astonmartinracing.com.