MRP Motorsport, North America's largest importer for Birel & Freeline products, announced that the iCard^® Real-Time Race Information system would be available to the Snap-on Stars of Karting competitors and fans as a result of MRP Motorsports’ Sponsorship of the iCard program for the 2005 season.

            iCard works with Stars’ automated Timing & Scoring system to wirelessly deliver real-time race information to fans, competitors, and officials.  Users receive a wide range of real-time information including: event schedule, lap times, practice and qualifying results, breaking announcements and race standings at all 2005 Stars events.  iCard delivers this information on two platforms:  (a) a slim cartridge that fits into the game slot on a handheld GameBoy^® system (Color, Advance, or Advance SP models) or (b) directly onto computers or laptops with the new iCard^®USB.  With iCard^®USB, all information may be stored for later review.  All the iCard products will be available at trackside from MRP Motorsport.

            "The iCard system is something that our team uses to stay current with what is going on from session to session," said Garry Lobaugh, President of MRP Motorsport. "We find the system can be invaluable to both teams and spectators and adds yet another bonus to help keep track of the weekend's events."

            The iCard^® System, already used by many motorsports sanctioning bodies, is expected to make its 2005 debut with MRP Motorsport at the Snap-on Stars event March 11 in Norman, OK.  Paul Zalud, Stars President said, “There is no doubt that the ability to deliver this kind of information in such a reliable, clean, efficient, and timely manner will make our events even more enjoyable for our competitors and fans.  It really connects IRL-level technology to our series.  We’re just grateful to Garry Lobaugh and his crew at MRP Motorsports for the commitment they are making to our events.”

            “We are pleased to have MRP as the first of our distributors to bring iCard^® to a premier karting series in North America,” states Richard Purgason, Vice-President, Business Development for SPP Services, LLC. “iCard^® is a perfect fit for these kart racers and we’re very pleased to make what we hope is the first of many announcements that our customers can use their iCard^® products elsewhere in karting.”