NTN signs as new associate sponsor for Manning.

English CART rookie Darren Manning was handed a boost on Friday with the news that international bearing manufacturer and loyal motor-racing sponsor NTN had signed on to become an associate backer for Manning's #15 Walker Racing Reynard-Ford.

Manning already has associate sponsorship from the Royal Automobile Club of Great Britain (RAC) for the rest of the year and the addition of NTN bodes well for the future of both the team, and perhaps Manning as well.

NTN advances into the Champ Car World Series with Walker Racing after first appearing in Champ Car circles two years ago with Scott Dixon and the PacWest operation. The company also has a long-standing sponsorship history in the Toyota Atlantic Championship including a current sponsorship of Jonathan Macri.

"NTN has spent several years in motorsports sponsorship and we're pleased to have them come on board with Walker Racing," said Walker. "It illustrates how the Champ Car Ladder System can work for sponsors as well as drivers who are looking at getting a feel for what Champ Car racing can offer.

"Additionally, through our relationship with other companies we are looking to provide NTN a benefit beyond the performance and visibility of the race track. While this is an important element in motorsports sponsorships, we also strive to provide our partners with programs that having winning results that reach beyond on-track activities to impact the company's goals in the market place."

The NTN logo will run on the top of the sidepods beginning at this weekend's Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca. Additionally, the NTN brand name will be prominently displayed on team apparel, transporter graphics and on the car's vortex generators. NTN will also provide technical assistance on bearing packages to Walker Racing, with a strong focus on applications, research and development.

Manning looks to continue a streak of top-ten finishes this weekend. The British rookie has scored five consecutive top-ten finishes and has earned six top-ten finishes in just seven Champ Car starts.

NTN has been a sponsor in the Toyota Atlantic Championship since 1995 supporting drivers Lee Bentham, Rob MacDonald, Jean Francois Veilleux, Rocky Moran and Jonathan Macri. NTN's involvement in motorsport goes beyond sponsorship; it also supplies bearings and driveline components to manufacturers of high-performance specialty and production vehicles.

NTN Bearing Corporation, based in Osaka, Japan, is one of the world's leading quality suppliers of industrial bearings. NTN also makes precision processing and automated production equipment used in the high-tech industry, including CD inspection and LCD repair systems, and is a key supplier of constant velocity joints to the automotive industry.