World's Leading Producer of Powder Metal Components Backs
 LC Racing's Mercury Cougar for '02 Speedvision World Challenge Championship

                GKN Signs Two-Year Deal to Provide Financial,
                      Promotional and Technical Support

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- GKN Sinter Metals, the
world's leading producer of powder metal components, today announced it had
reached an agreement with LC Racing of Lenox Township, MI, to become one of
its principal sponsors for the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
    LC Racing has entered its #68 QPAC-GKN Sinter Metals Mercury Cougar in the
Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car Championship Series, which is governed
by SCCA Pro Racing.
    In making the announcement, Mike Gray, GKN Sinter Metals' Vice President,
Sales & Marketing-North America, said, "Our company has passed on a number of
proposals for auto racing sponsorship over the last few years.  In the SCCA's
Pro Touring Car series, however, we see an opportunity to take advantage of
the direct relationship between weekend competition at the track and every-day
driving on our roads and highways.
    The company's three-pronged sponsorship provides a financial contribution
to defray a portion of LC Racing's expenses to compete in the Speedvision
series; promotional support to increase visibility and enhance name
recognition within the automotive industry for GKN Sinter Metals, in
particular, and powder metal (P/M) technologies, in general; and technical
assistance to ensure the performance potential of LC Racing's Mercury Cougar.
    According to Leo Capaldi, Owner/Driver of LC Racing and an Engineering
Technologist at Visteon in Dearborn, MI, "The addition of GKN Sinter Metals as
an associate sponsor makes us a stronger team, both on and off the track.
We're looking forward to building a solid and successful relationship with the
company."

    P/M Component Testing & Touring Class Competition
    One aspect of the sponsorship that is of particular interest to GKN Sinter
Metals is a program in which the company will be providing specific P/M
components for incorporation into a back-up engine and transmission.  The
components eventually will be track tested and, if successful, installed into
the competition vehicle.
    "From a marketing perspective, we're looking forward to showcasing our P/M
technologies under these conditions," said Tom Walbridge, GKN Sinter Metals'
Global Sales Director-Ford.  "I can't think of a better way to present a case
for the conversion of parts from competing metal forming technologies to ours
than to have our components perform under the demands of racing competition."
    The Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA's) Pro Touring Car class is
restricted to normal production vehicles that are marketed and delivered to
retail customers.  Model years 1995 through 2001 are eligible.  Vehicles must
conform to the manufacturer's submitted specifications form as approved by
SCCA Pro Racing, which may require a competitor to replace one or more
components with a manufacturer's original or replacement component at any time
prior to competition.  Vehicle weights and wheel and tire sizes are adjusted
to achieve equality in on-track performance.

    Leo Capaldi and LC Racing
    Leo Capaldi began his racing career during his early 20s when he
established his reputation as a successful competitor by winning seven
National Karting titles during the 1980s.  In the early '90s, Capaldi spent
three seasons as a consistent front runner at the national level in the SCCA
Spec Racer Series.
    In 1997, he moved into the Spec Racer Pro Series and won the
St. Petersburg Street Circuit event; achieved 3 to 10s, and finished fifth in
points in a season series that featured over 90 competitors.  In 1998, Capaldi
again finished fifth in points for the series, despite participating in a
limited racing schedule.
    The 2002 season sees Leo Capaldi and his LC Racing team entering their
second year in the Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car series.  "We've
undergone the necessary developmental period during our inaugural season in
this competition class," said Capaldi, who added that he's looking forward to
a much stronger showing this year.
    GKN Sinter Metals, with some 40 locations worldwide and business assets
spanning 13 countries and five continents, has annualized sales in excess of
$800 million and is the world's leading producer of powder metal components.
The Company employs some 7,000 people and produces close to 15,000 different
parts for the automotive, commercial vehicle, home appliance, lawn & garden,
office equipment, power tool, and recreational vehicle markets.  GKN Sinter
Metals is a wholly owned subsidiary of U.K.-based GKN plc, a global
engineering company focused on the automotive, aerospace, and related
industries.

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