Andreas Wirth Returns to Racing Realities with Brooks Associates Racing
Announces a Cool New Contest for His Fans
News from Brooks Associates Racing
LONG BEACH, California (April 15, 2008) — Having recently been announced as the 2008 feature driver for "Racing Realities – Diaries of a Race Car Driver," Andreas decided it was time to get his fans involved a little more this season. With just a few days before the season begins we're happy to declare that "Andreas Wirth's RacingRealities.com Prediction Pool" is open to receive your entries!

Join Andreas' fans from around the world in a little friendly racing competition and you could win an Andreas Wirth Motorsport prize package! Simply follow his career in the Atlantic Championship as he attempts to take care of some unfinished business in 2008. Visit RacingRealities.com for complete details and gain a bit of an edge in the competition by reviewing his track history and personal comments on each race venue - then, submit your predictions in and you could win!

Don't miss a minute of the fun or a single opportunity to accumulate some points - get your Overall Season and Long Beach Race Predictions in by 12-midnight EST on Thursday April 17th to be eligible for the first round of prediction pool competition.

Finally, don't forget to follow Andreas and the whole Brooks Associates Racing Squad as they hunt down the title in the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda - enjoy this unique perspective into the world of motorsport and enter the contest by visiting www.RacingRealities.com

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and Mazda Reaffirm Support for
Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda
Photos courtesy Atlantics Championship 2007
INDIANAPOLIS (March 6, 2008) – With the recent unification of the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series and the Champ Car World Series, the 35th Anniversary season of the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda will be a watershed one in the history of North America’s longest-running open-wheel driver development series.

Series co-owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe have pledged to continue the popular championship, which will open its season on April 18-20 at the legendary Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. In light of the open-wheel unification, Atlantic Managing Director Vicki O’Connor and her staff continue to work feverishly to solidify key details on the 2008 series, such as the 12-race schedule, prize package and incentives, sanctioning body and television coverage, with announcements expected soon.

However, none of this would be possible without the continued support of series partners Mazda and the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.

Mazda joined the series as a sponsor and engine supplier in 2006 and has identified the Atlantic Championship as the top rung on its MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder, which includes the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear, the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Championship Presented by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. As part of the program, Mazda ensures that the Star Mazda champion receives a ride in the next season’s Atlantic Championship, which will again be the case this year with Dane Cameron. Mazda has also included Atlantic in national television advertising campaigns.

“Mazda is fully committed to all rungs of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder, including our top rung, the Atlantic Championship,” said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality for Mazda North American Operations and the man responsible for Mazda’s North American motorsports operations under the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development banner. “Mazda is working diligently with Vicki O’Connor, Cooper Tire, event promoters and tracks to produce the best possible 2008 season with an eye on 2009. Mazda is working with the best interests of our fans, teams, drivers and sponsors in mind.”

Cooper Tire was a new partner to the Atlantic Championship in 2007 and enthusiastically supported the series through programs such as an interactive traveling display at all events—which also provided the perfect backdrop for wildly successful all-driver autograph sessions at every stop—as well as television advertising. Those programs are expected to continue in 2008, with additional opportunities to activate the partnership currently being examined.

“The 2008 Atlantic Championship season will mark Cooper Tire’s second year as presenting sponsor,” said Chris Pantani, Director of UHP Marketing and Motorsports for Cooper Tire. “The Atlantic Championship has established itself as the top rung of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder, and continues to produce some of the greatest talent ever to move up to the next level. Cooper Tire is proud to be a partner of a series that plays such an instrumental role in a young driver’s career, and we look forward to following those drivers on their path, which has historically included IndyCar racing, Formula 1 and even NASCAR. The level of racing excitement, the fan base and professionalism of the participants, as well as the expertise of the Atlantic Championship organization, has and continues to be an overwhelming success for all involved.”

In addition to Mazda and Cooper Tire, the Atlantic Championship continues to enjoy support from companies such as Cosworth, Inc.; Swift Engineering; BBS of America; Pi Research, USA and Haas Automation, Inc. among others.

The efforts of Mazda and Cooper Tire, as well as those of the Atlantic Championship staff and the drivers and teams in the series will be on display next week during Spring Training at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on March 10-11. Media is invited to attend Spring Training on both days.

Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Set For 35th Anniversary Season in 2008
Photos courtesy Jamie Longmuir 2007
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (February 27, 2008) – The longest-running open-wheel driver development series in North America will contest its 35th Anniversary season in 2008 with today’s announcement that the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda will conduct a 12-race schedule beginning April 18-20 in Long Beach, Calif. The announcement was made by series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven, who will own the series with Gerald Forsythe.

“The Atlantic Championship’s history and record of developing drivers is so impressive that Jerry and I want to see it continue this season and for many years to come,” Kalkhoven said. “Many great drivers have cut their teeth in Atlantic over the past 34 years before moving on to terrific careers at the highest level of motorsports all over the world, including the Champ Car World Series, IndyCar Series, Formula 1 and NASCAR. An outstanding crop of drivers and teams will maintain that tradition in the 35th Anniversary season this year.”

The 2008 Atlantic Championship will feature a 12-race schedule that begins with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the weekend of April 20, with venues and dates for the remaining events to be released in the near future. The series also will conduct an open test for all 2008 teams and drivers at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on March 10-11.

The series will continue to be operated on a day-to-day basis by Managing Director Vicki O’Connor and her current staff. O’Connor has been at the helm of Atlantic since 1985, when her company, Pro-Motion Agency, Ltd. took over ownership of the Atlantic series. O’Connor remained in charge of the series after selling Pro-Motion Agency to Forsythe in 1996, as well as when Atlantic was later purchased by Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) in 1998 and subsequently owned by Champ Car World Series, LLC beginning in 2004. The series will continue to be headquartered in Indianapolis.

“This is the beginning of another exciting chapter in the history of Atlantic and I am proud and honored to be a part of it,” O’Connor said. “Of course, this would never be possible without the tremendous support we enjoy from Mazda and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and our other valued partners, as well as the support of Jerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven. There is an incredible amount work to be done before we get to our season opener at Long Beach, but we will be ready to go on the weekend of April 20.”

O’Connor currently is in Southern California meeting with key partners of the series and also will attend a MAZDASPEED Motorsports preseason business update with key members of the automotive media today. Announcements regarding the sanctioning body for the Atlantic Championship as well as broadcast information and prize structure are expected shortly.

The Atlantic Championship is noted for its long history of graduating its drivers to the top levels of motorsports all over the world, including IndyCar series champions and Indianapolis 500 winners Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Jacques Villeneuve, Sam Hornish Jr. and Dan Wheldon, and Formula 1 world champions Villeneuve and Keke Rosberg among many others. Five of the last nine IndyCar Series championships and three of the last four Indianapolis 500s were won by Atlantic graduates. The top two finishers in the 2007 Atlantic Championship—Raphael Matos and Franck Perera—will compete in the Indy Racing League Indy Pro Series and IndyCar Series this season. Other 2007 open-wheel drivers who competed in the Atlantic Championship include Danica Patrick, Graham Rahal and Simon Pagenaud.

In addition, Hornish and former Atlantic champions Patrick Carpentier and A.J. Allmendinger currently compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, while two-time Atlantic champion Jon Fogarty and former Atlantic competitor Alex Gurney won the 2007 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype championship. Other Atlantic grads, including Johnny O’Connell and Luis Diaz, rate among the front-runners in the American Le Mans Series.
 

Hinchcliffe leads First Day of Champ Car Atlantic Testing at Sebring
Photos courtesy Champ Car Atlantics
SEBRING, Fla. (February 5, 2008) – The first day of open testing for the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda at Sebring International Raceway featured a time sheet that was topped by three drivers representing the three countries which will host Champ Car Atlantic races this year.

Leading the way was Canadian James Hinchcliffe (#3 Forsythe Championship Racing) who turned a best lap at 57.449 seconds (104.587 mph) in his return to the Forsythe Atlantic operation after a one-year absence. Second-quickest was American driver Jonathan Bomarito (#6 Sierra Sierra Enterprises), who posted a lap at 57.542 seconds (104.418 mph) in his first official test session with the team that won the 2007 series title. Hinchcliffe’s new Forsythe Championship Racing teammate, Mexican driver David Garza (#7 Forsythe Championship Racing), was third on the day at 57.860 seconds (103.844 mph).

Entering his third year of Atlantic competition in 2008, Hinchcliffe is focused on challenging for the series championship. The Canadian racer got that effort off on the right foot in the first official day of on-track activity for Atlantic.

“Obviously, we’re pretty happy with the results,” Hinchcliffe said. “The team ended the day first and third, so that’s a good place to start. Sebring is kind of an enigma in itself, so you can’t take too much away from this, but for the sake of the team and for the confidence of both me and David, it’s a good place to start. We’re looking forward to Long Beach more than anything. We’ve got two tests still to go, but we know we’ve got a good package underneath us. Now I just want to go racing.”

Bomarito echoed those sentiments following his public debut in the cockpit of the championship-winning No. 6 machine. The American moved to Sierra Sierra Enterprises in the off-season and is entering his fourth year of Atlantic. He too is focused on battling for championship honors.

“It’s good so far,” Bomarito said. “A lot of the teams have been here in their private testing in weeks previous to this test and we haven’t, so we were a little bit behind when we first got here this morning. This afternoon has been awesome. It’s a new team for me, joining Sierra Sierra this year, and I’m just working on gelling with the team. I can’t tell you how excited I am to get to Long Beach and start the year.”

Like Bomarito and Hinchcliffe, Garza also made his official debut with a new team at Sebring, moving from U.S. RaceTronics to Forsythe Championship Racing for his second year of Atlantic action. The move appears to be paying immediate dividends as evidenced by his third-quickest time in Tuesday’s test sessions.

“I think we started on the right foot,” Garza said. “It’s a great confidence booster for our whole team. We worked really hard in the preseason and to come to the first test and be quick, it’s just a really good payoff. The whole team is working really great and the car is doing what I want it to do, so it speaks of good things for the team. I’m looking forward to starting racing. Forsythe is such a big organization and everything is so well-prepared. You have so much confidence in the team. I’m very happy to be here.”

Fourth-quickest on Tuesday was second-year American driver J.R. Hildebrand (#17 Genoa Racing) at 57.981 seconds (103.627 mph). Finnish rookie Markus Niemela (#8 Brooks Associates Racing) impressively completed the top five with a best lap at 57.997 seconds (103.598 mph).

A total of 24 drivers combined to complete 1,266 laps (2112.954 miles) on Tuesday, and the top 11 drivers were covered by less than one second. The test sessions were run under unseasonably warm weather conditions with no major incidents. Testing continues on Wednesday.

Brooks Associates Racing Announces Its 2008 Drivers
News from Brooks Associates Racing
TUCSON, Ariz. (January 18, 2008) - Brooks Associates Racing is proud to announce its driver lineup for the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda, with both drivers secured and ready to test.

Filip Salaquarda (pictured right), comes to the U.S. for the first time from the Czech Republic. Filip began his racing career winning championships, starting with the Comer category in Czech go-karts, and then progressed to ICA 100, winning that championship before the age of 15. Moving into driving cars, he progressed to the Ford Puma Cup, Formula BMW, then Formula 3, competing in the Formula 3 Euroseries in 2007, with two top five finishes. He also represented his country in the A1GP series, finishing 10th at Shanghai.

Markus Niemela (pictured left), also ventures to the U.S. for his first entry into U.S. competition, leaving behind his home of Finland. Markus began his driving career in karts, winning the Junior Championship as a young driver. His achievements include victories in England, Germany, Scandinavia, Belgium, Finland and Sweden in both karting and formula racing. In 2007, Markus joined the GP2 series in mid-season, running well with BCN Competition.

The two will partner with BAR’s engineers, Nick Harvey and Yancy Diotalevi, and the rest of the team for an exciting 2008 season. “Markus and Filip fit right into our team and I’m really looking forward to 2008. We’re changing any number of things, and having two quality drivers signed early, with plenty of time to test and work together promises a good season for all my guys,” said team owner, John Brooks.

In slightly more than two weeks, the team heads for Florida for its first round of 2008 tests before returning to its Tucson, Ariz. base.

The Champ Car Atlantic Championship is the premier open wheel development series in the United States, celebrating its 35th season in 2008. Series information can be found at www.champcaratlantic.com . Team information will be available at www.brooksassociatesracing.com  when the site relaunches next week.

Genoa Racing Completes Successful Test in Sebring
News from Genoa Racing
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. (January 16, 2008) – After a long off-season, Champ Car Atlantic Series competitor Genoa Racing started the new year with a very successful two-day test at the Sebring International Short Course this past weekend. The team tested with experienced Atlantic Series drivers Tom Sutherland and J.R. Hildebrand, along with longtime racer Larry Connor, and was joined by the Atlantic teams of Forsythe Championship Racing and Jensen Motorsports.

The team quickly got acquainted with its drivers and the conditions on Saturday, working on the setups of all three cars to prepare for the upcoming series tests and racing season. Following a productive first day but with rain in the forecast for Sunday afternoon, the Genoa team got down to business early, making big gains right away and unofficially setting the fastest lap time of the test with driver J.R. Hildebrand at the wheel and Tom Sutherland finishing just tenths behind. The team continued to make improvements even as the conditions got worse, outrunning their competitors for the rest of the day.

“All the drivers did a superb job,” related team manager and engineer Thomas Knapp. “We were able to quickly establish communication and used our track time to excellent effect. We also wanted to use this test as a proper warm-up for the upcoming season in regards to our crew and team, so we got a lot of value out of that, as well.”

The drivers and team were very happy about how the test went, collectively learning about what the cars needed and then taking advantage on the track.

“Everything went really smoothly from the beginning,” said Hildebrand. “I was able to work with Thomas [Knapp] to make some big changes to the way the car handled on Sunday and our pace was quite fast for the remainder of the afternoon. It was great for me to get back in the car, so I want to thank Angelo Ferro and the Genoa team for giving me that opportunity as I work on my plans for the upcoming year.”

Genoa Racing has had a long history in the Atlantic Series dating back to the early ‘90s with Greg Ray and Jimmy Vasser. Team owner Angelo Ferro and manager/engineer Thomas Knapp are ready and have been eager to begin the 2008 season as it quickly approaches. Next up for Genoa Racing is the first of three Champ Car Atlantic Series open-tests at the Sebring International Short Course on February 5th and 6th.

Walker Racing Completes Houston Test
News from Walker Racing
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 14, 2008)- The 2008 Champ Car Atlantic season has already begun for Walker Racing as they completed two days of testing last Thursday and Friday at MSR Houston, the 2.38 mile road course located 13 miles south of Houston.

“We went into Houston with a long list of tasks and checked off each one successfully. All three drivers accomplished a lot in the two days,” said Derrick Walker, Walker Racing owner.

Last week’s test marked the first of a series of tests before the team heads out to Sebring, Florida for the first official Champ Car Atlantic open test February 5-7. With championship hopes in mind for the 2008 season not only has Walker Racing expanded to a three car operation, but has signed three standout drivers to get the job done, Greg and Leo Mansell, sons of former Champ Car champion Nigel Mansell, and Canadian Kevin Lacroix.

The weather was a mix of wet and dry conditions, allowing Walker Racing to accomplish everything they set out to do on their engineering checklist. Testing allowed for all three drivers to get a little more adjusted to the new cars and doing long runs, getting them one step closer to their championship hopes.

Greg and Leo signed with the team in November and got their second taste of testing the car last week. “It was great to finally get back in a car after a couple of months off. We learned a lot about the cars, especially in the high speed corners and had a productive two day test. I am very excited about the 2008 season and I am looking forward to the tests we have scheduled over the next few months,” stated Leo Mansell.

“We had a good two days with the development of the car and learned a lot about the set up. It was great to get back to driving and we got the 2008 test season off to a solid start. I am looking forward to progressing the car further in future tests,” commented Greg Mansell.

Lacroix signed with Walker Racing in August and will be entering his second season in Champ Car Atlantic. “I think the test went very well. The first day we didn’t get much time in, because of the weather, but on the second day we made more progress. We made a lot of changes to the car and learned a lot about it as well. There were some areas where we were slow, but we learned where to get the speed and I know we will be faster for our next test,” said Lacroix.

Walker Racing will head to their second test this weekend at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona. For more updates on the team, please visit www.walkerracing.com

Sierra Sierra Enterprises Signs Jonathan Bomarito to “All American” Lineup for 2008 Champ Car Atlantic Championship
News from Sierra Sierra Enterprises
MINDEN, Nev. (December 10, 2007) – In conjunction with this evening’s Mazda North America Operations holiday party and 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Rotary engine, Sierra Sierra Enterprises announced that it has signed Jonathan Bomarito to contest the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. Bomarito and team owners Dennis and Diane Kottke were present at the Mazda celebration.

Bomarito brings a strong record of success to Sierra Sierra Enterprises with 31 career Atlantic starts, two victories, one pole position and a total of eight podium finishes. In 2007, Bomarito finished fifth in the championship with a victory after starting from the pole position in San Jose, and he is looking to be a front runner in the championship sprint for 2008 first place title.

“When I received the call from Richard [Raeder, Sierra Sierra Team Manager] I was thrilled,” Bomarito said. “I’m so excited to start working with the team and to test in the spring. This was the best news I could have hoped for.”

Bomarito joins American rookie Dane Cameron, the 2007 Star Mazda Champion, on the two-car Sierra Sierra Enterprises team, which claimed its first Atlantic championship in 2007 with driver Raphael Matos. Both Bomarito and Cameron hail from California.

“We are really looking forward to hearing the National Anthem playing from the podium – hopefully after every race,” said Diane Kottke. “We are very proud to be in a position to work with talented drives like Jonathan and Dane. We are very excited to get this season started!”

“With a championship title to defend there is definitely more pressure to perform,” added Raeder. “Having a team with both an experienced driver and a rookie is a great way to develop talent and build on our success. We are really excited to have a driver of Jonathan’s ability on our team, and 2008 is shaping up to be a great season.”

With both drivers hailing from the Golden State, the season opener in Long Beach is certain to bring the local crowd of supporters out in force. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place on the weekend of April 18 – 20.
 

US RaceTronics Confirms Skerlong for 2008 Atlantic Campaign
Photos courtesy Champ Car Atlantics
BUTTONWILLOW, California (September 27, 2007) – US RaceTronics is delighted to confirm that Seattle’s Carl Skerlong will return to the team in 2008 for a second season of competition in the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.

Skerlong enjoyed a solid rookie season in 2007 with the California-based team, piloting the 300bhp #24 King Taco-backed Swift Mazda-Cosworth to 10th overall in the Driver Standings and a pair of podium finishes in Houston and Elkhart Lake respectively. The 18-year-old American, who arrived in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship this season as the reigning Formula TR Pro Series Champion, impressed many paddock observers with his character and style, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by US RaceTronics team boss, Shane Seneviratne.

“I’m obviously delighted to have secured Carl’s talents for US RaceTronics and the PCM Junior Team for 2008,” Seneviratne commented. “He did a great job for us this year and I know there was considerable interest shown in him by other teams based on his performances with us. I’m extremely pleased that he’s staying with US RaceTronics and our collective goal is to put together a bid to win the 2008 Champ Car Atlantic Championship.”

Carl Skerlong is equally pleased with his continued association with US RaceTronics and the PCM Junior Team.

“I can’t wait for the 2008 season to start,” Skerlong stated enthusiastically. “We finished this year’s campaign with another podium and I stated afterwards that I wanted to use that as a springboard into next season. There’s no doubt that continuity can play a big factor in being successful in motorsport and I believe that with US RaceTronics we’ve got everything in place to push for the title in my sophomore season. Things didn’t always go our way this season but armed with everything I’ve learned and my circuit knowledge I’m looking forward to being back with the team in 2008 and turning the potential we showcased into results.”

2007 marked US RaceTronics third season in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, the team running Skerlong and Mexico’s David Garza throughout the season. In June the squad became part of the PCM Junior Team, the driver and team development program created by Champ Car World Series outfit Pacific Coast Motorsports (PCM).

The association between US RaceTronics and Pacific Coast Motorsports has continued to develop with Seneviratne going on to add, “We’re actively seeking to strengthen our partnership with Pacific Coast Motorsports ahead of next season and as part of that deal we’re also looking to confirm a test date for Carl to sample one of their Champ Cars. While we don’t have anything further to announce at this stage we are negotiating with Pacific Coast with regards to further developing our relationship and we hope to make the outcome of these discussions public shortly.”

Kevin Lacroix to Pilot #15 Uni-Select Entry for Walker Racing in 2008
News from Walker Racing
Photos courtesy Jakob Ebray and Champ Car Atlantics
ELKHART LAKE, WI (August 10, 2007) — As the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic season comes to a close this weekend in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Walker Racing is already making preparations to formulate their driver lineup for 2008. The team is pleased to announce that Canadian Kevin Lacroix and Uni-Select will join Walker Racing for the full season in the Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda in 2008.

After much communication, a successful testing session last October and a long, continued relationship between Walker Racing and Lacroix the two parties are finally ready to go racing. "It's taken longer than it should have, but it finally came together. I'm glad that we finally signed Kevin (Lacroix) to our Atlantic program for 2008. My partners Steve Caudwell and Wayne Deans have followed Kevin's career for several years now and I speak for all of us when I say we are delighted that we finally have the chance to race together," stated Walker Racing owner Derrick Walker.

Lacroix, a native of Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada, got his start competing in various karting series in 1996 winning multiple championships, and continued to move up the ladder finishing second in the 2005 Formula BMW USA championship with four victories and six podiums, finished second in the 2006 Star Mazda championship with five podiums and ten top-five results and earned the Star Mazda Rookie of the Year title. Last October the 18 year old tested with Walker Racing and for 2007 joined Brooks Racing Champ Car Atlantic program in Portland scoring his first Champ Car Atlantic victory in just his second career start at Portland.

"First of all, I want to start by thanking John Brooks and his team for all that they have done for me. I will never forget that John was the one who gave me my first shot at the Champ Car Atlantic Series and also my first win. This last race of the year, I'm really trying hard to provide our team's second win of the year as a token of appreciation. Secondly, I'm truly happy that I will be running with Walker Racing next season. This is for me, the chance of a lifetime to take part in this highly competitive series with a 'top notch' team, and aim for nothing less than the championship title. I also need to thank Uni-Select and its CEO, Mr. Jacques Landreville for believing in me and supporting me through this adventure," said Lacroix.

Teaming up with the Canadian for the season is primary sponsor Uni-Select, a Canadian based company who unites more than 2,000 independent jobbers in developing optimal means of distribution for motor vehicle replacement parts, tools, equipment and accessories. Uni-Select was created in 1968 and now boasts a sales volume of $1,123 billion reaching markets in the U.S. and throughout Canada, making them a solid business in the North American marketplace.

"We are happy and pleased to support Kevin. Kevin is a very talented athlete who possesses everything one needs to become a champion. We wish him, and all of Walker Racing, success for the 2008 program," commented Uni-Select CEO Jacques Landreville.

Walker Racing\'s Champ Car Atlantic program utilizes sponsorships raised to provide the financial engine to power its activity. Partnering in the venture are Canadian businessmen, Steve Caudwell and Wayne Deans, who joined forces with Derrick Walker as key contributors to help create the structure of the program. The Canadian duo is avid supporters of the Champ Car Atlantic Series and takes an invested interest in promoting young Canadian talent.

"In addition to securing Kevin Lacroix services, we are very fortunate to have Uni-Select on board," stated Wayne Deans of Deans Knight. "Associate partners are the kinds of companies we need in the Atlantic Series and we look forward to a successful season."

Wayne Deans is co-founder of Deans Knight, a capital management company formed in 1992, which has grown into one of Canada\'s leading financial management firms. Fellow Canadian Steve Caudwell founded WasteCo Management in the late 1970\'s and has created an empire by providing services in waste management and recycling, expanding his operation to most parts of Canada and Florida.

Walker Racing established the Champ Car Atlantic program in 2005 announcing the move at the Champ Car World Series Surfer's Paradise race in Australia. Their first season was a success as they earned the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic championship title with Frenchman Simon Pagenaud. With Champ Car Atlantic being a feeder series, Pagenaud's success enabled him to move up to Walker's Champ Car team.

PR1 Motorsports Atlantic Team to Provide Test for 2007 Pacific F2000 Series Champion
News from PR1 Motorsports
Photos courtesy Champ Car Atlantics
BUTTONWILLOW, CA (May 4, 2007) – Continuing to provide opportunities for open-wheel racing’s top young drivers, Miracle Sealants Company and the PR1 Motorsports Champ Car Atlantic team have announced that they will host a special post-season test for the champion of the 2007 Pacific F2000 series.

In its third season competing in the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda, PR1 Motorsports has established itself as one of the top squads in the series. With the help of the team’s primary sponsor – Miracle Sealants – PR1 has agreed to provide a one-day test session in one of the squad’s 300-horsepower Mazda-Cosworth/Swift/Cooper Atlantic cars for the winner of this year’s Pacific F2000 championship. The Pacific F2000 series features a host of talented young drivers beginning their careers in open-wheel racing and the test will provide a unique opportunity for the series champion to showcase their skills in hopes of securing a ride in the prestigious Atlantic Championship in the future.

“Prior to the start of the 2007 season, PR1 Motorsports advised us that the team was creating this unique testing program for the Pacific F2000 champion,” said Vicki O’Connor, Managing Director of the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. “We’re happy that PR1 is able to bring this concept to reality later this year and this is truly a great opportunity for a promising young racer to get a chance to test with one of the premier Atlantic teams.”

The test will take place at California’s Buttonwillow Raceway Park after completion of the 12-race Pacific F2000 season, which concludes in the middle of October at Las Vegas. Further details on the test will be released later this summer.

“The Pacific F2000 series was created specifically to create an environment where young drivers can race among the best of their peers using a more modest budget that allows for both testing and racing,” said Pacific F2000 founder Les Phillips, “This support for our series champion is clearly one of our greatest driver motivators. A fully-supported test day in the most modern of cars with a top team is probably our greatest year-end award.”

PR1 Motorsports, which also fields a team in the Pacific F2000 championship, competes with drivers Jonathan Bomarito (#23 Miracle Sealants/Konica Minolta/Dynacor) and Mike Forest (#32 Miracle Sealants/Konica Minolta/Dynacor/Earthwater) in the 2007 Atlantic Championship. Bomarito, in his third season in Atlantics, is currently ranked second in the series championship standings, 23 points behind leader Raphael Matos (#6 ProWorks) after three rounds of action. Forest, the 2005 Pacific F2000 champion, continues to show positive development as a series rookie this season.

“Miracle Sealants is proud to help support the Pacific F2000 Series as it continues to provide an affordable venue for young aspiring drivers to hone their racing skills,” said Al Salvo, President of Miracle Sealants. “A test day with a team like PR1 Motorsports in an Atlantic racecar should fulfill any champion’s dream at this stage of their careers and we are proud to help make that happen.”

Entering its fourth season, Pacific F2000 already has established an excellent reputation for providing exciting open-wheel competition at modest cost, ensuring a valuable first step on the auto racing ladder for potential open-wheel stars of the future. F2000 represents one of the first rungs on the professional open-wheel auto racing ladder in North America and has provided the launching pad for the careers of many top racers, including former Atlantic racers and Champ Car World Series champions Jimmy Vasser and Paul Tracy, along with Indianapolis 500 winners and distinguished Atlantic graduates Buddy Rice, Dan Wheldon and Sam Hornish Jr. The series will contest Rounds 5 and 6 this weekend at Buttonwillow Raceway Park.

Jiang Tengyi of China Joins Brooks Associates Racing Atlantic Effort
News from Brooks Associates Racing
TUCSON, Arizona (April 2, 2007) — Jiang Tengyi, former Team China A1GP driver, has confirmed his plans to compete in Champ Car, beginning with the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Championship and the Brooks Associates Racing team.

“The Brooks team was highly recommended by Forsythe Racing, a team I hope to race with in Champ Car in the future. Brooks’ philosophy of competition, the top engineering staff (Nick Harvey rejoined the BAR team this season, coming from Forsythe Racing’s 2006 Atlantic effort), the great crew and longevity in the series made it the right choice for me,” said Tengyi. The young Chinese driver, from Shanghai, leveraged his karting championship in China to a Formula BMW seat in 2002, followed by Italian Formula Renault, then most recently the A1GP Series.

“We are happy to have been invited to join Jiang Tengyi on the live television link to the Champ Car Grand Prix of China media event at which Tengyi’s U.S. driver development program was presented to the Chinese media and senior political guests by the race promoters,” said Peter Davies of Forsythe Racing. “Representing Brooks Associates Racing and Forsythe, I was happy to confirm that Tengyi could not be in better hands than with the Brooks team as he steps up to campaign the 2007 Atlantic season as a rookie, and that Forsythe is pleased to support him by placing him into our own Atlantic [non-racing] driver program including fitness, media and engineering training. We will follow his progress on the track with interest during the upcoming Atlantic season and, subject to his performance and to agreeing final terms with the Grand Prix of China promoters, we hope that Tengyi might graduate to Champ Car at the 2007 Grand Prix of China.”

“We’re looking forward to working with this young Chinese driver. Our team is stronger than ever – I’m very happy to have Nick Harvey back as engineer. The guys are working really hard for a top effort for Jiang and he reminds us of some of our favorite drivers of the past – Andreas Wirth, Ronnie Bremer and Al Unser III. Jiang’s focus, not only this season, but in his future in Champ Car, will be an integral element in his success,” continued John Brooks, team owner.

Brooks Associates Racing is one of the longest running Atlantic teams in the series. Voted Team Owner of the Year in 2005, John Brooks, a former driver himself, has always focused on young up-and-coming drivers with an eye towards helping them develop their skills, both on and off track. The team was thrilled to win its first race in 2005 with Andreas Wirth, a young German who went on to Forsythe’s Atlantic effort in 2006, then into Champ Car. In 2004, the Brooks squad led the series championship early on with Ronnie Bremer, another BAR driver to graduate to Champ Car.

The team is based in Tucson, Arizona. Visit www.brooksassociatesracing.com for updates throughout the season.

Deep, International Atlantic Field Ready to Take First Green Flag of 2007 at Las Vegas
Photos courtesy Champ Car Atlantics
INDIANAPOLIS (March 29, 2007) – The future of Champ Car racing will be clearly on display next week in Las Vegas as the rising stars of the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda take the first green flag of the season at the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix.

Race winners and championship contenders from across the globe will highlight the power-packed 2007 field as the series young guns begin their quest for the coveted Atlantic title and the $2 million bonus designed to help the champion move up to the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing – the Champ Car World Series – in 2008.

Fans attending the much-anticipated season-opening race on the downtown street circuit in Las Vegas April 6-8 will get a chance to see one of the most diverse and talented classes in the 34-year history of the Atlantic Championship. That’s a bold statement for a series that has produced such stellar racers over the years as Jacques Villeneuve, Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser, just to name a few. But one glimpse of the current Atlantic field reveals a special season awaiting series fans in 2007.

The Atlantic Championship is expecting at least 30 cars on the starting grid at Las Vegas. That would mark the largest field for a series race in over eight years. The last time 30 cars took the green flag in an Atlantic event was at Montreal during the 1999 season.

The 2007 Atlantic lineup will also be a melting pot of diverse cultural and racing backgrounds. At least 13 different countries are expected to be represented to start the season. Yet with all the international flavor, the future of American open-wheel racing will also be well represented in North America’s premier open-wheel development series as nearly half the Atlantic field will be made up of racers from the United States.

“We fully expect the level of competition in Atlantic this season to be the best it’s ever been,” said Vicki O’Connor, Managing Director of the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. “With so many of the top young drivers from around the world battling it out on the track, this is shaping up to be one of the best seasons in the history of the series. We can’t wait until we get to Vegas and see these future stars of Champ Car in action.”

The on-track activity gets started next week with practice and first-round qualifying on the 2.44-mile Las Vegas street circuit on Friday, April 6. Another morning practice and final qualifying for the Atlantics are on tap for Saturday before the lid gets lifted on the 2007 campaign on Sunday, April 8. Round 1 of the Atlantic Championship will begin with a 4 p.m. PT standing start as the Mazda-Cosworth/Swift/Cooper Atlantic cars roar to life to begin the 34th season of Atlantic racing.

For more information on the Atlantic Championship, please visit www.champcaratlantic.com

Speedy Frenchman Franck Perera Keeps Record Perfect in Leading Final Day of Champ Car Atlantic Test at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Photos courtesy Champ Car Atlantics
MONTEREY, California (March 8, 2007) – For a driver who had never stepped in an Atlantic car or turned a wheel of competition in America just 48 hours earlier, Franck Perera looked like a seasoned pro during the final pre-season test session for the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.

After dominating testing on Wednesday and unofficially shattering the Atlantic track record at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Perera continued to impress Thursday as the Atlantics wrapped up their third and final test session prior to the start of the 2007 season. Testing for Condor Motorsports, Perera staged a day-long fight with series sophomore Raphael Matos of Sierra Sierra Enterprises Thursday. The two talented racers battled for the top time of the test and just when it seemed that Matos was ready to equal the speedy rookie, Perera would set a new mark to reach for.

At the end of the two full days of testing that would see the Mazda-Cosworth/Swift/Cooper machines log well over 10,000 miles on the fabled 2.238-mile road course among 26 drivers, Perera once again proved to be the man to beat. The 22-year-old former GP2 racer and Formula One test driver completed a perfect test by leading all four sessions as he wound up with a fast lap of 1:16.067 (105.917 mph).

“It was a good test and we had a really nice fight with Matos all day. The Condor team did a really good job and I think I was getting better with the car all the time,” said Perera, who hasn’t yet been signed for the 2007 season. “My goal is definitely to be in Champ Car and the best way to do that is like (2006 Atlantic champion Simon) Pagenaud did last year. Win the Atlantic championship and then move up. I’ve just got to focus on that and see what happens with the team.”

Pagenaud, another fast Frenchman with a strong European racing background who was also impressive from his very first Atlantic test, claimed the $2 million Atlantic champion’s bonus last season and will compete with the Team Australia Champ Car squad in 2007. Another $2 million bonus is available for this year’s series champion to graduate to Champ Car.

After finishing second to Perera in Wednesday’s testing, Matos again looked strong in the final day of the test as he raised his game to match the impressive performance of the rookie. The native Brazilian who now makes his home in Miami, Florida owned the second fastest overall time of 1:16.216 (105.710 mph).

“It’s been two days of good battles on the track,” said Matos. “We definitely made some progress today, especially in the afternoon session when we were able to find at least three or four tenths (of a second) in our car. It was definitely a positive test and I think the Sierra Sierra team is ready for the start of the season.”

While the fight for the top time of the test was compelling between Perera and Matos, the other Atlantic competitors also demonstrated impressive speed as the top six drivers all posted laps faster than the official track record of 1:16.986 (104.653 mph), recorded by A.J. Allmendinger in 2003.

PR1 Motorsports driver Jonathan Bomarito, who hails from Monterey, came on strong in the final session of the day to claim the third-fastest time on his home track. Bomarito stopped the clocks at 1:16.374 (105.491 mph) to finish on the testing podium.

“The way the morning was going, we didn’t think we’d wind up third,” said Bomarito. “We struggled a little bit but the whole team, along with engineer John Hayes, rallied and found the little things that made the difference.”

Italy’s Giacomo Ricci enjoyed a top-four result for the second consecutive day. The Conquest Racing rookie was fourth overall after posting a top lap of 1:16.605 (105.173 mph). After struggling a bit on Wednesday, Sierra Sierra racer James Hinchcliffe recovered to finish among the top-five testers with a time of 1:16.631 (105.138 mph).

First-year Atlantic racer Carl Skerlong of the US RaceTronics team clocked a fast lap of 1:16.850 (104.838 mph) to settle in sixth overall, while Genoa Racing’s Adrian Carrio posted the seventh-fastest lap at 1:17.072 (104.536 mph).

David Garza of US RaceTronics was eighth in the order as he checked in at 1:17.118 (104.474 mph) and the Red Bull Team Forsythe duo of Robert Wickens and John Edwards completed the top 10. Wickens owned a fast lap of 1:17.132 (104.455 mph) while Edwards recorded a time of 1:17.134 (104.452 mph).

After a busy and exciting pre-season testing schedule, the 2007 Atlantic competitors now have a month to concentrate on preparations for the first race of the year – April 6-8 on the downtown streets of Las Vegas, Nevada at the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix.

PR1 Motorsports Returns for 2007 Atlantic Season with Drivers Jonathan Bomarito and Mike Forest
Photos courtesy Champ Car Atlantics
FRESNO, California (March 1, 2007) — Following a strong finish to the 2006 Atlantic season, PR1 Motorsports announced today that it will compete in the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda with returning drivers Jonathan Bomarito and Mike Forest.

Bomarito gave the Fresno, California-based team its first Atlantic victory in the ’06 season finale at Road America and the squad returns to series action this season looking to build on its momentum. A native of Monterey, California, the 25-year-old Bomarito started all 12 races for the PR1 team last season, scoring three podium results on his way to finishing sixth in the championship standings. The 2007 season marks Bomarito’s third year in Atlantics and second with PR1 Motorsports, the team that helped guide him to the 2003 Cooper Tires Formula Ford Zetec series championship.

Forest showed promise in an abbreviated rookie season in 2006. He suffered fractured vertebrae in a qualifying accident at the first race of the season at Long Beach and spent the rest of the year rehabilitating from his injuries. The 25-year-old Edmonton, Alberta, Canada racer made three starts last season with a top finish of 10th at Road America. Forest also has a strong history with PR1 as he won the 2005 Pacific F2000 title while racing for the team.

Miracle Sealants returns as the primary sponsor for both cars in 2007. Bomarito will continue to drive the #23 entry with additional sponsorship from Konica Minolta and Dynacor Media Group. Forest will once again be behind the wheel of #32 car with additional sponsorship from Konica Minolta, Dynacor and Earthwater.

“We are happy to have both Jonathan and Mike back on our team this year,” said Bobby Oergel, co-owner of PR1 Motorsports with his wife Lisa. “We feel that having a long-standing relationship with both drivers can only help to build on last year’s success. Miracle Sealants has been a great partner and we’re happy to again be working with them in 2007.”

Both Bomarito and Forest participated in the first two Atlantic series pre-season open tests and both drivers will be back in action for PR1 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca March 7-8 in the final test session before the start of the season at the Vegas Grand Prix, April 6-8.

PR1 Motorsports, entering its third Atlantic season in 2007, has captured four series championships at various levels of open-wheel racing since the team was formed in 1999. For more information on the team, visit www.PR1Motorsports.com

Justin Sofio to return as driver for Mathiasen Motorsports Atlantic Team in 2007
Alain Clarinval joins squad as Team Manager and Chief Engineer
News from Mathiasen Motorsports
ENCINO, California (January 26, 2007) — Mathiasen Motorsports has announced that it has assembled a team with extensive motor racing experience to compete in the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda and that Justin Sofio will return as its driver in a one-car effort for the 2007 season.

Mathiasen Motorsports, owned by Ray Mathiasen, returns for its third year of competition in the Atlantic Championship after winning the 2005 C2 Atlantic title and then moving up to a much higher level of competition and a new race car in 2006. “Although our success on the race track in 2006 did not match our first year in the series, it did exceed my expectations given how competitive this series has become. I was pleased with the knowledge we gained as to what will be necessary for us to achieve our goal of being able to compete against the top teams and drivers in the 2007 Championship,” said Mathiasen.

In addition to Justin Sofio, who is returning for his third season with the team, Mathiasen has also restructured his team by bringing together a crew with over 50 collective years of experience in motor racing. Alain Clarinval has joined the team as the team manager and chief engineer. Clarinval, a race and design engineer, has worked for over 40 years with some of the top teams in all the major open-wheel and sports car championships in the U.S. and Europe. He also brings with him Evan Waymire, as a specialized data analysis engineer. Joe Lewis is returning as associate mechanic and Cam Binder, who has been with the team since its exception, will also return as a team consultant. The team hopes to have a permanent chief mechanic in place shortly. In the interim, Scott Davin will handle these responsibilities.

“This team has the refreshing approach of an owner who wants to create a successful racing enterprise based on team spirit, team work and competent specialists, with compromise only for the non-essential fluff. The results we achieve will demonstrate Ray’s vision and courage to provide what it takes to win the 2007 Championship. I can’t wait to get started,” said Clarinval.

The restructuring will allow Sofio to concentrate exclusively on driving. He was formerly the chief mechanic, engineer and general manager for the team as well as its driver in 2005 and 2006. He enters the 2007 championship dedicated to proving that he is one of the top drivers in the series and to making Mathiasen Motorsports a top performing team.

“I am anxious to get the season started and have committed myself to being in the best condition, both mentally and physically, of my life. I realize that Ray has given me the chance of a lifetime. I’m thankful for the opportunities he has given me these last couple of years and for the additional resources he has provided in 2007 which will allow me to focus exclusively on driving the car. I’m confident we will be running with the top teams this year,” said Sofio. “I’m really looking forward to performing in front of my hometown crowd in Long Beach with the quality and experience of the people Ray has assembled for 2007. I will not disappoint him,” added Sofio.

Mathiasen Motorsports, the winner of the Sherwin-Williams “It’s All in the Finish” award for the best appearing car on the grid in 2006, will participate in all three sanctioned testing sessions as well as in all 12 races in the 2007 Atlantic Championship.

For more information on the Mathiasen Motorsports racing program, visit our web site at www.mathiasenmotorsports.com

Interest continues to soar in Atlantic Championship as series prepares for first of three pre-season open tests
Photos courtesy Champ Car Atlantics
INDIANAPOLIS (January 24, 2007) – After a flurry of off-season testing activity, the competitors of the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda are anxious to hit the track en masse this weekend at the first of three series open test sessions.

Sebring International Raceway will be the site of the first series-sanctioned open test of 2007 as the challenging bumpy road circuit will host the 300hp Mazda-Cosworth-powered Swift racing machines riding on the new Cooper Atlantic tires this weekend. More than 20 of the Atlantic rockets-in-training are expected to take to the track January 27-28 as the teams prepare for the 34th season of Atlantic racing.

The two-day test session to drop the green flag on 2007 comes after a fall and winter team testing period that brought an all-time high in Atlantic action. Series officials reported that more than 40 drivers tested among 14 different teams in the four-month period between the end of the 2006 season on September 24 and the January 15 cut-off date for teams to conduct individual testing.

“We’ve never witnessed such a busy ‘off-season’ of testing,” remarked Vicki O’Connor, managing director of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship who’s entering her 22nd season at the helm of the series. “Our teams have literally tested some of the top young drivers from all over the world and it really underscores the international appeal of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship. With such an impressive level of talent, I think we’re all excited to get our first glimpse of what the 2007 field will look like this weekend in Sebring.”

The Sebring test session is the first of three two-day series tests available to all ’07 Atlantic competitors. The MSR Houston road course in Angleton, Texas will host the Atlantics on February 9-10, while Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California will be the site of the final pre-season test, March 7-8. The ’07 Atlantic schedule officially gets underway with the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix Fueled by Visa, April 6-8 on the downtown streets of Las Vegas, Nevada.

With 15 drivers already announced for the upcoming season among 17 Atlantic teams – and several more driver announcements planned in the next few weeks – this season is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive in the rich history of the Atlantic Championship.

Forsythe Red Bull Atlantic squad sharpens focus at Houston Test
News from Forsythe Championship Racing
ANGLETON, Texas (18 January 2007) — With two young drivers and a revamped team structure, the Forsythe Red Bull Atlantic squad journeyed south last week from their base in Indianapolis to the fast and demanding MSR Houston road course in Texas for a two-day private test. For 17-year old Robert Wickens of Toronto, Ontario and 15-year old John Edwards of Little Rock, Arkansas it was a chance to experience increased cornering loads and magnified downforce on the physically draining 2.38-mile 17-turn high-speed road course.

For the crew, it was a chance to build the relationship with their two young guns while seeking the always-elusive team chemistry that defines a championship contender.

For engineers Lou D’Agostino and Nick Harvey the test served as a time to evaluate the progress of their teenage prodigies, both of whom are already seasoned products of the Red Bull Junior Team global driver development program. For Team Manager John Brunner, the final private test of the preseason was a critical benchmark for the upcoming 33rd edition of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, which gets underway with the much-anticipated Vegas Grand Prix Fueled by Visa, April 6-8 on the downtown streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. “The test was very productive,” said D’Agostino. “Robert and John are two really nice young men and just a pleasure to be around. It’s my second test with Robert and we’re progressing at a tremendous pace; I’m very pleased. He responded well to everything we threw at him. Given the amount of maturity and professionalism he displays it’s hard to believe he’s only 17, but he’s already won a championship (the 2006 Formula BMW USA title) and it shows. We got in a lot of laps with changing conditions and he never put a wheel wrong while setting some very quick times.”

“Downforce,” said Wickens, “is a tricky thing to get used to. The faster you go, the more grip you have. Fitness definitely came into play since the long, high-speed corners build a lot of G-force, but both John and I have pretty strict workout programs so that’s paying off. I got more comfortable with my engineer Lou (D’Agostino) and the whole crew - just a good test all around.”

Edwards agreed. “It was great to work more with Nick (engineer Nick Harvey) and we’re getting to know one another very well, he said. “Drivers and engineers have to develop kind of a “sixth sense” when it comes to communicating and we’re getting there. Our times were good and I’m looking forward to the open tests in Sebring, back here in Houston and then in Laguna Seca so we can see how we stack up against the competition.”

At the conclusion of the test, Wickens and Edwards headed across the Atlantic Ocean to Austria for an intensive week-long Red Bull training session. The next challenge for the Forsythe Red Bull Atlantic team is the first of three open tests coming up prior to the Las Vegas season-opening race. All the teams and drivers will be on track together for the first time as Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda on the historic road course at Sebring, Florida on January 27-28.
 

Sierra Sierra Enterprises Signs James Hinchcliffe to 2007 Lineup
News from Sierra Sierra
Photos courtesy  Jakob Ebray
MINDEN, NV (January 9, 2007) – Sierra Sierra Enterprises has signed James Hinchcliffe to its two-car 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Championship lineup. Bringing with him a strong racing background as well as a surplus of enthusiasm and excitement, Hinchcliffe will pair up with Brazilian driver Raphael Matos to round out the two-car effort.

"I'm really excited about signing with Sierra Sierra for next year's Atlantic series. After getting in touch with this team, it was clear how badly we wanted to work with one another, and we did everything we had to do to get the deal done. I can't wait for Vegas and I seriously expect to see some great results throughout the year,” commented Hinchcliffe.

The expansion of Sierra Sierra to a two-car team was announced shortly after the successful 2006 season. Finding a driver with the right skill set and personality was critical to ensuring a successful season.

“The ‘07 season is shaping up to be even more competitive than last year. This decision puts us in the best possible strategic position,” commented Richard Raeder, Sierra Sierra’s Team Manager.

“Hinch,” a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, comes to the team with a record of success and growth as he climbed the open-wheel racing ladder:

2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship: 10th place overall finish with Forsythe Racing, one win (Portland) and three podiums
2005 Star Mazda Series: 3rd place overall finish
2004 Formula BMW USA: 2nd place overall finish, Top Series Rookie
The Sierra Sierra team and Hinchcliffe are excited to launch into 2007. The Champ Car Atlantic 2007 season opener takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada (April 6 – 8).

Hinch sums it up by saying: “I have never been as excited for a season before. I really want to thank Sierra Sierra for giving me the opportunity to be part of the family for '07. Now let's get that green flag waving and get this season started!"

Forsythe and Red Bull announce blockbuster deal for Champ Car Atlantics 2007
News from Forsythe Championship Racing
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – December 8, 2006 - Forsythe Championship Racing is pleased to announce a blockbuster