Newsroom
CHAMP CAR BEGINS EUROPEAN TOUR
Friday, 24 August 2007
It will be a return of sorts for many Champ Car drivers this weekend as the Series begins a two race European swing with the Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix at Circuit Zolder.
A week later marks stage two during the Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix in Assen, Holland and then the World focus turns to Australia during the Lexmark Indy 300 on Queensland’s Gold Coast from October 18-21.
Belgium’s 2.622-mile (4.22km) permanent road course will play host to Champ Cars for the very first time, with the event also marking the return of the open-wheel series to Europe for the first time since 2003.
The eleven European drivers are looking forward to racing on their home continent and this race is really close to home for Conquest Racing's Jan Heylen (#34 Conquest Racing). The Belgian driver hails from a town about 25 minutes down the road from the track for which he has been an ambassador for the past few years.
Heylen's team owner, Eric Bachelart, who is also from Belgium, will be returning to the circuit where he first drove a race car and scored his first win. Coming off their best result of the season with a sixth place finish at Road America, both driver and owner will want to do better in front of family, friends and sponsors.
The remainder of the European field will also want to do well in front of their close ones. Atop the list is France's Simon Pagenaud (#15 Team Australia). The rookie will try to score his first podium of the season in front of the bus loads of fans making the trip from France to Zolder to cheer on one of their favourite French drivers.
Fans will also be keen to cheer on fellow Frenchmen Tristan Gommendy (#22 PKV Racing), who campaigns on behalf of Australian team owner and Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven and series leader Sebastien Bourdais (#1 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing).
The three-time Vanderbilt Cup titleholder will be looking to increase the Championship lead he extended in Elkhart Lake two weeks ago.
A disappointing result by his closest competitor Robert Doornbos (#14 Minardi Team USA), who steers the fortunes of another Down Under team owner in Paul Stoddart, combined with a fifth win to the Frenchman this season sees Doornbos down by 37 points.
While Bourdais will be looking to extend the gap, the Dutchman, who has two wins of his own this season in Mont-Tremblant and San Jose, will try to do the opposite and score another victory before heading to his home race in Assen next week.
Team Australia’s Will Power is hoping some of the misfortune that hit him in Road America can be brushed off onto his competitors in order to regain some ground in the title hunt.
Heading into the last race the Australian was 24 points behind, but after a mechanical problem ended his race in Elkhart Lake, he now finds himself 53 points adrift. The sophomore driver is aware that in order to stay in the fight, he must finish all his races.
The Champ Car drivers will also have an added incentive this weekend in Zolder, as well as next week in Assen, with the Phanos Resorts Champ Car European Team Cup. Much like the Canadian Triple Crown honored the top team over the three Canadian races, the Phanos Resorts Cup will crown the best team over the two European races.
After claiming the Triple Crown in Edmonton, Teammates Power and Pagenaud will try to sweep the team honours by going home with the top prize in the European Cup.
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A week later marks stage two during the Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix in Assen, Holland and then the World focus turns to Australia during the Lexmark Indy 300 on Queensland’s Gold Coast from October 18-21.
Belgium’s 2.622-mile (4.22km) permanent road course will play host to Champ Cars for the very first time, with the event also marking the return of the open-wheel series to Europe for the first time since 2003.
The eleven European drivers are looking forward to racing on their home continent and this race is really close to home for Conquest Racing's Jan Heylen (#34 Conquest Racing). The Belgian driver hails from a town about 25 minutes down the road from the track for which he has been an ambassador for the past few years.
Heylen's team owner, Eric Bachelart, who is also from Belgium, will be returning to the circuit where he first drove a race car and scored his first win. Coming off their best result of the season with a sixth place finish at Road America, both driver and owner will want to do better in front of family, friends and sponsors.
The remainder of the European field will also want to do well in front of their close ones. Atop the list is France's Simon Pagenaud (#15 Team Australia). The rookie will try to score his first podium of the season in front of the bus loads of fans making the trip from France to Zolder to cheer on one of their favourite French drivers.
Fans will also be keen to cheer on fellow Frenchmen Tristan Gommendy (#22 PKV Racing), who campaigns on behalf of Australian team owner and Series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven and series leader Sebastien Bourdais (#1 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing).
The three-time Vanderbilt Cup titleholder will be looking to increase the Championship lead he extended in Elkhart Lake two weeks ago.
A disappointing result by his closest competitor Robert Doornbos (#14 Minardi Team USA), who steers the fortunes of another Down Under team owner in Paul Stoddart, combined with a fifth win to the Frenchman this season sees Doornbos down by 37 points.
While Bourdais will be looking to extend the gap, the Dutchman, who has two wins of his own this season in Mont-Tremblant and San Jose, will try to do the opposite and score another victory before heading to his home race in Assen next week.
Team Australia’s Will Power is hoping some of the misfortune that hit him in Road America can be brushed off onto his competitors in order to regain some ground in the title hunt.
Heading into the last race the Australian was 24 points behind, but after a mechanical problem ended his race in Elkhart Lake, he now finds himself 53 points adrift. The sophomore driver is aware that in order to stay in the fight, he must finish all his races.
The Champ Car drivers will also have an added incentive this weekend in Zolder, as well as next week in Assen, with the Phanos Resorts Champ Car European Team Cup. Much like the Canadian Triple Crown honored the top team over the three Canadian races, the Phanos Resorts Cup will crown the best team over the two European races.
After claiming the Triple Crown in Edmonton, Teammates Power and Pagenaud will try to sweep the team honours by going home with the top prize in the European Cup.
Back | Back to top
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