Champ Car World Series
ROTTERDAM READY FOR DOORNBOS THIS SUNDAY
Dutch Champ Car star Robert Doornbos is set to entertain his
local fans when he hits the streets of Rotterdam aboard a
2006 Champ Car at the Bavaria City Racing event this Sunday.
With his dramatic debut in the Champ Car World Series, Doornbos'
popularity in his native country is at an all time high with
two victories to his name with Minardi Team USA.
The Dutchman's outstanding performances have resulted in
soaring ticket sales for the Assen weekend – the second
leg of the Champ Car World Series European tour.
The Rotterdam street event is sponsored by Dutch brewer,
Bavaria – the same sponsor who is backing Champ Car's
debut in the Netherlands.
The Champ Car World Series will race for the first time at
Zolder in Belgium next week on August 26 followed by the Bavaria
Champ Car Grand Prix Powered by Audi, Gant & Hertz at
Assen on September 2.
Doornbos is eagerly awaiting the chance to add another win
to his victory tally – this time on home soil.
"For Champ Car it’s their first time there, but
not for me - I raced there seven years ago, in 2000,"
he said.
"It’s just great to drive in front of your home
crowd. And for sure it gives you an extra boost that you need.
The last time I won a race in front of my home crowd was in
Spa-Francorchamps in F3000, the feeling afterwards is just
great. I just hope I can give them a good show and get a good
result."
This Sunday's major Rotterdam street demonstration in the
Dutch port city will also feature a wide variety of cars from
other global championships including Formula 1, World Touring
Car Championship, A1 Grand Prix plus drifting events.
HEYLEN HEADS TO EUROPE AFTER BEST '07 RESULT
While Dutch supporters have had a race winner to follow in
Robert Doornbos in 2007, Belgian fans could soon enjoy similar
success after Jan Heylen recorded a strong result in the latest
round of the Champ Car World Series at Road America.
Heylen finished 6th at the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin circuit
– the longest and most "European" style track
in the US.
“The sixth place finish better reflects our abilities
as a team and where we deserved to be this weekend,”
said Heylen.
“The entire team seemed to work well and we have a
good, cohesive team that is going to Zolder. This is a great
result to have right before the Champ Car Grand Prix of Belgium
race; the team will be busy this week preparing for the European
swing so it helps to have high spirits prior to our departure.
We will be looking to continue our top-six pace for the rest
of the season.”
The Road America event was won by Sebastien Bourdais ahead
of a career-best finish by Britain's Dan Clarke. Bourdais'
team-mate Graham Rahal grabbed another podium in third.
NEW ASSEN RECORD SET BY CHAMP CAR
When the Champ Car World Series teams arrive in Assen in two
weeks, the drivers will have a new target time to set their
sights on – a mark set by a Champ Car.
Ex-Formula Atlantic ace Andreas Wirth established a new outright
lap record last Sunday at the Rizla Racing Day – a car
and motorcycle race event at the Netherlands circuit.
Driving a 2006 PKV Racing Champ Car, Wirth set the new record
at 1 minute 28.276 seconds, slashing four seconds off the
previous mark set by Jos Vestappen in an A1 Grand Prix car.
The Young German star set the new record after only completing
four laps of the circuit.
Wirth last year contested two Champ Car World Series races
for Dale Coyne Racing – scoring a top ten finish on
debut.
WALKER BACK TO ZOLDER - AFTER 30+ YEARS
For Derrick Walker, the upcoming Champ Car debut at Zolder
will provide major flashbacks for the Team Australia owner.
Walker was chief mechanic at the Brabham Formula 1 team in
the early 1970s when the World Championship visited Zolder
in 1973 and 1975.
In 73 there were three Brabham chassis on the grid with Andrea
de Adamich finishing 4th in only his second start for the
team. Wilson Fittipaldi and Carlos Reutemann retired.
On Walker's return in 1975, Reutemann actually finished on
the podium in 3rd for Brabham while his team-mate Carlos Pace
finished 8th.
The Brabham team was in its initial years with a new team
owner after founders Jack Brabham and Ron Tauranac sold the
team in the early 70s. The new owner – a young Englishman
called Bernie Ecclestone.
“Bernie wasn’t the F1 promoter yet, but he helped
the tracks in promoting the races and he worked on getting
us hotel accommodations." Walker said.
"Because the accommodations were sparse in that area,
the only thing that he managed to work out was for us and
a couple of the other teams to stay in an empty girls dormitory.
"I don’t know how he ended up with those arrangements.
It had hard wood floors, iron bunk beds - it was a lot like
a prison. The highlight that got us through the weekend was
the beer, the frites and the fact that we came in third place
with Carlos Reutemann. Oh and it was a wet race as well.”
Walker's two drivers, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud are also
very familiar with Zolder. The duo previously raced against
each other at the Belgian circuit in the World Series by Renault
Championship – Power actually starting from pole position
in 2005.
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