DOORNBOS SETS THE STREETS OF ROTTERDAM ALIGHT
Robert Doornbos introduced his Dutch fans to the Champ Car
World Series today with a spectacular live demonstration on
the streets of Rotterdam.
Doornbos climbed behind the wheel of a previous-generation
Lola Champ Car for the Bavaria City Racing demonstration at
the Dutch port city.
The Champ Car World Series will return to Europe this week
for its first ever event in Belgium, staged at the former
home of the Belgian Grand Prix - Zolder - on August 26.
One week later, it will be time for the Dutch fans to cheer
on their local star when Doornbos competes in the Bavaria
Champ Car Grand Prix at the famous Assen circuit in northern
Holland on September 2.
"There was an unbelievable reaction from the fans today.
I think there were nearly 1/2 a million people lining the
course - It was fully packed," Doornbos said.
"Initially I went round the course waving to the fans
but when I got in the Champ Car, I really smoked it up right
the way to the end.
"They gave me brand new tyres, but you could see the
wire poking through the rubber by the time I got to the finish.
After I jumped out I had the chance to meet a lot of the fans
- it really was incredible.
"The whole day was fantastic for Champ Car. It is a
really popular series on television and the fans are looking
forward to seeing the series live in Europe.
"The Dutch fans have been very excited about my results
this year and I am sure there are going to be thousands of
them coming to Zolder and Assen.
"It is great to be able to give something back to the
fans who have supported me all year."
The Champ Car World Series was joined at today's street event
by cars from the Formula 1 World Championship, World Touring
Car Championship and A1 Grand Prix.
Doornbos believes the European fans will be pleasantly surprised
by Champ Car when they arrive at the circuit.
"A lot of fans from this part of the world have been
to Formula 1 races before, but they have no idea that they
are going to be able to get so close to the drivers, the teams
and the cars," he said.
"I think everyone is going to be very excited about
the fan friendly nature of the race weekends. I'm not sure
how many French fans are going to come over so I think Sebastien
may have a tough time."
With two race victories under his belt for Minardi Team USA,
Doornbos is keen to add to that tally on European soil over
the next two weeks.
"As a team we are pushing very hard. We were really
the underdogs at the start of the season, but the guys have
seen what we are capable of," Doornbos said.
"We still make some small mistakes but at the end of
the day I can deliver. I think we can be very competitive
at both tracks and I am really looking forward to it."
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