Champ Car World Series
CHAMP CAR STARS HIT THE HIGH SEAS
Robert Doornbos is hoping he has better luck on land than
on sea after being beaten yesterday by a pair of future stars
from the Champ Car Atlantic series.
Doornbos, Katherine Legge, Tristan Gommendy and Dan Clarke
were soundly defeated on the water by Road America Atlantic
winner Franck Perera and Dutch ace Junior Strous.
The drivers were "captaining" Dutch botters –
19th century sailing boats used for fishing in the traditional
Netherlands village of Spakenburg.
The drivers were joined on water by local media and corporate
sponsors of this week's Assen event – the Bavaria Beer
Champ Car Grand Prix of Holland presented by Audi, Gant, Hertz,
Jumbo and Pioneer.
With Perera and Strous teamed up on the newest boat –
the youngsters raced away from the start. While their boat
may have been new, even their racer is more than 100 years
old
Holding between 12-14 people, the "botters" were
first used in the 1800s in Spakenburg – located about
50km from Amsterdam.
"I have actually never been to this part of Holland
before - It was really fun out there. Our boat set the pace
early, feeling comfortable, we had a good set-up, especially
when we stole the wind away from everyone's sails at one stage,"
Doornbos said.
"I tried everything I could to try and cheat, even throwing
a rope out at a container ship to tow us along.
"I'm really looking forward to the weekend in Assen.
I have a couple more days of PR activities – Bart Rietbergen
and everyone has done an amazing job in promoting the race.
It is going to be really special."
CHAMP CAR STARS SET FOR ASSEN TOWN SQUARE TOMORROW
The local media will get the chance to meet some of the stars
of the Champ Car World Series tomorrow as the championship
moves to its second leg of the European tour in Assen.
Zolder winner Sebastien Bourdais, local hero Robert Doornbos,
Belgian Jan Heylen, Canadian veteran Paul Tracy, British ace
Justin Wilson and female racer Katherine Legge will be taking
part in a press conference in the Assen Town Square from 10.50am
on Thursday.
"I’m really looking forward to Assen. The Dutch
race fans are fantastic so I’m sure there’ll be
a great atmosphere. It’s another track I don’t
know, but from everything I’ve seen it looks like a
fast circuit," Wilson said.
Champ Car will be racing for the first time in series history
in The Netherlands this weekend. The Assen course is no stranger
to international events as it hosts world class motorcycle
races including Moto GP and World Surperbikes.
The 4.55km 14-turn track was redesigned in 2006, so that
it would be possible to attract a variety of events to the
circuit, including Champ Car.
CHASING THE EUROPEAN CROWN
Sebastien Bourdais and Graham Rahal of Newman/Haas/Lanigan
Racing head to Assen this weekend leading the Phanos Champ
Car European Team Cup competition.
With both drivers on the podium in Zolder, the NHLR pair
hold a 9.5 point lead over Will Power and Simon Pagenaud of
Team Australia – the winners of the Champ Car Canadian
Triple Crown.
The Champ Car World Series will crown a Phanos Champ Car
European Team Cup champion after this weekend's Assen event.
Champ Car teams earn points during both the Friday and Saturday
qualifying sessions, with first place earning 10 points and
each following position .5 points less than the preceding
driver (10 / 9.5 / 9 / 8.5 / 8 etc.). Sunday race points start
at 20 for the winner, with each following driver picking up
one point less (20 / 19 / 18 / 17 etc.).
The points then are added up for each teammate to determine
the standings. Conquest Racing’s points gained by lone
driver Jan Heylen will be doubled for each session.
The entire Champ Car "family" including drivers,
teams and officials are staying at the Phanos resort –
Hof Van Saksen – near the Assen circuit.
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