Speedcars rev engines for debut season
Speedcar Series stock cars will line the grid on the 25th
and 26th of this month at the Dubai Autodrome for its inaugural
season. Last week the V8 620 brake horse power identical stock
cars passed the FIA dynamic crash tests in Europe and are
preparing to race in their debut 2008 series as part of the
FIA calendar.
The FIA testing came with a price however, causing a delay
in the stock cars being ready for the first race in a little
over a week. The rain, unprecedented and unexpected in Dubai,
recorded as the highest nationwide for January blocked most
major roads and highways as well as access to the circuit
while flooding a few of the garages. In addition, delays in
shipments of parts have slowed work down further despite mechanics
working around the clock.
Fourteen stock cars will be ready in time for the Grand Racing
events this month which will also feature GP2 Asia. Due to
the fact that all 18 competitors currently registered with
Speedcar Series will not have their race cars ready in time
for the event in Dubai, the first race that allocates points
towards the overall Speedcar Series Champion title will be
held on the 16th and 17th of February at the Sentul International
Circuit in Indonesia.
The drivers currebtly confirmed in the first event in Dubai
are as follows:
Driver - Country - Car No.
Jean Alesi France 27
Nico Caldarola Italy 12
Fabien Giroix France 17
Johnny Herbert United Kingdom 69
Stefan Johansson Sweden 07
Narain Karthikeyan India 05
Ukyo Katayama Japan 06
Mathias Lauda Austria 21
Hasher Al Maktoum United Arab Emirates 85
Ananda Mikola Indonesia 18
Gianni Morbidelli Italy 10
Nicolas Navarro France 71
David Terrien France 20
The Technical Manager of Speedcar Series, Benjamin Durand
said: "Having decided to have the stock cars FIA approved
ensures the highest level of driver safety. The Speedcars
being housed in Dubai are in the process of being modified
by experienced teams of mechanics according to the specifications
put forward by data gathered during the testing."
Benoit Lamonerie, General Manager of Speedcar Series is extremely
pleased with the outcome of the crash tests saying: "The
event in Dubai will give spectators a taste of the adrenalin,
excitement and family-day-out atmosphere they can expect from
all our races to come.We are confident of making an impact
in the Middle East and Asia by providing a racing platform
that is growing in popularity everyday in these regions."
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