A1GP news

Halliday to drive in Champ Car

New Zealand racing driver Matt Halliday has been confirmed to contest the highly competitive 2007 Champ Car World Series. Halliday, who has helped Team New Zealand mount a serious title challenge this season in the A1GP Series, has been signed by Conquest Racing with whom he contested the 2001 Indy Lights Championship. Since making a big impression in that 2001 campaign, he has always wanted to go back.

His signing follows a recent successful test with Conquest Racing, conducted at the Laguna Seca circuit (California) where he set top ten lap times despite not having driven in any of the other pre-season tests. Contesting the Series was made possible after sponsorship was secured from high profile New Zealand Vodka Company 42 BELOW who have been a personal sponsor for Halliday over recent years.

The 2007 Champ Car World Series will be contested over 16 races scheduled to be held in the USA, Canada, Mexico, China, Holland, Belgium and Australia. Racing venues will comprise a combination of permanent racing and temporary street circuits commencing with the Vegas Grand Prix around the streets of Las Vegas. Other circuits include such historic names such as Zolder, Long Beach, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and the annual race at Surfers Paradise on Australia's Gold Coast. The season kicks off this weekend on 8 April.

"I have always had my sights set on Champ Car racing as it is one of the highest profile Championships using the fastest single-seater racing cars in the world," Halliday said.

"I am also very happy to be doing the Series with Eric Bachelart and Conquest Racing and thank them for giving me the opportunity to test and eventually sign with the team. I am also indebted to 42 BELOW for their loyalty and confidence in me to do the job."

Conquest Racing team owner Eric Bachelart said: "I'm extremely pleased to have Matt come on board for the start of the season. We've worked well together in the past and I look forward to working with him again. When we tested him last month in Laguna Seca at the final pre-season open-test with the DP01, his on-track performance definitely demonstrated that he deserves his place in the Champ Car World Series.

I'm also delighted to have the chance to work with 42 Below, one of Bacardi's vodka brands, and proud to be able to represent them worldwide. I can only hope that this partnership becomes a long and successful one"

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