New British team confirmed for Rockingham

[MolsonBoy]

From CART-Racing.com


Dubbed ‘Team St George’ a British based project has been given the go-ahead to join the CART FedEx championship in time for the Rockingham 500, which takes place on 13/14th September, it was officially announced this evening.

The team, which has been making plans since July, will run the Lola Ford Cosworth package, as used by both Team Rahal and Herdez Competition, and will be run by the experienced Ray Mallock Team in conjunction with team members from Dale Coyne Racing. No driver announcement is expected before the end of the week, when further plans and the livery of the car will be unveiled.

"I can confirm that we´ve got the agreement in place to set up a single car team, but we won´t be able to announce all the details, such as driver choice, before the end of this week" said David Grace, CEO of Rockingham. "We´ve got some very talented British drivers who are keen to take up this challenge, to beat the Americans on our home ground - our job now is to deliver the car and team to give them a chance of victory.”

Given the standard set by the likes of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, Team Players, not to mention Newman/Haas Racing, it will be a tough task, but given the enthusiasm for the projects, we here at CART-Racing would like to welcome the team and wish them luck in their debut outing at Rockingham.



Drivers, including rising stars of the ASCAR oval racing series in Britain, Darren Manning and Darren Turner, have been linked with the team. Another potential driver is former Formula One and Le Mans driver Johnny Herbert who tested a Lola ChampCar at Rockingham last year for Dale Coyne and CART.

[DNQ]

Great news
Fantastic, one more car on the grid, even if only a one off is still good news.

[f1manoz]

I expect Johnny Herbert to be filling one car, if the race doesn't clash with any of his other commitments.

[tanalised]

wonder what color they'll paint it?

[tanalised]

maybe nige will get the nod for a seat

[f1manoz]

Nige couldn't fit his fat ass in the cockpit!!!

[Jay]

Originally posted by MolsonBoy
From CART-Racing.com


...to beat the Americans on our home ground...

Are they satisfied with just beating Jimmy Vasser and Michael Andretti then?

[Flatspot]

Good point Jay! Actually, this is a terrific announcement. I hope they do well as it may encourage them and others to join the series on a permanent basis.

Didn't Mansell "fit his fat ass" into the cockpit for a pre-race publicity stunt last year?

I want to see Herbert in the car.

[Speedworx]

The field at next month's CART race on the Rockingham oval will be boosted by the appearance of Team St. George, which is set to run a British driver in its sole car.

After months of speculation, bosses at the Corby track have finally confirmed that a Lola-Cosworth run by Ray Mallock Ltd will take to the grid for the September 14 race. The team is being helped by dormant Champ Car entrant Dale Coyne Racing, which has updated the Lola to '2002-spec'.

The identity of the driver has yet to be confirmed, but Rockingham boss David Grace says that it will be a Brit.

"We have some talented British drivers who are keen to take up the challenge," he said. "Our job is to deliver the car and team to give them a chance of victory."

Drivers linked with the team included Johnny Herbert, Darren Turner and Darren Manning. Manning has actively pursued the drive in recent weeks as he believes it could be a chance to impress CART bosses and put himself in the shop window for a 2003 seat.

"It would be a fantastic opportunity and I'm confident I could do a good job," he told AUTOSPORT. "I'm not worried about a lack of track time. After all, it's only a 20-second lap."

The full story appears in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, which is on sale tomorrow (Thursday August 22)

www.autosport.com

Good news to see an extra car. SHame its not the 3 cars as originally planned.

[Jay]

Originally posted by hakkiman
"I'm not worried about a lack of track time. After all, it's only a 20-second lap."

I'm not saying he isn't a very good driver, but that statement alone shows his lack of experience on oval tracks. Although a lap may only be 20 seconds, you have to know every single centimeter of an oval track to do well on it. It's not like a road course where you only need to know the flow of the track, where you break, where you hit the throttle. For an oval you need to know every single bump so you know where you can go, where you can't go and what kind of moves you can pull.

Ovals aren't hard to race on, but they do command more respect than that.

[Speedworx]

Darren Manning does know every part lof the track. He probably has had more track time than all the CART drivers put together, thanx to his ASCAR racing.

Yes it will be different at a faster speed, but I think he can handle it, should be get the seat.

[Flatspot]

One day I'll learn how to import articles to here but in the mean time look at CART.com. It looks as though Coyne is trying to finalize a deal with Herbert and said something to the effect that Rockinham is the first domino to fall as they look toward next years season. Good news!!!

[DNQ]

Regarding Johnny Herbert, I read that he isn't interested - I am pretty sure that is the case, hopefully I am proved wrong.

[macdaddy]

I question the wisdom of hiring a British driver. They have a tendancy to drive on the wrong side of the road.

This could be great news if they truly do plan on campaigning a full season in 03.

[ghinzani]

If its Mallock then why not use Minassian? he was'nt that bad before - on the same level as Junquiera, and hes pretty highly rated now.

[camcartfan]

Minassian? Team St George requires a British driver. Am I missing something?

[ghinzani]

yeah but hes an honorary brit - gave up racing in France to come here (and chuck gravel at Micheal Bentwood - classic!!) and then he returned here after his Cart drive went sour (unjustly!)rather than go back to France.

[Liz]

I'm guessing it will be Mark Blundell. He's had the most recent experience of the track and is very good, although a bit removed from the racing scene at present.

Herbert won't do it. Herbert has enough to do with Audi.

[Muzza]

Hello Liz,

Blundell is indeed a very possible name, but - and I do not know the reasons - he did not leave many friends in the CART paddock.

If you ask team owners and engineers what English drivers they would call for a seat, Mark's name is seldom mentioned. Only when you say "What about Blundell?" is that you get a rather non-chalant answer "Oh, yes, there is him too..."

Again, I do not know the details, but I find interesting that so many people show the same reaction.

[Flatspot]

How easily we forget. Blundell's name never entered my mind until I saw it on the front page. He's an obvious candidate and I would like to see him run again. My guess however is that Coyne, if truly considering a team next season, will either go with Herbert if he can sign him or bring up a driver with potential longevity. Blundell doesn't fit that bill.

[Jay]

Probably right that Darren MAnning would be best for the long term... if they do want to run him in a car next year that is...