After a long off-season the US RaceTronics squad prepares for what will be a very tough year with formidable competition, beginning at this weekend's Vegas Grand Prix.
Las Vegas, NV (April 4, 2007) - US RaceTronics Lets It Roll In Las Vegas
US RaceTronics (USRT) is ready for the start of the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season which commences at the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix on the downtown streets of Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend. With the expansion of the team to two drivers; David Garza and Carl Skerlong, the team is looking to start the season off with a jackpot.
Coming off a successful pre-season testing schedule that saw both Skerlong and Garza post top-10 overall times at all of the Champ Car Atlantic testing sessions, the USRT squad has done all it can do to prepare themselves for what will be a very competitive 12-race Champ Car Atlantic series schedule.
Beginning with the 2007 driver lineup announcement at last year's Mexico City Grand Prix the off-season has been a busy one for USRT owner Shane Seneviratne. Seneviratne spent most of the off-season preparing the team and continuing to build the infrastructure to support the 2007 operation. A new team website, additional staff, a new Fan program, new sponsors, and a new strategic partnership with Champ Car's Pacific Coast Motorsports, USRT is prepared to face the unprecedented challenges of the upcoming season. The team also added to its Engineering department last year with the hiring of two veteran Engineers; Peter Jacobs who will be the Engineer for David Garza and Walter Preston who will be Carl Skerlong's Engineer. "As a team we are looking forward to this race. It's exciting to be at a new venue with our two new drivers and I'm looking forward to performing well this weekend," comments Seneviratne.
In his third year with USRT as Team Manager Mark Bartlett returns with the team ready for the challenges that await the team. "Coming into the Vegas Grand Prix the team is very pleased at what we have accomplished in pre-season testing but are far from satisfied. For 2007 we have two young, ambitious drivers, top notch engineers and crew members that will do what it takes to win. We are excited about the challenges that await us. The US RaceTronics squad intends to be there fighting for the top spot on the podium at every event," states Bartlett.
For their part the USRT drivers are equally excited about their prospects for 2007. "Going to Las Vegas after a successful pre-season testing definitely adds to our confidence. I'm real excited about this weekend, and while the competition will be fierce the playing field will be equal since this is the first race at this venue," comments Carl Skerlong. Skerlong will be piloting the # 24 King Taco/US RaceTronics Swift Mazda-Cosworth.
David Garza #4 Axtel/Tecate/Madisa/US RaceTronics Swift Mazda-Cosworth makes the transition from the Formula BMW series to the Champ Car Atlantic Championship series this season states, "We have made a lot of progress in the past months and have bonded as a team. We also learned quite a bit about the car in our testing. I have high hopes this weekend and with an equal playing field this weekend I'm hoping for the win and that we can have both cars finish on the podium this weekend," adds Garza.
