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As the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda convened for the first time in 2008 for open testing at Sebring International Raceway today, officials from Paladin Motorsports and Canadian driver Adrien Herberts announced that they have rejoined forces for the full 2008 season.

The 18-year-old native of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia will once again drive the team’s No. 45 Mazda-Cosworth/Swift 016.a/Cooper, which will carry sponsorship from Keller Williams and TravelUnlimited.ca as well as a major Canadian financial institution to be announced later.

"We’re really happy to have a chance to continue with Adrien for 2008," said Paladin Motorsports owner Reza Honarvar. "Continuity is a key to success, so this will give us a chance to continue our development with him."

Herberts competed in 10 Champ Car Atlantic events with Paladin Motorsports during his rookie season in 2007, earning a best result of 11th in the first race of a doubleheader at the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton. He scored championship points in eight of his 10 starts and did not compete in Round 11 at San Jose or the season finale at Road America. Prior to heading for the Sebring open test, Herberts tested the No. 45 machine at MSR Houston.

"MSR was a great test for Paladin Motorsports and me," Herberts said. "I think that we really showed our speed and will only improve from here. I’m excited. I believe that this year will be a breakout year for me and Paladin Motorsports. We have the speed and the skill to be at the front, and I feel confident that 2008 will bring great success."

While Herberts is set for the team’s No. 45 entry, Honarvar is currently exploring opportunities to add a second car for the 2008 Atlantic season.

"We are working on a deal to field a second car," Honarvar said. "We have tested another driver and are close to making an announcement. I’m sure it will be another exciting year of strong competition in the Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda, and we feel ready to compete with Adrien Herberts."

The Champ Car Atlantic Championship is in the midst of its first preseason open test session at Sebring International Raceway on the 1.669-mile "short course." The Sebring test will conclude on Wednesday, February 6.

Up next will be Spring Training at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on March 10 and 11, followed by the third and final preseason open test at MSR Houston on March 25 and 26. The 35th Anniversary season of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship gets underway at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 20.

The Champ Car Atlantic Championship continues to be the premier open-wheel development series in North America. Celebrating its 35th season of competition in 2008, the championship is noted for its long history of graduating its stars into Champ Car competition and has helped produce past Champ Car champions Jimmy Vasser, Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti and Jacques Villeneuve, as well as 2007 Champ Car competitors Alex Tagliani, Katherine Legge, Simon Pagenaud, Graham Rahal, Ryan Dalziel and Alex Figge.

All Atlantic competitors utilize Swift 016.a chassis powered by a 2.3-liter Mazda-Cosworth engine while riding on Cooper Tires. For more information on the series and its broadcast details, please visit www.champcaratlantic.com .

- Nate Siebens -

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