While most of his fellow competitors in the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda have been spending the time between last month’s race at Mont-Tremblant and next weekend’s doubleheader at the Rexall Edmonton Indy working on their fitness program or getting some rest and relaxation, points leader Junior Strous had a bit of an adventure in his hometown of Wassenaar, The Netherlands.
Approximately two weeks ago, Strous was awoken at 3 a.m. by the alarm at his family’s Shell fuel station, which is adjacent to his home in the suburb of The Hague. Strous looked outside to find three burglars and the Dutchman quickly sprang into action.
"I jumped out of bed, got dressed and ran next door," Strous explained. "Three burglars stormed out of the shop with a bag full of stolen goods and jumped into a waiting getaway car.
They sped off in the direction of Amsterdam. I jumped into our BMW M3 and started to pursue them. What followed was a real exciting street race, and while driving at full speed, I called the cops. The thieves were getting very nervous because I pushed and pushed, so at the end of the motorway, they braked too late and crashed their car into a lamppost.
"The three thieves jumped out of the car and ran away. I also jumped out of my car and started to pursue them. Luckily, the cops were there at the same time as me and they put a police dog on their trail. Before I knew what was happening, the dog attacked one of the thieves and was biting him. What a fantastic way to catch a thief!
Great dog! Lucky for us, all the stolen goods were still in the car and all three thieves were taken into custody by the police. It was great work by the local police force, and I want to thank them for their quick reaction."
Next week, Strous will return to the cockpit of his No. 6 Shell/HTP/Muermans Group/Red, White & Bluezz machine for Condor Motorsports/Team Holland alongside his fellow Atlantic Championship competitors for Rounds 4 and 5 of the 11-race season at the Rexall Edmonton Indy. Strous currently leads the Atlantic point standings by seven, 74-67, over Canadian racer James Hinchcliffe and Finnish rookie Markus Niemela.
Round 4 of the season and Race 1 of the doubleheader weekend is scheduled for Friday, July 25 with the second half of the doubleheader slated for Saturday, July 26.
The Atlantic Championship is the longest-running open-wheel driver development series in North America and celebrates its 35th Anniversary season in 2008.
The series is noted for its long history of graduating its drivers into the top levels of motorsport throughout the world, including IndyCar champions such as Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve, Jimmy Vasser, Greg Ray, Sam Hornish Jr. and Dan Wheldon, Indy 500 winners such as Sullivan, Rahal, Villeneuve, Buddy Rice, Wheldon and Hornish, and Formula One world champions such as Villeneuve and Keke Rosberg.
In 2008, Atlantic graduates will battle for race victories and championships in top North American series such as the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the American Le Mans Series and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in addition to various other series all over the world. Learn more about Atlantic at www.atlantic-championship.com.
- Nate Siebens -
Walker Racing Launches New and Improved Website
19.07.2008
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Walker Racing announced today the launch of their new website, www.walkerracing.com, which is now available to fans, media and potential business partners.
The new site will feature an array of fresh elements, including regularly updated weekly team news, releases and quotes from the Atlantic Championship. In addition, there ... mehr |
PCM to be featured on tonight’s episode of "Modern Marvels"
10.07.2008
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Pacific Coast Motorsports will be featured on tonight’s episode of The History Channel’s hit show "Modern Marvels" tonight at 9:00 pm ET.
The episode, titled "Crashes" takes an in-depth look at the safety innovations in Open-Wheel racing. Filmed at the Champ Car finale at the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the episode prominently features the Pacific Coast Motorspo ... mehr |
Steep Learning Curve in Mont Tremblant For Walker Racing
01.07.2008
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The third round of the Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered By Mazda, held in Mont Tremblant, Canada this weekend, proved to be a steep learning curve for all three Walker Racing drivers, Canadian Kevin Lacroix and Brits Greg and Leo Mansell.
Lacroix, a Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada native, started today’s Sommet des Legends Mont Tremblant event from s ... mehr |
Walker Racing Withdraws the #5 entry of Greg Mansell in Mont Tremblant
01.07.2008
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Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada (June 29, 2008)- This weekend was the first visit to the Mont Tremblant circuit for Brit, Greg Mansell (#5 Sunseeker). The 20 year old qualified 11th for today’s Sommet des Legends Mont Tremblant , the third event in the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. After completing just four laps in this morning’s warm-up sessio ... mehr |
Muniz, Skerlong Ready for Action at Mont Tremblant...
26.06.2008
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... Dominguez will Return to IndyCar Competition at Watkins Glen
Event: Sommet Des Legendes
Round: 2 of the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda
Where: Circuit Mont Tremblant, St. Jovite, Quebec, Canada 2.65-mile perm. road course
TV: June 29, 2008 at 1:00 pm ET
Off to a S ... mehr |
Skerlong and Muniz Searching for Success on Saturday
17.05.2008
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The Monterey Festival of Speed Friday, May 16, 2008
CARL SKERLONG, #14 King Taco/Mazda/Swift/Cooper Tires
Carl on qualifying: "I made a mistake. We had a great session this morning and I was confident we had a good car for qualifying. Unfortunately, I pushed too hard too fast and lost it at turn four.
It was really a shame bec ... mehr |
Best Career Finish for David Martinez at Long Beach
22.04.2008
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David Martinez improved more positions than any other driver on his way to a career best eight place finish at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the final Champ Car World Series race. The Mexican driver made daring on track passes throughout the race, which combined with the Forsythe – Pettit engineer’s brilliant pit strategy allowed them to capture ten positions throughout th ... mehr |
Consistent Performance Pays Off for Muniz, Skerlong Bumped to the Back
21.04.2008
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The Imperial Capital Bank Challenge
It looked to be a promising day for Carl Skerlong. The 19-year old from Seattle sat on row two as the green flag fell for the Imperial Capital Bank Challenge at the Long Beach Grand Prix. His hopes for a podium finish in the season opener were destroyed as fellow American and pole-sitter Jonathan Bomarito pushed Carl into the ti ... mehr |
Rocketsports finishes an open-wheel era on top by recording fastest race lap
21.04.2008
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... in an otherwise disappointing race in Long Beach
Rocketsports Racing may have had a rough weekend on track in Long Beach, but the ultimate goal was to take one last chance to run the magnificent DP01 race cars and have an opportunity to thank all of the supporters and fans of the Champ Car World Series. That goal was accomplished and Rocketsport ... mehr |
Strong Finish for Walker Racing Atlantics in Long Beach
21.04.2008
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Walker Racing’s pilots, Englishmen Greg and Leo Mansell, and Canadian Kevin Lacroix, had a positive weekend and learned a lot from the Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach.
Lacroix (No.25 Uni-Select/Deans Knight Capital Management Ltd./Wasteco) had an impressive performance for his first start at Long Beach. He brought home a solid finish for the Indiana ... mehr |
Conquest Racing Says Goodbye to Champ Car with Both Cars in the Top Six
21.04.2008
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- Bernoldi crossed the finish line in fourth with Perera close behind in sixth -
Conquest Racing put an end to their Champ Car era at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on a high note with both drivers finishing in the top-six, their best combined effort in the team’s Champ Car history. Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi was fourth aboard the #36 Sangar ... mehr |
Dominguez Scores Emotional Podium for PCM at Champ Car Finale
21.04.2008
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Drives the Imperial Capital Bank Car from Tenth to Third at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long BeachThe Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
The last time Mario Dominguez drove a Champ Car, he was scoring a top-ten finish for Pacific Coast Motorsports in his native Mexico City. He got the call to drive for the California-based team last week, and jumped at the opportunity to ... mehr |
Rocketsports Long Beach notes
20.04.2008
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Rocketsports Racing successfully qualified both cars for their final Champ Car race, Sunday’s 34th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Despite not qualifying higher up on the grid, the team anticipates a good race as both drivers are confident they have a good race-ready racecar.
The day started off well for Antonio Pizzonia, who was looking to get in some mo ... mehr |
Skerlong Rebounds from Friday’s Challenges to Start Third, Muniz Jumps to 15th
20.04.2008
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The Imperial Capital Bank Challenge
CARL SKERLONG, #14 King Taco/Mazda/Swift/Cooper Tires
Friday Practice 3rd 1:16.402 92.731
Friday Qualifying 3rd 1:16.127 93.066
Carl on qualifying: "I am pleased to be in the top-three, but disappointed because I was up three-tenths on my last lap and Andreas Wirth parked his car in the l ... mehr |
David Martinez Suffers Mechanical Woes During Qualifying
20.04.2008
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Problems continued today for David Martinez during qualifying for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Mexican driver and the Forsythe – Pettit engineers made changes overnight to the car and after morning practice were confident that they could qualify in the top ten.
In the first minutes of qualifying things looked promising as the rookie driver managed to turn his ... mehr |
Rookie Franck Perera to Start Third for Conquest Racing in Long Beach
20.04.2008
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- Enrique Bernoldi lines up eighth for tomorrow’s race -
Conquest Racing placed both rookie drivers in the top-eight on the starting grid for tomorrow’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Champ Car finale with Franck Perera (#34 Conquest Racing Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) third and Enrique Bernoldi (#36 Sangari Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone) eighth in their Champ Car debu ... mehr |
Walker Racing and Alex Tagliani on Front Row for Long Beach
20.04.2008
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Walker Racing and Alex Tagliani (No.15 CEC Wheels) proved once again they were ready to give it their all this weekend for the 34th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the final Champ Car race, as they say farewell to Champ Car and their loyal supporters, the fans.
The weekend has turned out to be flawless for the Walker Racing clan and Tagliani, who had another solid ... mehr |
Daniel Morad all set for his first Atlantic race
20.04.2008
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Season opener at Long Beach this weekend
It has been a busy few weeks for Daniel Morad between testing his new Eurointernational Atlantic Swift 016.a and attending A1GP events in South Africa, Mexico and China as A1 Team Canada's designated rookie. Daniel arrived i ... mehr |
Enrique Bernoldi Sixth on Provisional Grid for Conquest Racing in Long Beach
19.04.2008
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Conquest Racing rookies Enrique Bernoldi and Franck Perera took part in their first Champ Car qualifying session today with Bernoldi finishing the 30-minute session in sixth place while his teammate Perera, whose DP01 had fuel pressure problems, was 16th on the provisional grid for Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Both drivers will have a chance to improve their position ... mehr |
Rocketsports Long Beach notes & quotes Friday
19.04.2008
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Despite some set backs for the Rocketsports team during the first day in Long Beach, California preparing for Sunday’s 34th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the team and its drivers are feeling that things are coming together for a more positive rest of the race weekend.
This morning marked the first time for Antonio Pizzonia to drive the #9 Rocketsports C ... mehr |
Walker Racing and Alex Tagliani 3rd in Provisional Qualifying for Long Beach
19.04.2008
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Walker Racing and Alex Tagliani showed they were ready to give it their all this weekend for the 34th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the final Champ Car race, as they say farewell to Champ Car and their loyal supporters, the fans.
The morning started off solid as Tagliani posted the second quickest time of 1:08.386 seconds and was followed by another superb sessi ... mehr |
Walker Racing Atlantics Complete Provisional Qualifying in Long Beach
19.04.2008
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Walker Racing proved they were ready to learn and go racing this weekend in Long Beach. All three drivers, Canadian Kevin Lacroix, Greg and Leo Mansell, sons of former Formula One World Champion and IndyCar Champion, Nigel Mansell, were itching to get strapped in the car and put the pedal to the metal this weekend for the Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach. ... mehr |
Newman Wachs Racing #34 Simona de Siilvestro driving "Nuclear clean air energy"
18.04.2008
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Newman Wachs Racing (NWR) is launching their "Nuclear Clean Air Energy" marketing program with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) this weekend at the Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda 2008 Season in Long Beach, California.
The #34 car will be driven by Simona De Silvestro, one of Switzerland’s top young racers and the newly enlisted driver t ... mehr |
Conquest Racing Heads to Long Beach for Champ Car Finale After Strong IndyCar Series Start
16.04.2008
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It’s with plenty of momentum, thanks to a strong start to their IndyCar Series season, that the Conquest Racing team is heading to California to take part in their 74th and final Champ Car World Series race at the 34th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach this weekend from April 18 – 20.
After two races in the unified IndyCar Series, the team will be returning ... mehr |
Walker Racing Thanks Fans for the Good Times
16.04.2008
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The 34th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach marks an end of an era for Champ Car’s 29 years of rich racing. Walker Racing wants to take this opportunity and pay tribute to their loyal supporters through the years, the fans.
As a thank you to them, Walker Racing will be dedicating an area on both sides of Alex Tagliani’s No.15 Walker Racing Cosworth/Bridgestone/DP01 e ... mehr |
Rocketsports Long Beach pre-race
16.04.2008
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Pizzonia and Annala ready to take on the Long Beach challenge as Rocketsports gears up to run its DP01 Champ Cars for the final time
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is always one that teams anticipate, for it is a great venue, great city, and always a wonderful event. However, what is usually the Champ Car season opener will be a bit different this yea ... mehr |
Newman Wachs Racing Signs Jonathan Summerton
15.04.2008
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Newman Wachs Racing signs driver, Jonathan Summerton of Kissimmee, Florida, to the #36 ... mehr |
Walker Racing and Alex Tagliani bid farewell to Champ Car fans
12.04.2008
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Walker Racing is proud to announce its entry in the upcoming Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 18-20. The Indianapolis based squad will re-join forces with Canadian Alex Tagliani as they pay tribute to the loyal Champ ... mehr |
Alex Figge and Imperial Capital Bank Reunite with PCM for Champ Car Finale
04.04.2008
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For the last five years, Alex Figge has piloted a Pacific Coast Motorsports prepared race ... mehr |
Mathiasen Motorsports signs Jonathan Bomarito for 2008 Atlantic Championship season
03.04.2008
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Mathiasen Motorsports announced today that they have signed Jonathan Bomarito to drive the #26 Swift for the 2008 Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda.
This partnership comes on the heels of their impressive performance at the final pre-season testing session a ... mehr |
Walker Racing Gears up for Season Opener after Successful Houston Test
27.03.2008
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Walker Racing is ready for the first race of the season after wrapping up the last round of pre-season testing yesterday at MSR Houston, the 2.38 mile road course located 13 miles south of Houston. The Indianapolis based squad completed two productive days with drivers Canadian Kevin Lacroix, and Englishmen Greg and Leo Mansell, sons of Nigel Mansell, the 1992 Formula 1 World Cha ... mehr |
Conquest Racing Homestead Test Wrap Up and Race Preview
27.03.2008
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Conquest Racing wrapped up their pre-season testing yesterday at Homestead-Miami Speedway ahead of this weekend’s first race of the 2008 IndyCar Series season.
The test was deemed successful by team owner Eric Bachelart as well as drivers Enrique Bernoldi (#36 Opes Prime Dallara/Honda/Firestone) and Franck Perera (#34 ARES/Opes Prime Dallara/Honda/Firestone), who were ma ... mehr |
Back to School Time for Conquest Racing Drivers at Homestead Test
26.03.2008
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It was an all new experience for Conquest Racing’s Enrique Bernoldi and Franck Perera yesterday during day one of the two-day test at Homestead-Miami Speedway’s high-banked oval. And even though it felt like they were going back to racing school, the pair faired well in their maiden "left turn only" test.
The objective for day one: get comfortable with the new ra ... mehr |
Paladin Motorsports and Adrien Herberts Complete Second Pre-season
14.03.2008
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... Open Test at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
The Paladin Motorsports team concluded their second open-test on Tuesday in preparation for the 2008 Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season. The test, which took place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, was a productive one for the Corona, California based team and driv ... mehr |
Walker Racing Atlantics Back on Track for Spring Training
12.03.2008
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After a long and eventful three week break, Walker Racing was happy to get back on track. The Indianapolis based squad completed a successful two days of testing at the breathtaking Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California, with drivers Canadian Kevin Lacroix, and Englishmen Greg and Leo Mansell.
"All three drivers did a great job. The test went really well and we accompli ... mehr |
Statement from Neil Micklewright, VP of Operations for Forsythe Championship Racing Ltd
28.02.2008
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"Forsythe Championship Racing is announcing today the cessation of its racing operations.
After 13 years of competition in CART and the Champ Car World Series, the team has been unable to secure the necessary sponsorship to be able to compete in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series in 2008.
Forsythe Racing Inc., the parent company of FCR, will participate in the ... mehr |
Off-Track Action, PCM Racing Meets Bridgestone Golf and Eurosport Buzz
13.02.2008
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Bridgestone Golf: Pacific Coast Motorsports jumped at the opportunity to team with Bridgestone Motorsport to shoot an exciting commercial for Bridgestone Golf. The commercial was filmed at the Agua Dulce Airpark in California, and features professional athletes from the racing and golf world. ... mehr |
Walker Racing Completes Productive Pre-Season Testing In Sebring
07.02.2008
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Walker Racing has begun its 2008 Atlantic campaign as they completed two successful days of testing at Sebring International Raceway in Florida with drivers Canadian Kevin Lacroix, and Englishmen, Greg and Leo Mansell.
This week not only marked the beginning of a competitive season for the Indianapolis based crew, but was the fourth series of tests for them as well. Walke ... mehr |
Conquest Racing Atlantic Team Continues to Develop Young Talent in Sebring
07.02.2008
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After completing a successful Champ Car pre-season open test in Sebring on Monday, the Conquest Racing team spent an extra couple of days in the sunny Florida weather testing two young drivers for their Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda program.
Sébastien Chardonnet, of La Gaude , France and Juho Annala of Lapua , Finland were taki ... mehr |
