GRAHAM RAHAL READY FOR FINAL SHOWDOWN AT ROAD AMERICA ATLANTICS RACE

The final race of the Champ Car Atlantics Championship this weekend will be the championship decider and Graham Rahal, lying second, is ready for the duel to the chequered flag. It’s been nearly four weeks since the last race in the Series at Montreal, where Rahal took victory to close the gap on championship leader, Simon Pagenaud. With 12 points separating the two young racers, it’s set to be a tense battle for the $2 million Champ Car ride prize.

The Atlantic series may have had a four week break, but for Rahal it’s been a hectic schedule of testing, including a two-day session in the Newman-Haas prepared Champ Car, and another two days in an A1GP car at Silverstone in the UK, as well as laps with his Conquest Racing Atlantics team and he’s also managed to fit in four days of school.

The championship decider takes place at Road America, a track which holds a special place in Rahal’s heart, as he says, "I guess this is my second home track after Cleveland, but there’s lots of connections with it. It was my dad’s favourite track and it’s also where my grandfather’s career started." Rahal has given an impressive performance in the Atlantic series in his first season, at only 17 years of age. He’s taken five victories and four pole positions so far, but is keen to add to his tally by the final chequered flag.

"I have nothing to lose this weekend, but everything to gain," says Rahal. "I’ve secured second spot in the Championship, so the only way is up. Ideally I need to take the bonus points available for taking pole on Friday and Saturday, then stay at the front to add a point for leading, and winning, the race. Throwing in fastest lap will give me another point, then it’s just good or bad fortune, as to whether my title rival, Simon, finishes higher than fourth. If he does, I will have done all I can and can do nothing more than accept second. But, of course, I’ll be hoping that it’s not that way at the end. We’ll just have to wait and see."

Rahal raced at Road America last season in the Star Mazda series and also in the previous year in Formula BMW, so he is familiar with the track and hopes that this will give him a competitive advantage next weekend. He says, "I think the pressure is on Simon now. We’ve fought back hard in the last few races and eroded his lead as the races have counted down. The track is one that I love and I think that will really help in this pursuit for the ultimate reward. I don’t think it will be easy though. Simon is a tough competitor and a good driver. I’m expecting the battle to be closely fought; I just want to be the victor."

The Champ Car Atlantics Championship race at Road America in Wisconsin starts with practice on Friday and the race starts at 11.30am ET on Sunday 24 September. Ends.

- Alison Hill ID PR -