... CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIES SEASON
TEAM TO CAMPAIGN TWO CARS IN 2008
PKV Racing General Manager Mark Johnson announced today that Oriol Servia will pilot one of two PKV Racing Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone entries during the 2008 Champ Car World Series season.
Servia, who competed for PKV Racing in the last two events of 2007 and during the 2006 season, finished sixth in the championship standings last year. The 33-year-old native of Pals, Catalonia, Spain contested 13 of the 14 events in 2007, the two with PKV Racing and 11 for Forsythe Championship Racing, earning 11 top-10 finishes including five top-five showings with five podium performances. His best finish was a second in Long Beach.
"We are very pleased to be able to come to an agreement with Oriol so quickly," Johnson said. "He did an outstanding job for us the last two events of the 2007 season and is one of the top drivers in the Champ Car series. Given Oriol’s proven talent, experience, familiarity with the team and having him on board this earlier in the pre-season will allow us to proceed with our off-season program to the fullest as we pursue our goal of winning the championship."
Johnson went on to say, "Current plans call for the team to run two cars in 2008. The second driver will be named following a series of driver tests."
PKV Racing co-owner and 1996 Series Champion Jimmy Vasser said, "I have been involved with some very good teams, including championship winning teams in my career. PKV Racing made a lot of progress last season toward becoming a team that can compete for a championship now and for many years to come.
We believe that having Oriol, who is not only one of the most experienced and best drivers in the series, but also a good friend, compete for the team in 2008, provides us with the best opportunity to continue developing a championship caliber program as well as giving us the best chance to content for the championship."
Servia, who will be campaigning his ninth Champ Cars season, has placed in the top-10 in the championship standings in four of the past five seasons including a career high second place showing in 2005. He has one career victory (Montreal 2005) and one pole (Surfers Paradise 2005).
Commenting on the agreement, Servia said, "I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue with PKV Racing. I want to thank Mr. Kalkhoven, Jimmy Vasser and Mark Johnson for giving me this opportunity. I know the team and they know me. This will be only the second time in my whole career that I am able to race for a team that I have been with before.
The only other time was with Dorricott Racing in 1999 and we won the championship. That is why I am so excited to start working and preparing for our goals this season. I feel that the relationship the team and I have established in the past will be very important as we compete for the championship in 2008."
In his two races with PKV Racing in 2007, Servia qualified second and was running with the leaders in Surfers Paradise when a late race incident damaged his car. In Mexico City, he qualified fourth then drove one of the most exciting races of the season coming from seventh place late in the contest to finish third.
Driving for PKV Racing in 2006, Servia finished in the top-10 eight times in 14 races including four top-five showings with one podium performance. He placed 11th in the standings just three points out of 10th and 22 out of fifth.
In the six races Servia did not place in the top-10, he DNF’ed (did not finish) each time, only once due to pilot error. All six times he was running in the top-five when he went out of the race. Servia qualified in the top-10 in 12 of the 14 races in 2006 with five top-five starting spots.
His qualifying record earned him the team record for consecutive top-five starting positions (4) and tied him with Jimmy Vasser and Cristiano da Matta (2005) and Neel Jani (2007) for the most top-10 starting spots in a season.
About PKV Racing:
Founded in January 2003, Indianapolis-based PKV Racing (originally established as PK Racing) will contest its sixth season of competition during the 2008 Champ Car World Series season.
PKV Racing is owned by successful venture capitalist Kevin Kalkhoven, who also co-owns the Champ Car World Series, along with 1996 Series Champion Jimmy Vasser.
Vasser, who last drove a Champ Car at Long Beach on April 9, 2006, is now deeply involved in team operations and mentors the team’s drivers. Veteran motorsports manager Mark Johnson is the team’s General Manager and handles the day-to-day operations.
PKV Racing has earned one victory, by Cristiano da Matta in Portland in 2005, and two poles, by Tristan Gommendy at Mont-Tremblant last year and Vasser at Milwaukee in 2005. For more information about PKV Racing visit: www.pkvracing.com
- Kevin Diamond - also photos
