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Philippe boasts local backing to defend Lexmark Indy 300 title |
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Thursday, 04 October 2007 |
Reigning Lexmark Indy 300 winner Nelson Philippe has the chance to
create history at this year’s event on the Gold Coast after being
announced as a late inclusion in the Champ Car World Series driver
line-up for the October 18-21 Surfers Paradise showdown.
The Frenchman’s date with destiny has presented itself in the form of a
call-up to steer the fortunes of Conquest Racing in the Queensland
spectacular, which will mark his maiden appearance in the Series for
season 2007.
Philippe’s Conquest drive has been made possible through the
primary sponsorship of Gold Coast based Juniper Development Group which
gives the International campaign an added local feel.
Overseeing numerous property projects throughout Australia,
Juniper’s major Gold Coast interest is the yet to be completed Soul
project, a sculptured residential tower with ocean views situated on
The Esplanade, just beyond the South-East corner of the Lexmark Indy
300 racing circuit.
Having served his Champ Car apprenticeship starting three seasons
ago under Conquest Racing boss Eric Bacherlart, that combination will
not only seek to defend Philippe’s Lexmark Indy 300 crown but also
become the first ever Champ Car driver to win twice in Australia.
As an 18 year-old in 2005, Philippe was named the Bosch Most Improved Driver as voted on by his peers.
Philippe’s emphatic victory last year on the Gold Coast caused a
sensation in the Champ Car World Series ranks, as the then 20 year-old
secured a first ever chequered flag in the International open wheel
competition.
His victory lane salute also ensured the trend of no driver winning the Australian event twice in its 16-year history continued.
Not only did he come away with the racing spoils at the Lexmark
Indy 300, Philippe was very lucky in love and has since maintained an
ongoing relationship with reigning Bartercard Miss Indy Sarah Buller.
Speaking from the United States during today’s announcement, the
Conquest Racing driver was looking forward to racing at a venue that
has grown close to his heart.
“It’s great to be in a position to be defending my Indy title on
the Gold Coast and I thank Eric and the entire Conquest Racing team for
this opportunity,” said Philippe.
“It's nice to be back in Champ Car, and obviously Conquest is a
team I know very well. I've raced with them before, so it definitely
feels like home.
“I know all the mechanics, Eric is a good friend of mine and I couldn't be happier to be back racing in Australia.
“It's my home race. I've been there for two months now with my
beautiful girlfriend, so I pretty much know the track like the back of
my hand. I go running on it every day. It's not like racing, but close
enough, I guess.”
Philippe is the youngest ever winner of the Lexmark Indy 300 title
and a proven campaigner on the 4.47 kilometre Surfers Paradise street
circuit.
The Frenchman joins four other current drivers vying to become a
second time winner in the Australian Champ Car round which begins in a
little over two weeks time.
Philippe, Canadian Paul Tracy, (1995), Mexican campaigner Mario
Dominguez (2002), Bruno Junquiera (2004), and 2005 victor Sebastien
Bourdais have all stood atop the winner’s podium on the Gold Coast.
Bourdais will be hoping to also wrap up a likely fourth successive
Champ Car World Series championship during this year’s Lexmark Indy
300.
Quote Board – Nelson Philippe
“I did a test with Minardi at the beginning of the year at Sebring,
and then I did a Houston MSR test with Conquest. Tomorrow I'm testing a
DP01, so it's just going to be about getting back with the engineers
this morning, setting up everything that we're going to do tomorrow, do
a few test starts and see how that's going to go.
“The good thing is I'm not going to be heading to Surfer's with no
seat time, which is going to be nice. Tomorrow is just going to be a
reinitiating day.
“I think there's going to be a special Australian guy (Will Power)
who's going to be pretty keen on winning that race. Australia is
awesome, and the guys over there have been doing a great job getting
ready to race.”
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