Walker Racing driver development news 2007-09-01

WALKER RACING AND PERFORMANCE FRICTION BRAKES FORM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Assen, Netherlands (September 1, 2007) - For over five decades, open wheel racing has had a rich tradition in America. Hundreds of aspiring drivers have tried to work their way up the infamous ladder to pave their way into Champ Car, but many haven't had the opportunity to make it that far, until now. Walker Racing and Performance Friction Brakes are proud to announce that they have formed a relationship to help talented youth reach the pinnacle of the sport.

The two parties are joining forces in an attempt to give back to the open wheel community, by becoming strategic partners. Performance Friction Brakes and Walker Racing will work together in finding talent by focusing on drivers in the Star Mazda series.

"We are happy to be entering into a relationship with Walker Racing to help find promising and talented drivers in the open wheel categories. As part of our commitment to open wheel racing we want to help with developing the Mazda family in the Star Mazda, Atlantic and Champ Car series. Derrick Walker and his group have been the stalwarts of the community and have shown through the development series you can reach the pinnacle of racing as they did with Simon Pagenaud. Effectively we believe in the benefits of this program and that is why we have picked a strategic partner with the same common goals," commented Darrick Dong, Director of Motorsports, Performance Friction Brakes.

Both entities have had a long involvement in racing. A veteran to the sport, Derrick Walker, has over 40 years of racing experience, and seventeen of those years as a Champ Car World Series team owner. His most recent venture was creating a Champ Car Atlantic team, who brought home the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship title with Simon Pagenaud in its first year of existence. With 257 world and national championships in 2006 under their belt and winning every pole point since 1999 in Champ Car, Performance Friction Brakes has been the official brake supplier of the Champ Car World Series and knows what it takes to succeed in racing.

"When you look at American racing its companies like Performance Friction and Mazda, who are doing their part to give the opportunity to these drivers they wouldn't get otherwise. We found a mutual benefit to join forces with Performance Friction Brakes in combining our efforts to find young, talented drivers and help give them the chance they deserve," stated Derrick Walker, Walker Racing owner. "Performance Friction, who is a premium supplier to the racing world and the exclusive supplier of brake products to Champ Car, Atlantic and Star Mazda series, wants to lend their assistance in helping these young drivers find a way through the various series in open wheel racing. I'm glad to be apart of it and to help make a difference in these young drivers careers. We will test some of these drivers, with the hope that we can find a way to create a program with them to race into Atlantic and make the jump from Star Mazda into Atlantic and to be apart of the Mazda family of racing."

Each year more gifted drivers surface, but don't have the resources to pursue their dreams of racing any further until now. Luckily organizations like Mazda and Performance Friction Brakes are making tremendous efforts to do their part in helping these drivers succeed by offering a ladder program such as the Star Mazda Series, Formula Atlantic and the Champ Car World Series and creating opportunities for them to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Walker Racing and Performance Friction Brakes will begin testing potential drivers for the 2008 season. For more updates on the team please visit www.walkerracing.com.

-credit: wr