Champ Car eyes two trips to Europe

UPDATE #5 We are now hearing that Champ Car will probably not add two more races in Europe next year because the right promoters have yet to be found, promoters Champ Car believes can succeed. That can, however, change between now and September when the 2008 schedule is expected to be released.

07/28/07 We forgot to mention that we hear the Zolder and Assen races might be split apart with the two new races because Zolder and Assen are in too close proximity to each other to be on back-to-back weekends. So for example, you might see Zolder and Greece in May and Assen and Donington in September (using Greece and Donington as examples until the final venues are determined.).

07/28/07 We are hearing that Donington Park in England is definitely in the running to possibly get a Champ Car event in 2008. The 2.5-mile track, which is under new ownership is getting a facelift (See related Hot News item).

Donington’s parkland setting provides a natural amphitheatre for spectators, and the track's layout – with fast, sweeping curves and undulation changes – makes it challenging for competitors. The race of course would be contingent on Champ Car finding a race to pair it with. You already read our Greece rumors, but other tracks are possible as well.

05/16/07 As we told you in this rumor in March, the man behind Champ Car's return to Europe has again hinted that the overseas leg of the series could see two European swings as early as 2008.

Bart Rietbergen told Crash.net that, having successfully negotiated to bring the series to both Zolder and Assen this summer, talks were underway to have two 'flyaway' sessions in Europe in 2008, with races in the UK and one other country under consideration.

"We are definitely looking further afield for next season and I am, at this moment, talking to two track owners to see if we can bring Champ Car back to England," he confirmed to Crash.net Radio, "I would say it is 90 per cent sure that we will be in England in 2008.

"For next year, we are looking at two races in May and two in September, both back-to-back, as that is basically all the room there is in the calendar. One of the races will definitely be in the UK and the other will either be in Germany or France." [Editor's Note: What about Imola, which lost its F1 race and is not likely to get it back due to a full schedule? And let's not forget about Greece's attempts at a race.]

03/09/07 We spoke to Bart Rietbergen (pictured right talking to Robert Doornbos at Mazda Raceway Friday) about the rumors of four possible races in Europe in 2008. He owns the rights to all the Champ Car races in Europe and he told AutoRacing1.com, "Yes, I would like to do four Champ Car races in Europe," but when pressed for which venues he would only say, "there are many good venues in Europe. I am not going to say right now."

03/06/07 According to AutoRacing1.com sources, Champ Car is considering two trips to Europe in the future (as of '08), one in the spring with 2 races in May, one probably being Athens, Greece, and one trip in September – Assen plus Zolder (Zolder if successful in 2007).