Halliday back with Conquest

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. New Zealand racing driver Matt Halliday has confirmed his program for the remainder of the 2007 Champ Car World Series in which he has already contested the first three rounds. Halliday was originally signed to a three race contract with top USA based organization, Conquest Racing with sponsorship from high profile New Zealand Vodka company, 42 BELOW.

With the original contract being sealed in a last minute deal, the opening three races proved to be a baptism of fire for Halliday who suffered a lack of preparation time leading into the opening races of the Series. However, he still made a good impression and will now be entered in the final five races of the Series.

Halliday's long term sponsors, 42 BELOW, will again be involved as he looks forward to capitalizing on this year's racing experience to put together a full Champ Car campaign for 2008:

"It is a shame that we can't complete the whole season but on the other hand we will be in a better situation going into the last five races as the opportunity gives us the chance to have some great results to end the year. As far as I'm concerned these will also be some of the best races of the Series, especially the Australian round, as I'm sure we can put the 42 car up the front.

"Eric Bachelart, Champ Car and my sponsors 42 BELOW Vodka, have been great in making the initial deal happen. I'm sure that along with some strong results, we have a good chance of doing the full Champ Car season next year" said Halliday from Los Angeles earlier today.

Conquest Racing Team Principal, Eric Bachelart, is equally enthusiastic about retaining Halliday's services:

"We have been working hard to raise extra funding to allow Matt to compete for the rest of the season but we ran out of time. We have mutually decided to focus on racing together for the last five races of the season. Matt has been great to work with and we will do whatever we can to enter a second car to finish the season with Matt alongside Jan Heylen with the goal of doing the whole 2008 Champ Car World Series together" he declared from the team base in Indianapolis.

The first of the final five Champ Car World Series races for 2007 will be held at Heusden-Zolder (Belgium) on August 26th, followed by Assen (Holland) on September 2nd; Surfers Paradise (Australia) on October 21st; Mexico City (Mexico) on November 11th and Phoenix, Arizona (USA) on December 2nd.

06/06/07 According to AutoRacing1.com sources, look for Matt Halliday to be back with Conquest Racing with a better sponsorship package for the team for the last 4 or 5 Champ Car races. From this one would assume that could mean Conquest would be back to a 2-car team and he would return for the Assen race.