Conquest Racing Atlantic Team ready to attack final test

With the first round of qualifying for the Vegas Grand Prix taking place in exactly one month, the Conquest Racing Atlantic Team is well aware of the importance of the final pre-season open test of the season which gets underway tomorrow at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Matt Lee and Giacomo Ricci will be behind the wheel of their #44 and #18 Mazda-Cosworth/Swift/Cooper Atlantic cars logging miles on the 2.238 mile road course.

With no testing between this open test and the start of the Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season in April, American Matt Lee is looking to this two-day test as a final preparation for the season opener; a season-opener that, according to the drivers, can’t get here soon enough.

“I’m looking forward to this test because it means that the next time we get in our cars it will be for the first race of the season and I can’t wait for that," said 17-year-old rookie Matt Lee. “Of course testing is always important and I think this test is a little more important than the others because it will be our last chance to work out all the little things that are left and we want to end the test knowing that we are more than prepared for Vegas."

Italian Giacomo Ricci, who signed on with the team prior to the second open test of the season, agrees with his teammate that its time to go racing but he is also conscious that one final pre-season open test can do no harm.

“I think we need all the testing we can get. I can’t wait for the first race but having missed out on the first open test, it is important that I get a lot of track time before Vegas," expressed Ricci. “The test will help us not only be ready for the first race of the season, but with the first three races being back to back, if you are not well prepared you can quickly fall back in the standings, which is why we must take advantage of all the track time we can."

The Champ Car Atlantic cars will be on track Wednesday and Thursday starting at 8:30 a.m. pacific time and testing for both days will end at 5:00 p.m. pacific time.