Conquest Atlantic team ready for Sebring test

The first open test of the season for the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda gets underway tomorrow at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida and the Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Atlantic Team is eager to measure itself to this year’s competition as well as continue its 2007 pre-season testing program with drivers Matt Lee and Patrick Hogan at the first of three two-day series tests being held before the start of the season in Las Vegas in April.

Formula BMW USA graduate Matt Lee, who will be making his Atlantic debut this season with Mi-Jack Conquest, has participated in six days of testing with the Atlantic squad. However, the senior at Syosset High School, says he, like the rest of the team, is looking forward to this test in particular.

“At our previous tests, there were only a few teams testing at the same time as us, but now with all the teams at the open test in Sebring, I’m anxious to see how I compare to the other drivers," expressed Lee. “I know that I still have a lot to learn and being able to see where I stand in the field can only help my progression in this series."

While the 17-year-old rookie continues his development behind the wheel of the #44 Conquest car during the two-day test, preparing himself for the season opener, the second-year Atlantic team will be testing Irishman Patrick “Paddy" Hogan in its second car on the Sebring road course.

Dublin-born Hogan competed in his third season of the Formula Renault UK Series in 2006, compiling 14 podiums in 20 starts, including six wins and five pole positions on his way to a runner-up finish in the Championship. Hogan, a recipient of Motorsport Ireland’s Young Racing Driver of the Year award, previously tested the Champ Car Atlantic Swift 016.a car of Forsythe Championship Racing as well as the one of Brooks Associates Racing at the end of last year.

“We’re happy to have Patrick with us for this test. He has proved himself in the Formula Renault Series and having him in the Atlantic car will give us the opportunity to furthermore evaluate his skills," explained Eric Bachelart, co-owner of the Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Team. “As for Matt, we’ve been hard at work with him since December and he has done very well. He has shown a nice progression since his first test with us and this will be another important step in his development in the Series as well as towards his preparation for the start of the season."

The Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Atlantic Team will hit the track tomorrow morning at nine o’clock for the first half of the two-day test on the 1.65-mile Sebring road course. Mi-Jack Conquest Racing