'09 Atlantic Entry List - Work in Progress

Allan Craighead

With the 2008 edition of the Atlantic Championship now completed, many drivers and teams have already begun planning for 36th season of series competition. While details about the upcoming season are still being worked out, the Atlantic championship will likely feature many of the top up-and-coming drivers going head-to-head. Below is the tentative entry list that we will keep updated through the winter, complete with the status of what we are hearing on the streets.

Condor Motorsports
Seat #1 - Max Lefèvre (confirmed)
Seat #2 - Borja Garcia (confirmed)

Conquest Racing
Seat #1 - Harald Schlegelmilch (confirmed for Sebring)
Seat #2 - James Winslow (confirmed for Sebring)
Notes: The 2006 series runner-up, has confirmed it will rejoin the Atlantic Championship in 2009.
- Former F3 and International Masters race winner Harald Schlegelmilch will drive for the team in the season-opener at Sebring.
- Reportedly British driver James Winslow, who won the Australian F3 title last year, has signed with Conquest for the 2009 campaign.

EuroInternational
Seat #1 - TBA
Seat #2 - TBA
Notes:EFCN has learned that EuroInternational has temporary parked its cars as it waits to see how championship does at Sebring.

Forsythe/Pettit Racing
Seat #1 - TBA
Seat #2 - TBA
Notes: While the team has recently begun its sportscar operations, many believe it will be back in 2009 with a two or three-car lineup.
- It now appears that the former race winners will not be taking part in the 2009 campaign.

Gelles Racing
Seat #1 - TBA
Notes: Atlantic Championship Director of Operations John Brunner has informed EFCN that Bob Gelles is intent on field at least one entry in the 2009 championship.

Genoa Racing
Seat #1 - Frederic Vervisch (confirmed for Sebring)
Seat #2 - Jonathan Summerton (confirmed for Sebring)
Notes: Frederic Vervisch, the reigning German and Asian F3 champion, piloted a Genoa Racing car in the PBIR series test. The Belgian has officially been confirmed for Round One in Sebring, with the potential of running the entire season.

Jensen MotorSport
Seat #1 - Michael Nacol (confirmed)
Seat #2 - Matt Lee (confirmed for Sebring)
Notes:
- Former full-time series driver Matt Lee tested with the team at Palm Beach International Raceway.
- Reportedly American Michael Nacol has signed with the team for the 2009 season.
- Lee will drive for the team at Sebring, with the potential of running a full-season.

Mathiasen Motorsports
Seat #1 - Jonathan Bomarito (confirmed)

Newman Wachs Racing
Seat #1 - John Edwards (confirmed)
Seat #2 - Markus Niemela (confirmed)

Paladin Motorsports
Seat #1 - TBA
Seat #2 - TBA
Notes: Currently in talks with an unnamed driver with the goal making it public in the coming weeks.

Polestar Motor Racing
Seat #1 - Tonis Kasemets (confirmed for Sebring)
Notes: Former series race winner Tonis Kasemets will drive for the team at Sebring and potentially the whole season.

Rand-Hall Racing (official team name unknown)
Seat #1 - TBA
Seat #2 - TBA
Notes: This is the team developed when Brooks Associates Racing reportedly sold its cars and equipment to businessman Jamie Rand, who will be starting his own operation in cooperation with British driver Chris Hall.

Swan Racing
Seat #1 - Mirl Swan (confirmed for Sebring)
Seat #2 - Chris Lee (confirmed for Sebring)
Seat #3 - Ahsen Yelkin (confirmed for Sebring)
Seat #4 - Sadt Yelkin (confirmed for Sebring)
Seat #5 - Mike Mallinen (confirmed for Sebring)
Notes: Multiple SCCA Club Racing Formula Atlantic National Champions Swan Racing will reportedly join the series via a multi-car effort in 2009. Team-owner and 2006 National Champion Mirl Swan will act as the lead driver, piloting Swift 014 cars in the revitalized C2 class of the series.

Team Stargate Worlds
Seat #1 - Frankie Muniz (confirmed)
Seat #2 - Simona De Silvestro (confirmed)

Augie Hermenegildo · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

John Edwards tested with us (Mathiasen Motorsports) at Putnam Park over the last two days.
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Rob Howden · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:09 am Post subject:

Allan Craighead · Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:06 am Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Silly Season Update:

Couple things. Turns out we jumped the gun on the Luis Schiavo returning with EuroInternational for a second season. While the Venezuelan would like to contest another season with the team, nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

We've also learned that Carl Skerlong is keeping his options open for 2009 and is scheduled to test an Indy Lights car in the near future.

Cheers,
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:32 am Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Silly Season Update:

EFCN has just heard that 2008 Atlantic rookie standout Dane Cameron is reportedly close to signing a full-time deal with Racers Edge Motorsports to run its Mazda RX-8 in the Grand-Am Rolex Series. While the Californian would likely still be able to do selected open-wheel races if the deal gets done, it appears the likelyhood he will return for a second year of Atlantic competition is gone.

Cheers,
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Silly Season Update:

Quick update directly from Dane Cameron. Yes he has tested with Racers Edge, which went well. He has however not signed with the team. While he'd love to run the Daytona 24HR race, his first goal is still to return to Atlantic and compete for the series title.

Cheers,
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:35 am Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Silly Season Update:

Former series champions Condor Motorsports are the first team to officially announce a driver for 2009. The California-based team will continue its association with European drivers, having signed French race pilot Max Lefèvre. He joins the team following Formula Ford and Formula Renault titles in France and a successful three-day test at Buttonwillow.

Cheers,
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Silly Season Update:

The first big signing for 2009 has occurred, with Star Mazda champion John Edwards joining Newman Wachs Racing. The teenager gets a fully funded season in the series thanks to the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder program. It will mark the second season of Atlantic competition for Edwards, having contested the series in 2007 as part of the Red Bull Junior Team. Of note, Edwards will be reunited with his former engineer Nick Harvey at Newman Wachs Racing, as Harvey recently joined the team after winning Engineer of the Years this past season while working with series champion Markus Niemela.

Cheers,
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Silly Season Update:

Well thought I'd pass on, that as rumored and speculated here, Dane Cameron has signed a full-time deal with Racers edge to run in the Rolex Series. He has however told me that he will would still like to do a few open-wheel races if the opportunity arises in 2009.

Jonathan Bomarito has signed a deal for the Daytona 24 hour race with defending GT class winners Speed Source. While it may lead to more sports car opportunities, he is still looking at running in open-wheel cars in 2009, much like Raphael Matos, who ran with the team at Daytona before contesting and winning the Indy Lights title last year.

Cheers,
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Bob Stream · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 19

Wow!!

2 million for the championship, 50,000 for each race win. As I remember, IRL in 2008 was 1 million for the championship, 35,000 for each race win, plus their 1.2 million for just entering last year.

If this doesn't bring the kids and their dad's checkbook then there is no hope for Atlantics and open wheel racing in this country. Why would anyone race any other series? John Edwards looks like a lock right now.

By thanks to Ben, Vicki, and Mazda.

Bob Stream

Rob Howden · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:53 am Post subject:

Allan Craighead · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Insider:

Following emails and phone conversations with some of the Atlantic team owners and managers, EFCN has learned that one of the other big developments from the recent team owners meeting was the implementation of a franchise type system. If finalized, the system would limit the number of cars/entrants in the series, likely at 22 or 24. Much like GP2 and other series in Europe, a select group of teams will be officially entered at the start of each season and only those teams would be eligible to participate via their two entries. The belief is this would attach some values to the seats in the series, as only a limited number of drivers would take part each year and be eligible for the new significant prize package.

All the team representatives are taking part in a conference call today (February 2nd) to workout the details from the previous meeting and discuss any other pressing issues.

We've also learned that US RaceTronics is back to being a stand-alone outfit, having previously partnered with Champ Car outfit Pacific Coast Motorsports. The team is also very close to finalizing deals with series veteran Frankie Muniz and Simona De Silvestro for the upcoming 2009 season.
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Allan Craighead · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:24 am Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Insider:

In some continued development from the recent team owners meeting, we at EFCN have learned that a follow-up conference call on Tuesday did not go as planned, with some back tracking on the prize fund. That however has since supposedly been worked out, with further discussions scheduled for Wednesday. We'll have more information in the coming few days.

Cheers,
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Bob Stream · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 19

Well;

1 million isn't 2 million, but it isn't 300,000 either. First and second place this year should be able to run rent free. I would like to hear more about the franchise system.

Time is getting short, you boys can't win the million if you don't run Sebring.

Bob Stream

Allan Craighead · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject:

EFCN Atlantic Silly Season Update:

The entry list for the 2009 season has officially grown by two, with confirmation that Simona De Silvestro and Frankie Muniz will be back for another season this year. The duo will drive for Team Stargate Worlds, which is the new name of the US RaceTronics operation in the series.

Cheers,
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