PAC: Atlantic RT names Aditya Patel as first driver

With pride Atlantic Racing Team (ART) of Halifax, Canada announced today the first of their two Formula BMW Pacific series drivers for the 2009 season.

Aditya Patel, the 20 year old Indian commerce student from Chennai now in his second year with FBMW, received much attention during the 2008 season while driving for Team Eurasia while showing lots of potential. Some misfortunes did not help his final standings in 2009. Instrumental in the decision to join Atlantic Racing Team were the facts that ART worked continuously with him and his financial advisors to receive the needed funding for 2009.

"In regards to Aditya's near future we are certain that we will improve Aditya's racing experience and career in this highly regarded formula series. If not alone for the simple reason that he has now more experience, giving him advantages over most of the competition; hard physical pre-season training allows him now to overcome fatigue easier, especially during the brunt of the summer races. Our objectives are very clear and defined -- Aditya will be a front runner and primed for winning as many races for us as he can," says Ingo Strackerjan, Team Manager for ART, and continuous; "with most of the young drivers in a one-car-spec series, much comes down to driver/team attitudes. As we had shown last year with 14 year old Chaves, proper racing spirits can overcome many "hurdles". We do not believe in a light hearted approach in racing. We do our job and the driver has to do his; both with the same goal -- winning! For many yet unknown reasons this will be at times not possible but temporary results and set backs will not distract us from ultimate goals. Aditya is part of the team, not just a driver. We watched Adiya's progress last year while in direct competition against him -- this will now help Lucas Strackerjan, ART's Race Engineer, to guide him in the right direction. We are tremendously proud having for the first time a driver from Asia in our team, after drivers from Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Columbia, Canada and the USA."

Atlantic Racing Team has one car available for the 2009 FBMW Pacific season. Two additional cars are arriving from Canada in Kuala Lumpur shortly in time for the first test and race weekend, forming part of the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix.

"It becomes vital for any team these days to have at least two drivers. Constant increases in shipping costs for cars and equipment in containers and travel expenses are becoming a real concerns for teams. We are trying to stay within the FBMW proposed budget but nobody in the series can control these costs. Therefore it is so instrumental for a young driver receiving proper funding, working with people who have a sound understanding of the real costs of motorsport, not for only one season.

Aditya Patel's car has been partially funded and sponsored by JK Tyre,Amaron, Speed, MAS Holdings and AJ Worldwide..... and we thank these folks for believing in him becoming a world class driver" elaborates Ingo on the subject of finances; "I suggest to any young driver and parent that one-shot-deal-seasons is not practical if that is what they can afford, even with talent. It sounds cruel to say that, especially when the kid is progressing well in karting and his/her hopes are stirred up. But reality is cruel at times and racing is no exception!

Talented drivers are plenty out there -- the ones making it to the top have a well thought out plan, surrounded by people with knowledge, willing to help and speculate on some ROI.

Not meaning youngsters should not try out if they have talent. The Formula BMW School, held every year, is one way. Not only will they receive excellent introduction in Motorsport but also instruction and coaching with the opportunity, if selected, to become a Formula BMW Junior driver with partial funding provided by BMW Motorsport. All information can be found on one of the BMW Motorsport websites -- www.afos.com or www.formulabmwusa.com."

-credit: art