UK: Team AKA, Cobra Racing join forces

Team AKA and Cobra Racing join forces to create "AKA Cobra"

Formula Renault frontrunners, Team AKA, are delighted to announce the formation of "AKA Cobra" after joining forces with the Cobra Group, via its subsidiary, Cobra Racing.

Team AKA has been run successfully for the past two seasons by Andrew Kirkaldy and Paul Jackson. The new joint venture with Cobra Racing will take "AKA Cobra" to the next level and create a formidable team within the Formula Renault paddock.

Cobra Racing founder, Chris Niarchos, as well as being a busy company chairman, races a Ferrari 430 for Scuderia Ecosse, and won the last FIA GT race of 2006 in Dubai recently. He is used to racing against Andrew Kirkaldy -- albeit within the same team -- so knows how competitive the Scot can be.

"This was the perfect opportunity to get more involved in motorsport, especially at a level where we can really make a difference," said Niarchos. I've known Andrew for a long time and I know he puts heart and soul into this team and I know through experience how focussed he is! He and Paul run a very slick team so with their motorsport experience and Cobra's commercial strength; I think the other teams will be keeping an eye on us!"

"I've never met anyone with more enthusiasm for this sport than Chris", said Kirkaldy. "I think Formula Renault is now the best feeder series for Formula 3 so being involved at this level, at this time, is very rewarding. Chris' marketing expertise is incredible and his ability to motivate people is unsurpassed so, together, we can make "AKA Cobra" the strongest team out there, without a doubt."

The 2007 Formula Renault season starts at Brands Hatch in the spring, but the "AKA Cobra" team will be on-track again soon to continue with winter testing.

-credit: aka cobra