Derrick Walker and Chuck West, owners of Walker Racing and World Speed Motorsports, respectively, today announced the formation of a Walker Racing “junior” entry for the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship series. While the driver will be announced at the Grand Prix of Miami next weekend, the car will operate under the Walker/World Speed banner as part of the World Speed Motorsports Atlantic team, and share the look of the Walker Racing Champ Car as driven by Shinji Nakano in the 2000 CART FedEx Championship series.
The alliance, a joint effort between Walker and West, comes in response to their mutual desire to provide a direct link for furthering the development of new talent, beginning with karting and progressing through Star Formula Mazda, Atlantic and, ultimately, Champ Car. “Chuck and I started talking and realized that we could cooperate in many ways to our mutual benefit,” said Walker. “We’re always looking for up-and-coming talent and, strategically, our unification covers a lot of inventory over the whole base of open-wheel road racing. Joining with World Speed and becoming a part of CART’s feeder series provides us with a proven platform to promote from within as well as expand our reach across the board, not only in terms of prospective drivers, but also for mechanics and engineers as well. Naturally, our goal for Atlantic is to be as successful as possible in what is a very well run, competitive series.”
As part of the alliance, the junior team driver will participate in a CART rookie test in Walker’s Champ Car, provided a competitive level of skill has been demonstrated throughout the Atlantic season. “Derrick runs what is unquestionably one of the finest organizations in professional racing,” said West. “I was attracted to Walker Racing not only because of their outstanding reputation, but also because this alliance completes our ladder system and positions us within the Champ Car family. Derrick presented us with the opportunity to share our resources, and by working together, we both will benefit on many levels. It’s a terrific relationship to further our driver development program, expand our Atlantic operations, and provide some exciting strategic marketing alliances.”
The Walker/World Speed ladder system begins at the karting level, where a national 125cc shifter kart champion will receive a test in a World Speed Star Formula Mazda Pro Series car. The winner of the eight-race Star Formula Mazda Best Western Championship earns a test in the Walker Junior/World Speed Atlantic car, while the driver of the team’s Atlantic car will be eligible for a test in a Walker Racing Champ Car.
Walker Racing, of Indianapolis, Indiana, recently announced the signing of FIA Formula One veteran Shinji Nakano to pilot the team’s Honda-powered Reynard in the 2000 CART FedEx Championship. In addition, Walker will enter 19-year-old Ohio midget racing standout Sarah Fisher in selected 2000 Indy Racing League events, including the Indianapolis 500. For 1999, Walker Racing captured one win (Portland, Oregon) and two poles (Motegi, Japan and Toronto, Canada) en route to eighth overall in the CART FedEx Championship series with driver Gil de Ferran. Derrick Walker’s professional racing accomplishments include five Indy 500 wins, five CART championships, 33 CART victories and five Formula One wins.
Based in Palm Springs, California, World Speed Motorsports operates multi-car programs in CART’s Toyota Atlantic Championship, as well as the Star Formula Mazda Pro Series. Founded in 1991, World Speed has captured six Formula Mazda championship and five pro series Rookie-of-the-Year titles since its inception. On the Atlantic side, the team maintains the overall Atlantic qualifying track record at Homestead Motorsports Complex, near Miami, Florida, set in 1997 with West behind the wheel. Most recently, World Speed campaigned French-born Brazilian Nicolas Rondet in 1999, capturing a podium finish at Trois-Rivieres, fastest race lap at Long Beach, and averaging a top five running position at every race.
Further information regarding the Walker/World Speed Atlantic program including driver and sponsorship news will be released next week. The 12-race 2000 CART Toyota Atlantic Championship season begins with a double-header at Miami-Homestead Speedway near Miami, Florida, on March 25-26, part of the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami CART FedEx Championship weekend.