Dillon Battistini is the 2007 Asian Pacific F3 Champion, winning the series in fine style with races in China, Australia and Indonesia.
It will be the Briton’s first test of a Champ Car after being invited to drive for the experienced team by owners Keith Wiggins and Paul Stoddart.
Minardi Team USA based in Indianapolis, Indiana competed in the 2007 Champ Car World Series with Robert Doornbos and Dan Clarke and clocked up several impressive results. The team has earned 6 wins, 2 pole positions and an additional 16 podiums in its 7 years of competition in the Champ Car World Series. In 2007, its first year under the Minardi Team USA banner, the team finished 3rd in Championship standings and driver Robert Doornbos was named Rookie of the Year.
Dillon Battistini has won five times in the Asian Pacific F3 Championship this year, scoring wins at the prestigious F1 support races in Melbourne and Zhuhai in China. Despite enduring misfortune in Sentul, Indonesia he managed to wrap up the Championship at the last race in Zhuhai China.
Dillon has been supported by a number of private backers for the duration of the 2006 and 2007 seasons and after several years of competition in Formula 3 the time has come to look towards a big step up in category for the new racing year.
”After a few years in F3, I am looking to progress to something different for next season so I am excited about the potential that this test has for my career,” he enthused.
"This is a very exciting opportunity for me. Champ Car is obviously a step up from what I have been doing for the last couple of seasons but, despite my successes in F3, I didn’t expect to be given the chance to test a DP01 Champ Car quite so soon.
”I am very grateful to my backers and Asian Formula 3 for giving me the chance to run at Sebring and I hope to do a good job for them in return for their faith in me.”
”Minardi Team USA is a front runner in Champ Car, Keith Wiggins and Paul Stoddart run a great team with two wins and five other podiums in 2007 showing just what the team can achieve. I’m looking forward to and honoured to be joining them at Sebring,” Battistini said.
"I know Sebring is famous for its bumps and for being fast,” he added. “But I have proved I’m a fast learner and I hope to show that next week."
The two day test will be run over the 3rd and 4th December at the circuit in Florida.
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