As expected, Victory Engineering has completed its World Series by
Renault line-up for 2007 by confirming the signing of American driver Charlie Kimball.
The
F3 Euroseries graduate will line up alongside 2006 rival Giedo van der Garde in all-rookie pairing, after the Dutchman was confirmed by the Italian-based team earlier this week. Kimball has past ties with the Carlin team which helped Victory with engineering support in 2006, and becomes the first American in the World Series since Colin Fleming quit the British squad midway through the 2006 campaign.
The 21-year old joins Victory after a challenging year in the Euroseries, his second at
F3 level after finishing as runner-up to Alvaro Parente in the 2005 British series, but he takes confidence from beating another WS 2007 rival, Sebastian Vettel, at Zandvoort, and claiming two second places, at Barcelona and Le Mans, on his way to finishing eleventh in the championship.
“I'm thrilled to be signing with Victory, as the team proved to be one of the frontrunners last season, and I know this will continue next year," Kimball said, "It's an exciting challenge entering my first season in World Series, but I know that both the team and I will be capable of winning races from the start.”
Despite running two drivers with little but testing experience at World Series level, Victory team manager David Lowe insists that the team can continue to push for success next season.
“We are delighted that Charlie will be joining the team for next season, as he has a great record in other championships and impressed us at the recent World Series tests with his determination and talent," Lowe said, "I think we will have a very strong driver line-up with Charlie and Giedo next year and, as old rivals from the
F3 Euroseries, I'm sure there will be healthy competition between the two which will push the team forward.”