The Walker Racing-run Team Australia Champ Car Atlantic operation has already begin working on the line-up that it hopes will follow in the wheeltracks of 2006 series champion Simon Pagenaud, testing four young hopefuls at MSR Houston.
The first batch of what is expected to be a busy off-season for the team included Formula
BMW USA star Simona de Silvestro, Star Mazda talent Kevin Lacroix, Formula Palmer Audi UK champion Joe Tandy and British F3 National Class stand-out Cristiano Morgado, from South Africa.
Making her mark in Houston was Swiss teenager de Silvestro, the 18-year old coming off of a successful FBMW USA season that saw her record one win, six podiums and eleven top-ten finishes in 14 races, finishing fourth in the championship.
"Testing was great," de Silvestro exclaimed, "The car was quite impressive because there is a lot more horsepower and downforce, which is a lot different from what I'm used to. It took some getting used to the Atlantic car, but I improved a lot in two days and the whole Walker Racing team was very helpful and showed great teamwork. I really had a great time and loved it."
Also jumping aboard the Atlantic car for the first time was 2005 Formula Palmer Audi champion Tandy, the 23-year old Briton looking to the US for a full-time return to racing after sitting out much of 2006. Tandy, whose brother has enjoyed success in this year's FFord series, took to the Atlantic car and continued to get quicker throughout the day.
Lacroix finished second in the Star Mazda championship, despite only making his debut this season, scoring five podiums and eleven top ten finishes in twelve races. The 17-year old Canadian continued on the roll that also saw him travel to the UK to test Canada's A1GP car in the summer, by adjusting quickly to the Atlantic machine.
