Champ Car World Series bosses have admitted that it is a blow to see reigning Champ Car Atlantic champion Rafael Matos heading for the rival Indy Pro Series next season, after the Brazilian failed to land a satisfactory deal to step up.
Matos had hoped to take the $2m prize fund earned for his Atlantic success to a front-running team for 2008 but, when nothing came of his discussions, opted to head for the apparently greener pastures of the IndyCar circus, eschewing the financial support offered to him.
"We are disappointed that Rafa will not be in Champ Car next season," CCWS CEO Steve Johnson admitted to
Crash.net, "The $2 million goes specifically toward a Champ Car ride, but Rafa and his agent could not come to a business agreement with any of our teams, despite all of our collective efforts to make it happen.
"The programme worked well the prior year when Simon [Pagenaud] was able to secure his business agreement with Derrick Walker. We will re-evaluate the programme and structure accordingly for the future."
Matos' decision to defect to 'the other side' is being seen by many as more than 'a disappointment', however, and, if all the rumours are to be believed, is symptomatic of a series that continues to lurch from one season to another. Online noticeboards abound with speculation that teams, instead of adding third cars, may instead be slimming down to single entries and, only days before Matos put pen to paper at Andretti Green Racing, respected race director Tony Cotman joined the exodus of senior staff from Champ Car offices.
