Andreas Wirth will return to the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda in 2008 having signed a deal with Brooks Associates Racing (BAR).
Having endured a full season outside the cockpit in 2007, the 23-year-old is more than a little keen to get back into action.
"It was really disappointing not having a full-time ride in 2007 - especially after having finished third in the Champ Car Atlantic Series in 2006 - but that's just racing," he explained.
"Anyone that follows racing knows there have been a lot of issues in the open wheel series, and unfortunately that means more challenges for guys like me trying to climb the ladder. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not making any excuses. There were a lot of options for 2007 - I had lots of opportunities - but sponsorship is always a key factor."
Furthermore while it may have seemed like Wirth disappeared from the racing scene in 2007, that's far from the truth. Indeed he tested in a number of series and was honoured to be invited by the Champ Car World Series to break the lap record at Circuit Assen.
Having worked hard in last year to build a strong future in motorsport, Wirth is ready to fight again for the title in 2008.
"It's really cool to be back with Brooks, it's very a cool team and the guys that I work with are awesome at what they do. It feels good to be racing for the longest-running team in the Atlantics too," he continued. "I'm sure that can't hurt my odds this year either - that and the number on my car.
"And that's the eight, eight car - not the eighty-eight car. Eight's my lucky number - it was on the car the first time I got a win in the Atlantics - and having the eight, eight this year just means I'll be double lucky!"
