Lynx Racing driver Michael Valiante will drive his last race in the 'minor
league' Toyota Atlantic support race at the Grand Prix Americas next weekend,
before moving up to the 'major league' CART Champ Car series in 2004.
After two years as the red hot 'phenom' in the junior series, Valiante's
education is nearly complete. Final exams take the form of the 55-lap CART
Toyota Atlantic race a week on Sunday [28 September], but Valiante is such an
apt pupil that he already knows what team he's going to pitch for when he
graduates - Walker Racing.
After a year of watching the Canadian's talent develop, both on- and off-track,
CART team owner - and noted talent spotter - Derrick Walker has signed him to
drive for the team in 2004, calling the 23-year old 'one of the best young
talents I've seen'.
But, before that happens, there's a pair of big shoes waiting for him to fill in
Miami. Although this will be Valiante's first time at the Bayfront street
circuit, back in 1995 - the last time that Atlantics, or any open-wheel car for
that matter, raced through the streets of Miami - the race was won, from the
pole, by Lynx Racing graduate Patrick Carpentier, who will be returning to Miami
next weekend as a CART veteran with the Player's/Forsythe team.
Antoine L'Estage and his codriver Alan Ockwell of the Yokohama Canada Rally Team won the 2014 edition of the Rallye Defi by winning every stage of the rally.