Hi everyone:
The following is a pretty tasty story from Robin Miller regarding Kevin Kalkhoven's recent recon to the far east. Have a look.
While we wonder which drivers and teams will fill out the 2005 roster, one of Open Wheel Racing Series’ principals spent the past few days on the other side of the world working on Champ Car’s future.
In eight days Kevin Kalkhoven visited Korea, China and Japan and returned positive that Champ Car can be a hit in all three countries within the next couple years.
“We had solid expectations going over there and they were more than fulfilled,” said Kalkhoven following the whirlwind trip in his trusty Gulfstream 5.
“It was very, very encouraging.”
The Far East Tour began in Korea, where Champ Car’s next-to-last race of ’05 will be staged in Seoul in October.
“They had the ground breaking for the road course we’ll be running on and there were 1,000 officials in attendance,” said Kalkhoven. “It was just unbelievable and they are so enthusiastic. We’ve got the support of the city and national government.
“They have no big national events until 2012 and we’re going to be their next big sporting event.” From there, Air Kalkhoven flew to the capitol of China.
“I was blown away by Beijing,” he admitted. “It’s a gorgeous city with huge, modern buildings, wonderful landscaping and big traffic jams. It makes downtown Dallas look puny.
“We were greeted by the Beijing State Asset Management Company and they were very enthusiastic. Shanghai has a track for Formula One and Beijing wants a race of its own. They like Americans and they like the idea of marketing their products in the USA through us.
“I left confident we’ll have a race there in 2006.”
The final stop was Hokkaido – the northern island of Japan.
“They would very much like a race too,” said Kalkhoven, whose presentations to each country were shown on DVDs narrated by Paul Newman in Korean, Chinese and Japanese.
Asked if having a driver of each nationality was in the works, Kalkhoven replied: “Yes. For example, I think we’d like to provide training for Korean drivers through Formula Atlantics into Champ Car with Korean sponsors.
“Our eventual goal would be to have a Team China, a Team Koren and a Team Japan competing in Champ Car.”
Kalkhoven, who is putting a Champ Car office in the Far East, has said for the past two years that the Pacific Rim is a key to putting Champ Car back on the map, so to speak.
“We’re going to places that want to see us and that will pay some big sanction fees,” he said. “And I see the development of national teams to give these country’s spectators something to cheer about.”
But the first order of business is showing his potential partners what Champ Car looks like up close.
“We’re bringing 60 officials from Korea, China and Japan to Long Beach next month,” said Kalkhoven. “We want them to see what we’re all about.”
In another development we've been waiting for, Ryan-Hunter Reay signed with Rocketsports today, and Newman/Haas is rumoured to announce a new sponsor soon. LB is only a month away!
JHS
