June 17, 2004
Champ Car Aspirations
Michael Valiante, the most recent graduate of the prestigious Lynx Racing driver development program, is on the verge of making the jump into auto racing's 'major leagues' – the Champ Car World Series.
Having already tested successfully with two top Champ Car teams, Valiante is working on putting a program in place that will see him competing in the July 25 Molson Indy Vancouver event, and beyond.
For the last two years, Michael has been the red hot 'phenom' in the Toyota Atlantic Championship - auto racing's equivalent of AAA-baseball. Competing against much more highly-funded teams, he won 25% of the events, finished in the top-3 50% of the time and completed every lap of every race he started.
In doing so, Michael has earned the praise of experienced observers who do not give it lightly; after closely watching Valiante's on- and off-track talents develop, veteran Champ Car team owner and noted talent spotter Derrick Walker called the 23 year-old Canadian "… one of the best young talents I've seen."
And Walker should know; Michael was scheduled to make his debut as a Champ Car driver with the Walker Racing team at the end of the 2003 season, but the event was cancelled due to disastrous wildfires in the area.
Instead, Michael found himself participating in a comprehensive two-day Champ Car test organized by Walker Racing. The format pitted Michael against Formula One driver Timo Glock (who made his F1 debut with the Jordan Grand Prix team at the Canadian Grand Prix) and two veteran Atlantic drivers, Ryan Dalziel and Jonathan Macri. Michael consistently turned the fastest laps and won every talent category in the evaluation.
Michael followed this up by testing with the new RuSport team, his technical input proving extremely valuable in aiding this championship-winning Atlantic team in their transition to competing in the Champ Car World Series.
"Champ Car is one of the top open-wheel racing series in the world today, and it has been my goal since the day I started racing," says Valiante. "It takes a special set of skills and talents to become a champion at this level of racing; you have to be fast on track, good with the media and able to deal with corporate executives. My time in the Lynx Racing 'finishing school' has honed my abilities to the point where I can be an immediate asset to any Champ Car team, and I've been talking to a wide range of Canadian companies about putting together a sponsorship package that would secure me a place at a top team. I am working on getting sponsorship for my home event in Vancouver, and I'm always happy to speak with any company interested in exploring the tremendous potential of a motorsports marketing program built around involvement in the Champ Car World Series."