Damien Faulkner has opted to race in the US next year in preference to the European F3000 drive the Donegal man had on offer through his European Formula Palmer Audi championship win earlier this year.
Although F3000 is widely seen as the feeder route into Formula One, Faulkner opted out of the series as top-line drives in the series dried up. Instead the Moville driver crossed the Atlantic where, after testing for several teams, he signed with Indy Lights series team Dorricott Racing on Tuesday.
Indy Lights offers the 24-yearold driver a similar prospect as F3000, the series being viewed as a feeder into the lucrative and prestigious US CART series, which has, in recent years, played host to such F1 drivers as Juan Pablo Montoya and Alessandro Zanardi.
Montoya was crowned CART champion in 1999 and this year also won the Indianapolis 500 before making a move to Williams for the 2001 F1 season.
Faulkner will form part of a three-car Dorricott entry in the Lights series and will team up with Californian drivers Townsend Bell and Jon Fogarty for the championship challenge.
"I have always stated that I want to win races and challenge for a championship when I step up to the next level in 2001," said Faulkner, who wrapped up the Formula Palmer Audi championship in some style at Magny Cours in September of this year. "I had an option in F3000 but as soon as I arrived at the Dorricott workshop and tested the car the decision was easy. I enjoyed testing both types of cars this off-season but in the end I felt that driving for Dorricott Racing in Indy Lights would provide the best career advancing opportunities."
"I'm very excited about racing with this team. Dorricott Racing is very professional and totally committed to achieving the highest grade. I obviously have much to learn with all the circuits being new to me, but the super speedways will be interesting.
"I've had an excellent training school in Formula Palmer Audi and I thank Jonathan Palmer for that. Now I am looking forward to winter testing in the California sunshine. My experience on this side of the Atlantic has been superb so far but the real exams begin in March. I'll work hard to be ready but I can't wait."
Faulkner now travels to California where he will take part in the team's winter testing programme ahead of the series' first race, the Monterrey Grand Prix in Mexico on March 11th.
Bob Dorricott welcomed Faulkner to his team saying: "I was very impressed by Damien's ability to quickly adapt to the Lights car power and weight. He has the tools and talent to make an immediate impact besides being a great addition to the team."
