Following a strong finish to the 2006 Atlantic season, PR1 Motorsports announced today that it will compete in the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda with returning drivers Jonathan Bomarito and Mike Forest.
Bomarito gave the Fresno, California-based team its first Atlantic victory in the ’06 season finale at Road America and the squad returns to series action this season looking to build on its momentum. A native of Monterey, California, the 25-year-old Bomarito started all 12 races for the PR1 team last season, scoring three podium results on his way to finishing sixth in the championship standings. The 2007 season marks Bomarito’s third year in Atlantics and second with PR1 Motorsports, the team that helped guide him to the 2003 Cooper Tires Formula Ford Zetec series championship.
Forest showed promise in an abbreviated rookie season in 2006. He suffered fractured vertebrae in a qualifying accident at the first race of the season at Long Beach and spent the rest of the year rehabilitating from his injuries. The 25-year-old Edmonton, Alberta, Canada racer made three starts last season with a top finish of 10th at Road America. Forest also has a strong history with PR1 as he won the 2005 Pacific F2000 title while racing for the team.
Miracle Sealants returns as the primary sponsor for both cars in 2007. Bomarito will continue to drive the #23 entry with additional sponsorship from Konica Minolta and Dynacor Media Group. Forest will once again be behind the wheel of #32 car with additional sponsorship from Konica Minolta, Dynacor and Earthwater.
“We are happy to have both Jonathan and Mike back on our team this year, †said Bobby Oergel, co-owner of PR1 Motorsports with his wife Lisa. “We feel that having a long-standing relationship with both drivers can only help to build on last year’s success. Miracle Sealants has been a great partner and we’re happy to again be working with them in 2007. â€
Both Bomarito and Forest participated in the first two Atlantic series pre-season open tests and both drivers will be back in action for PR1 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca March 7-8 in the final test session before the start of the season at the Vegas Grand Prix, April 6-8.
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