2007 ROTAX EURO CHALLENGE

BIREL AND ITS TEAMS ARE AIMING FOR VICTORY

ON THE STARTING LINE ALSO THE TEAMS GKS (BELGIUM), PAAUWER (HOLLAND), ACR, SIMPSON (ENGLAND) AND KART SHOPPE (SOUTH AFRICA).

Birel’s plans within the increasingly more interesting European championship of the Rotax Trophy are being defined. The manufacturer from Lissone has already announced the direct involvement of its manager Mike Wilson in each of the four races and has also just defined a series of excellent presences in terms of external teams. Among others, Paul Lammens’ Belgian team GKS, the English team Simpson supported by Acr, the Dutch team Paauwer Racing and Birel’s South African importer Kart Shoppe will also be on the track with their drivers. As well as the mentioned top teams, other entities linked to Birel have confirmed their presence for the whole duration of the championship, thus guaranteeing a prominent role for Birel’s colours also on the sidelines of the Cik races. The management of the company from Lissone deems supporting the Rotax Trophy to be one of the strategic activities for 2007; through work and the presence on the track of Mike Wilson and the external teams, the company aims at achieving prestigious results, thus sensibly expanding its presence in this market segment. Mike Wilson agrees: ‘we have been testing technical solutions which are well suited to both the tyres and to the engines used in this Trophy, whereas our external teams involved in the operation boast an excellent curriculum and international experience: I am sure that we will be able to stand out. Also, thanks to our improved organisation will have the chance to assess further co-operation with other teams which follow this categories’ To date the names of the drivers confirmed by Birel’s team are first-rate. During the last few weeks Acr (Birel Importer for England) and Ronni Sala (Chairman of Birel Motorsport) have introduced Mike Simpson who, with the team managed by his father with the technical support of Acr, will be one of the main drivers of the numerous group of English drivers in the Senior category. The Belgian team GKS on the other hand has confirmed the presence of the experienced and fast Frijins in the Senior category, whereas in the Junior category Rick Huiskens will be defending the colours of the Belgian team. The team of the South African Kart Shoppe boasts a prestigious curriculum in the Rotax races (having conquered the World Final three seasons ago) and, as far as the continental series is concerned, it will avail itself of Leeroy Poulter in the DD2 category, Matthew Hotges in the Max Challenge, Axcil Jefferies in the Junior Max and the new acquisition John Van Wyk in the Max Masters series. The Dutch team Paauwer Racing will, on the other hand avail itself of two ladies in the Junior category (Giovanna Boontjes and Vera Paauwe), whereas in the Senior it will rely on Nick Van klinken and Jasper van der Made. The European Series will start on 25th March in France, on the track of Salbris, will then continue on 20th May in Germany (Wackersdorf), on 29th July in Austria (A1 Speedworld) and it will conclude on 30th September at Genk in Belgium (place of residence of the GKS team).