GROUNDBREAKING FEMALE DRIVER KATHERINE LEGGE
TO RACE IN GRAND PRIX OF HOUSTON PKV Racing signs rising star to become first woman driver to race full-time in
Champ Car World Series Competition
HOUSTON, Feb. 15, 2006 – Champ Car announced that Katherine Legge will become the first woman to compete full-time in the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford in 2006, meaning she will race in the Grand Prix of Houston, taking place May 11 – 13 at Reliant Park.
After completing a record-setting campaign in 2005 where Legge became the first woman to ever win a major open-wheel race in the United States, the young Brit is preparing to reach even greater heights as she takes over as one of the drivers for the two-car PKV Racing team. Legge won three Champ Car Atlantic events on her way to securing third place in the 2005 championship – both landmark accomplishments for female drivers in a U.S. open-wheel series.
“I am extremely proud to become a part of the PKV Racing Team,” Legge said. “It is a great honor to work with people like Jimmy Vasser, Jim McGee and all the members of the team. I want to especially thank Mr. Kalkhoven, Dan Pettit and Jimmy for giving me this opportunity. I know that it will be a challenge to make the transition form Atlantics to Champ Cars. The Champ Car World Series is the most competitive series in the world and I am looking forward to the journey.”
Legge followed up her milestone season by taking each and every opportunity to test different race cars during the offseason. Legge ran in three separate Champ Car test sessions at Sebring, piloted a Formula 1 car in a Minardi test and also ran a A1GP car under the watchful eye of British racing great John Surtees.
“Katherine did a fantastic job last year in Atlantics and has been impressive in her tests this off-season,” said PKV Racing co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. “Based on her Atlantic results, her Champ Car tests and frankly, her Formula 1 test, we believe Katherine is ready to make the jump to Champ Cars. We recognize that, as with any young driver, there is a large learning curve in making the jump from Atlantics to Champ Cars, but we are firm in our conviction that Katherine’s skill and determination will be up to the task. The 2006 season will be a learning and developmental year for Katherine, however, we are confident that she will continue to grow and improve as a driver, which will make her very competitive in 2007 when there will be a new Champ Car chassis.”
The native of Northampton, England will be the first woman to race in North America’s top open-wheel racing series since Lyn St. James competed at Michigan in 1995. She will be the first woman to ever attempt a full-season run in the Champ Cars, with St. James’ six events in 1993 serving as the series’ high-water mark for races in a season by a woman.
"We watched Katherine become one of the rising stars in all of racing last year, and are very excited about her prospects for success in Champ Car," said Champ Car President Steve Johnson. "Today's announcement is significant not only for Champ Car, but for all forms of motorsport and we look forward to Katherine competing in the series for many years to come."
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About the Grand Prix of Houston
The Grand Prix of Houston will take place May 11 – 13 at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. The event will feature an unprecedented combination of racing and activities, highlighted by world-class events from American Le Mans Series and Champ Car. The Grand Prix of Houston will be held on a temporary 1.7 mile street course and will be contested under the lights of Reliant Park, making the event Champ Car’s first-ever night time street race. In addition to the high-speed thrills of world-class racing, a wide variety of entertainment and activities is being scheduled for people of all ages to create a spectacular three days and nights of speed and entertainment. Tickets are available online at grandprixofhouston.com or ticketmaster.com, by phone at 713.629.3700, in person at the Reliant Stadium South Box Office, and at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers including Houston-area locations of Foley’s, Fiesta, and Wherehouse Music.
The Grand Prix of Houston
1111 Bagby, Suite 1950 | Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: 713-659-RACE | info@grandprixofhouston.com
acrossley@grandprixofhouston.com