FA: Hall signs with Transnet.

Charles Hall has become the latest addition to the rapidly filling Champ Car Atlantic field, having inked a deal to race for the returning Transnet Racing team in 2006.

The Briton, who has made a name for himself contesting various junior single-seater series in the USA but has not seen his career progress as planned, will drive the #16 car with sponsorship from Accent Cards International and OmniSource Corporation.

Hall won races in the British F3, Formula Opel and UK Formula Renault Championships between 2000-03, before crossing the Atlantic and winning the Fran-Am Winter Championship and finishing as runner-up to 2005 Champ Car rookie Andrew Ranger in the FRenault 2000 Pro Series. That same year, he also had a one-off outing in the Renault V6 Championship at Monaco - qualifying third on the grid and running second before a puncture ended his race.

His career was put on hold by a road accident in 2005. Having agreed to drive with iSport International in the first year of the GP2 Championship, he was the victim of a drunk driver, the accident leaving him with leg injuries which prevented him from taking his seat.

"Having undertaken a full day test with the team, I am more than happy with the way in which everybody calmly and professionally allowed me to have a faultless day's testing," he explained, "I feel ready to re start my career and believe that with the expertise that Alex Garcia and his team undoubtedly bring, we will be championship contenders.

"It has been a long road back but, with the advent of the new Atlantic Championship, and the fantastic prize fund, I have a clear goal to aim for. All being equal, I will now be able to re-start my career where I left off at the end of 2003."

Team owner Garcia, a driver in the Atlantic Series until two years ago, intends to field two entries this year, and makes Hall his first signing.

"Charles was highly recommended by a friend of Transnet who had worked with him in the past," Garcia explained, "I invited him to test one of our Swift 014s; and to spend a few days at the shop with the team. Charles was great to work with and, from the moment he came to the shop, it was clear to me that he would fit right into our team environment. He impressed all of us during his test with great speed and good solid feedback to our engineers."