Kolby gunning for American glory.

Kristian Kolby is moving across the Atlantic to race in the 2001 Indy lights Championship, it was announced late on Friday.

The English-domiciled Dane has signed with top team Conquest Racing, which has been a consistent frontrunner in the championship for the past three seasons with Brazilian Felipe Giaffone. Kolby will be teaming up with Brazilian driver, Nilton Rossoni, the 2000 Barber Dodge champion, and together the pair are aiming to secure glory for the Belgian-owned Conquest team.

Kolby, who encountered a difficult rookie season in Formula 3000 last year with the French DAMS team, is hoping to find success across the pond. He was the 1996 Formula Ford champion and a Formula Three race winner and a frequent podium finisher in all other Championships in which he has competed.

Conquest Racing finished third last season in the drivers' championship and netted one victory and several pole positions. The team is owned by former Belgian Indy 500 racer, Eric Bachelart, who is confident that he has a good chance of securing the championship with the young Danish driver.

"I am very happy to have signed Kristian as he has proven that he has the capability of securing titles, and that is what we will be expecting," he said, "It will be Kristian?s rookie year which will be hard, especially on the ovals, but we have an extensive testing and development programme which will help him immensely and it will also help us providing him with the equipment he needs to secure success."

Testing will start at Button Willow at the end of January and Kolby is full of confidence for the forthcoming season.

"Conquest Racing has proved before that they can win races. Now I hope to make them say that they can win the drivers' championship as well." the Dane commented, "I am not moving to the States to take it easy and learn because whatever I do I want success, and Conquest Racing is a first class organisation who presented me with the best opportunity to achieve my ambitions.'

Champcars will be Kolby?s eventual goal and he is already in contact with teams about the possibilities of testing duties. Firstly though, he has to concentrate on success in Indy Lights, so he can establish his name in the series and become a hot property name for the CART team bosses.