Herdez Competition announces new team manager.

In support of ongoing efforts to strengthen the structure and competitiveness of the Herdez Competition team, Herdez announced today the appointment of a new Team Manager, Bryan Lambert.

A native of Britain, Lambert, 53, was coaxed out of retirement by Herdez Competition Managing Director Keith Wiggins, with a mandate to upgrade the operational systems and overall team communication for the CART FedEx Championship Series competitor.

Lambert 'retired' in 1999 after a career in motorsports that extended back to 1970. His most recent position was Test Team Manager at Williams F1, a role he held for nine years.

"I think my greatest achievements so far have been related to the consistency of performance over long periods of time at Williams F1," Lambert said. "It's not just about the preparation of the car - structure is really the thing that provides the backbone to a successful team. I felt like I had achieved everything I could at Williams so I retired. I learned to sail and did some things I hadn't had time for while I was working in racing - and quickly became bored! I met Keith (Wiggins) purely by chance at Nazareth last year, which I attended as a guest of an F1 friend, and it occurred to me that there was a huge challenge available to me here. Now, here I am!"

"Bryan is an important addition to our group," said Wiggins. "He brings a management style and wealth of experience which are enhancing elements for our team. We have similar philosophies about team operations and his appointment allows the rest of the management to focus on the expansion of the team for the future, while also refining our attention to detail."

Lambert is aware that adjustments will have to be made on both sides of the equation. "The whole concept of racing is totally different here than in Europe. It's not bad per se, but there's a lot more 'razzamatazz' going on around you here. And of course, the budgets are wildly different to Formula 1. My goal is to help make the team successful. For all of us at Herdez Competition, that means winning races regularly and contending for the championship. And we'd like to grow the team to two entries as soon as possible. I feel I have the support of both Keith and the entire Herdez organization - or I wouldn't be here. We have to get everybody traveling down the same road and focus on doing the little things right, every time."

While excited about the challenges facing him in his career, he is also adjusting to life in the United States. "Frankly, it's a huge change! I lived in a little village with 290 houses about 20 minutes from the race shop. While Indianapolis is quite accessible to a newcomer, it's just so big compared to what I'm used to - so many open spaces!"

Lambert will miss the team's next test in Sebring, Florida (February 20 and 21) in order to get fully settled into his new home and the team's Gasoline Alley race shop but is expected to take up his full complement of duties in time for the first race of the 2002 season, March 10th in Monterrey, Mexico.