Viso joins Sato at KV Racing in 2010
KV Racing Technology has announced that Ernesto Viso will join the team for the 2010 IndyCar Series, and will drive the #8 KVRT entry alongside recent recruit and F1 refugee Takuma Sato.
The Venezuelan has competed for the last two years in IndyCars with HVM Racing, achieving a best result of fourth place following a superb performance at St Petersburg in 2008 that also saw him lead for twelve laps in only his second-ever outing in the championship. He went on to finish 18th in the title standings in both his rookie and sophomore seasons.
Prior to jumping ship across the Pond, the 24-year old had spent two full campaigns in the GP2 Series, and was due to complete the second half of 2007 with Racing Engineering, until he found himself dramatically sidelined by a spectacular three-car collision on his debut for the Spanish outfit at Magny-Cours.
The accident saw him somersault over the circuit barriers, through an advertising hoarding and only narrowly miss a bridge that would very likely have killed him, as had tragically happened to Marco Campos in GP2's predecessor International F3000 at the same track just over a decade previously. Viso happily escaped with just severe concussion and a badly-bruised arm.
"I want to thank Kevin Kalkhoven, Jimmy Vasser, Mark Johnson and my valued partners PDVSA, Herbalife, CANTV and SBA Airlines for making it possible for me to race with KV Racing Technology this season," the sometime Spyker F1 test driver enthused. "As I have said before, KVRT is an outstanding team and I think joining them is the best thing for my racing career right now. I believe the structure KVRT has in-place will provide for a very productive 2010 season."
"We are very excited to have EJ join our driver line-up for 2010," added KVRT general manager Mark Johnson. "We have been in talks with EJ for quite some time now, and successfully tested him at Sebring. Over the last two seasons he has impressed both Jimmy (KVRT co-owner Vasser) and I with his racecraft and growth as a driver.
"EJ brings IndyCar and oval experience to our team, which will be extremely valuable as we progress through the season. I would also like to welcome commercial partners PDVSA, Herbalife, CANTV and SBA Airlines to the KVRT organisation. We look forward to working with all of them."
