Schiavo to test with Coyne.

Venezuelan driver Luis Alberto Schiavo will test one of Dale Coyne Racing's Champ Cars at Putnam Park next week, with a view to possibly graduating to the series in the next year or so.

Coyne, who currently runs a pair of Lola-Cosworths in the Champ Car series, will run the 23-year old Formula Mazda racer at the well-known test venue next Monday and Tuesday [9-10 May], when Schiavo will become the first Venezuelan to test one of the 750bhp machines.

Having moved to America in an attempt to further his racing career, Schiavo clinched the 2003 Star Mazda single-seater title, before returning to defend his crown in 2004. On that occasion, he only managed fifth overall, and currently lies fourth in the Formula Mazda standings.

"I am very keen on these tests," Schiavo commented, "My engineer at the HASA Mazda team made contact with Dale Coyne and, this week, we finally confirmed the date and venue of the test.

"During the recent Long Beach weekend, we met with different owners to both get myself known to them and to get to know a little more about the Champ Car, which has three times the power of my Formula Mazda machine. The Champ Car also doesn't have traction control, so all the power is controlled by your right foot, so the test is going to be a spectacular experience. My intention is to compete in Champ Cars next year although, of course, we will need to find the sponsorship to achieve that."

As well as Champ Cars, Schiavo is also looking into the possibility of racing in the burgeoning Grand-Am Daytona Prototype category this year, although he insists that his primary objective is the Formula Mazda title, which he is competing for with as many as 40 other drivers.