HVM to field third car in Mexico.

The HVM Racing team has announced that it will expand to a three car line-up for the final round of the Champ Car World Series season in Mexico.

Double Formula Renault champion Homero Richards will join Rodolfo Lavin and Fabrizio Del Monte in the HVM squad for the race with backing from Nextel de Mexico, whose chief marketing officer Victor Tiburcio said he was pleased to see another Mexican driver given the chance to join the Champ Car fold.

"In the past, the participation of the Nextel Racing Team drivers in the Champ Car has been a pleasant experience and we are sure that it will continue to be," he said. "At Nextel we are very excited to support young Mexican sportsmen like Homero Richards, who throughout his career has succeeded as a professional."

Richards himself was understandably thrilled to be give the chance to race the #50 Nextel Racing Team entry into the final race of the year at the Aut?dromo Hermanos Rodr?guez circuit in Mexico City.

"I want to thank Nextel for its support in this great step as a professional driver," he said. "We had a good training session, which was crucial to earn their trust and this opportunity. We have been working hard to obtain the best scores for Nextel, the HVM Team and Mexico. This encourages me to be patient and smart enough to give my best performance."

HVM team owner Keith Wiggins welcomed his second new driver in a week to the team, following the signing of Del Monte, and said he was hopeful of working together well with the Mexican at the Mexico City race.

"The HVM Team welcomes Homero and Nextel to the racing event that will be held in Mexico," he said. "We have been discussing with the company for the last few years in order to work together and we now feel satisfied with the conclusion of the negotiations. We expect to do a great job as a team.

"We are very pleased to work with Mexican companies and we have a significant experience, supported by our work in that country. This race is a great business opportunity for companies in Mexico, for our team and for the Champ Car World Series as well."