FBMW: Haberfeld joins forces with Walker.

Veteran Champ Car World Series team co-owner Derrick Walker and teamed up with one of his former drivers in Mario Haberfeld to create a new three-car team in the North American Formula BMW Championship.

Walker, who already has interests in the Champ Car World Series and Atlantic Series through his association with Team Australia, will join Haberfeld and businessman Markus Bischof in the new Haberfeld & Walker Racing team.

Two drivers, Mexican David Rangel and Brazilian Marco Santos, have already been signed for the teams' debut season, while a search for the third driver is ongoing. The team will be based at the Walker Racing workshop in Indianapolis.

"This is the beginning of a wonderful dream for me", said Rangel. "This opportunity in the BMW series with this team will help me make my way to victory".

Santos added, "I will be driving in one of the best teams in the series. Mario is an excellent coach and has a lot of experience as a driver, and the Walker team will help me to improve my skills and grow towards a successful career".

"In the formation of this new venture", says Walker, "we have a strong programme for BMW and some long-range plans to expand. We are off to a great start with Marco and David and are all looking forward to having a great season".

Haberfeld has many years of racing experience including Formula 3, Formula 3000, F1 testing, and Champ Cars in 2003 and 2004. He is currently racing for Fernandez Racing in the Grand Am series.

"I'm really excited about forming this partnership with Derrick Walker, Markus and myself," says Haberfeld. "We are starting the Haberfeld & Walker Racing team which this year will compete in the Formula BMW USA series with two very talented young drivers. Having raced for Walker Racing in Champ Cars in the past I know how ambitious, organised and professional the team is, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to achieve another goal that I have set in my career.

"In the early stages I've had a lot of help and good advice from more experienced drivers, and I feel the need to do the same and help young, talented drivers reach their full potential on their way to the major series of the sport."

Bischof, who owns and operates two restaurants in Guntersville, Alabama and was previously a partner in the Polevision Racing Formula BMW team says, "I am confident our new team of highly qualified racers and businessmen will make a great addition to the Formula BMW series" said Bischof. "My job will be to help secure sponsor partners like the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville with their Space Camp programme, which will be a great asset in our driver development, and General Marine Services, a custom stevedoring and harbour services company".

Preparations are well under way for the new season. Team Manager Martin Bates and Track Engineer Eric Purcell have already been out testing and plan to be out again on the 8th and 9th of February at No Problem Raceway.