WR Testing Pictures....

[Dov]

From Cart.com: http://www.cart.com/Event/EventPhotos.asp

Tell me now, how beautiful are those Walker Racing Reynards!?

[GP Racer]

Can't argue with that!

Check out Racer magazine this month and look at how nice PT's Lola looks. Beautiful shots.

[Omega99]

They all deserve rides, if you ask me. Any word on how they did?

[Dov]

Originally posted by Omega99
They all deserve rides, if you ask me. Any word on how they did?

Hi Omega99, unfortunately I haven't heard a word on how well/bad they did...

[Snrub]

The most beautifull thing is that there is a SPONSOR on the side of the car. I don't know anything about Dean's Knight, but I'm glad they are there. There's also some helmet sponsorship, Bosch (they seem to be on a lot of cars) and NTN bearings. One car seems to have some minor (very small) sponsorship on the side. (unless that's the Walker logo that's also on the nose and mirrors)

[GTRMagic]

It still looks like a variation on the Valvoline sponsorship and livery from years ago...

NTN Bearings are a unit of NGK Spark Plugs from memory...

[Dov]

I believe that NTN Bearings are a Canadian company!? Can anybody confirm this for me?

[cos]

Hmm, Timo Glock's car just had "Walker Racing" written in huge letters on the pods and the rear wing.

[Hazza]

that beautiful -> |-----------|

[Dov]

Originally posted by cos
Hmm, Timo Glock's car just had "Walker Racing" written in huge letters on the pods and the rear wing.

Both Timo Glock and Ryan Dalziel had "Walker Racing" on their side pods and the rear wings.....the only difference was that Timo was driving the Rodolfo Lavin/Corona coloured car, while Ryan was driving the Darren Manning/RAC coloured car. Michael Valiente was driving the DM/RAC coloured car with DEAN'S KNIGHT livery and Jonathan Macri was driving the RL/Corona coloured car with NTN Bearing livery on it, which happens to be his sponsor in Toyota Atlantics.....

[Dov]

From Speedtv.com:http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/9159/

Walker, Dalziel Pleased with Each Other in Testing
Written by: RACER staff
Sebring, Fla. – 12/13/2003

Scottish Toyota Atlantic racer Ryan Dalziel got his first taste of a Champ Car this week as part of the Walker Racing team’s extended tryout of new talent.

Dalziel, 21, tested a Ford/Reynard at Sebring International Raceway for the team run by fellow Scot Derrick Walker. His test program included short qualifying runs, practice pit-stops and full tank, flat-out laps at the 3.6-mile Florida track.

"What a great experience,“ enthused Dalziel, who won two Toyota Atlantic races this season. “The power in the car is simply phenomenal! I've had a great time working with Walker Racing understanding more about the car and working through various programs to extract the maximum from my seat time. I'm grateful to Derrick Walker for the opportunity and it's really fueled my desire to step up to the category in 2004. I hope to be able to work with the team to put something together that's mutually beneficial."

Walker said he was impressed by how readily his countryman made the transition. "Considering that he has never experienced a race car with this much horsepower, I am very impressed with how he adapted to the car," Walker said.

While waiting like everyone else for CART’s financial situation to be sorted out, Dalziel says he is considering various options for 2004. While a move to Champ Cars would be his first choice, the Scot says another Toyota Atlantic campaign with Sierra Sierra Racing is also possible.

In addition to Dalziel, Walker also tested Toyota Atlantic standouts Michael Valiante and Jonathan Macri, as well as German F3 ace Timo Glock.

[The Snout]

While a move to Champ Cars would be his first choice

Is it just me or do a lot of drivers aspire to run in Champcars ? Every year we get people testing who want to run in the series, just seems to be a hell of a lot more than a any other top line openwheel category.

[Alex Toropov]

how "Dalziel" is pronounced? not a british name, it seems...

[Dov]

Originally posted by Alex Toropov
how "Dalziel" is pronounced? not a british name, it seems...

I believe it's pronounced Dell-Zeel....

[thebear]

Originally posted by Dov
I believe that NTN Bearings are a Canadian company!? Can anybody confirm this for me?

Japan, with worldwide distribution.

If you go to: http://www.ntnamerica.com/ you will find a press release and photo of the car with links to details.

[jjspierx]

Originally posted by Dov
I believe it's pronounced Dell-Zeel....

According to the speed channel announcers its "Dee-all" not "Dell-Zeel"

Also NTN Bearings has been Jonathan Macri's sponsor for the past few years in Toyota Atlantics, thats why the sponsor was on the car when he was driving. Each driver had slightly different sponsor stickers on the car, becuase I'm sure they knew the pictures from the day would be on CART's and probably other websites.

[Dov]

Originally posted by Dov
Both Timo Glock and Ryan Dalziel had "Walker Racing" on their side pods and the rear wings.....the only difference was that Timo was driving the Rodolfo Lavin/Corona coloured car, while Ryan was driving the Darren Manning/RAC coloured car. Michael Valiente was driving the DM/RAC coloured car with DEAN'S KNIGHT livery and Jonathan Macri was driving the RL/Corona coloured car with NTN Bearing livery on it, which happens to be his sponsor in Toyota Atlantics.....

Thanks for the info on the proper pronunciation of Ryan's last name.

[Kicking-back]

Dalziel is pronounced D-L.

It is a British name - there's quite a few Dalziels in Scotland.

[Phoenix1]

New sponsors and cars being tested. Glad to see Walker racing being positive and getting ready for 2004.

[Fogelhund]

Note, these sponsors are the personal sponsors of the drivers. Its good to have backers, and some financing, but Macri brings the NTN and Vaillente brings the Deans Knight. If Macri and Vaillente get the ride, then there is sponsorship. If not, well not.

[billiaml]

Cool pics. Thanks!

[Tenoch]

I doubt those are new cars they still have the same old paint schemes.

[Dov]

From Champweb.net:

Valiante Fastest In Walker Test posted on 12-17 18:22

Lynx Racing’s latest graduate, Michael Valiante, 23, of Vancouver B.C. was the quickest of the four top young racing talents tested by the Walker Racing Champ Car team during the week of December 8 at Sebring International Raceway. He is expected to test with the team again in January.

Also participating in the Walker test were Atlantic drivers Ryan Dalziel and Jonathan Macri, as well as German F3 driver Timo Glock.

“I was mentally prepared for it to be a huge jump from Atlantics to Champ Cars, but once we got the track cleaned off and the tires warmed up, I got down to some competitive, consistent times pretty quickly,” said Valiante. “We kicked it up a notch the second day and knocked another half second or so off the time, and did a 30-lap run at the end of the day. It was a very comprehensive test program that was good for both the drivers and the team, and I think Derrick Walker deserves a lot of credit for being the one Champ Car team owner who’s out there during this unsettled time keeping a high profile and working toward the future.”

Each driver went through a comprehensive evaluation program designed to provide the maximum opportunity to experience a wide range of disciplines required to drive a Champ Car, starting with two days in the shop for seat fittings and engineering meetings. On the track they experienced a full range of simulations, from qualifying runs, to pit stops, to full-tank runs.

“We are investing in the future now, and these kinds of tests really provide both the team and driver with a lot of meaningful insight,” says Walker. “Michael and I have been working together for some time now to try to build a race program, and during the test he demonstrated that he is a highly focused young talent who is more than ready to take the next step in his career."

Valiante, who won six races and finished on the podium 12 times in 28 CART Toyota Atlantic races with the Lynx Racing team, was scheduled to test and race with the Walker team in the CART season finale at Fontana Speedway in Southern California on November 2. However, the event was cancelled due to the devastating wildfires in the area.

Valiante is a national and international karting champion, ‘Rookie of the Year’ and scholarship winner in the Barber Dodge series, and is widely regarded as one of the top prospects to become a star in the CART Champ Car World Series.

He is the most recent graduate of Lynx Racing, one of the most unique and successful driver development programs in open wheel racing today. Created and owned by two women, Peggy Haas and Jackie Doty, the Lynx mission is to seek out young drivers with the desire and potential to become champions at the highest level of the sport and provide them with funding, equipment and training that focuses on their mental and spiritual development as well as their on-track skills – a process the team calls ‘Destiny by Design.’

[macdaddy]

"I think Derrick Walker deserves a lot of credit for being the one Champ Car team owner who’s out there during this unsettled time keeping a high profile and working toward the future."

I think so too, Michael.