Klien to Champ Car?

[enemy-ace]

It seems Red Bull has offered Klien a possible Champ Car ride.
Wonder who it would be with. I hope he takes it. The guy is quite good IMO.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=127112

[luke]

I did hear this rumor. I didn't think much of it. But now I do. Klein was one of my favourite drivers in Formula one, he would be a good addition to the field. Whether he is interested or not is a different matter.
But I don't think he has anymore options left in Formula one.

[SALEEN S7R]

Hmm Klien would be a nice addition to Champcar, IMO. He is a decent driver as you say and he is still pretty young, not quite ready for touring cars yet I think.

[racinthestreets]

What is Red Bull's target for Klien in CC? Beat who? Or move to Atlantics?

[Rushy]

good driver i thought he could stay in f1 maybe for a lower team or test driver? his desision

[Marcel ten Caat]

He probably has 2 options

A) Stick with Red Bull and obey their orders (CC or DTM)
B) Try to get to another F1 team and lose Red Bull backing

[Rushy]

true he could do as red bull backing is very good imo

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Stranger

He probably has 2 options

A) Stick with Red Bull and obey their orders (CC or DTM)
B) Try to get to another F1 team and lose Red Bull backing

There is a third option, in that a number of articles are suggesting that Klien has also been offered an Audi DTM ride. That said, I suspect that Klien would prefer to remain in open wheel competition. Given that a place in a Red Bull F1 team won't happen and I can't see him getting a seat at one of the bigger F1 teams. Also, Klien's backing has traditionally came from Red Bull, I can't see them funding him an F1 seat at the likes of Midland. Therefore, I suspect that a Red Bull funded Champ Car seat is the most likely outcome.

[Marcel ten Caat]

Third option is included in option 1...listen to Red Bull orders and go to CC or DTM. Although it's clearly stated that if he wants to return to F1 he needs to do ChampCar.

[SPRacer]

If Red Bull will sponsor him in CC, why don't they also up AJ's sponsorship and have them on the same team? If AJ is locked up with Forsythe, maybe they can then provide a third car for Klein on that team...???

[Knowlesy]

Klien is a handy little racer, it'd be a great pleasure to welcome him to Champcar someday!

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

I'd like to see Klien in a Champ Car, he's certainly got the racing style and aggression to run well in the series.

He'd be crazy to take the DTM offer as there is far more scope to earn a living in the US once the Red Bull money dries up. If he impresses in CC there's always a move back to F1 or to one of the top CC teams but if he runs well in DTM where exactly does he go, sportscars? Where factory drives are like golddust.

[drewdawg727]

Who is Klien? :\

[Knowlesy]

Christian Klien. Drives for the Red Bull Formula 1 team at present.

[marcus]

interesting indeed.

I have been fairly impressed with Christian in his 3 seasons in F1.

the first year at Jaguar wasnt brilliant (he was learning and the car wasnt great)
the 2nd year at Red Bull was excellent for him and I thought he matured very well indeed.

this year has been tough for him and he has fallen off the radar a little bit.

I'd like to see him stay in F1 because thats obviously where he wants to be , but he would be a great addition to Champcars if that happened.

Very good driver with alot of potential

[Alwaysfirst]

I think that CCWS would be very good for Klien. It would give him the oppertunity to show his raw pace again, something which F1 has not allowed him to do.

[mountainstar]

I don't see any other F1 options at the time.

Can't see him wanting to strangle his career by going to the DTM thereby closing the door to F1 forever.

Looks like champcar.

[GTRMagic]

So where shall Mr Klien end up?

With the Red Bull funding, perhaps the 2nd seat an Newman Haas?

There isnt much point for him to come to ChampCar with a rookie squad or one without resources.. we shouldnt forget the playground will be different next season, with the new Panoz chassis... which will require development & testing for the teams to get a handle on it

[Jordi]

I think he should try Champ Cars, Timo Glock came and almost conquered a race win, and it was with Rocketsports...

[BootsOntheSide]

Timo Glock hasn't been mentioned in connection with a 2007 F1 drive though. Unless Christian wants to settle into a ChampCar career, his best option might be to push for an F1 drive, even if it is with Midand. Otherwise, a year or 2 in a secure ChampCar drive isn't a bad outcome, even though it's no longer a route to F1 in real terms.

[touringlegend]

Don't write off the DTM, didn't do Gary Paffett any harm winning it, did it ?

[mountainstar]

Midland will do nothing for him. That team is a mess.

DTM, why at this juncture? F1 bosses aren't looking there for talent. Paffett got in because of long connections to Mclaren Mercedes and doing a stellar job. But that is clearly an exception not a rule.

I don't see any realistic options in F1 right now that would benefit his career, so I say go champcar.

[courageous]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Midland will do nothing for him. That team is a mess.

If you shine while driving for a team that is a mess, then people take notice (worked for Alonso, Webber, Fisichella - granted they were in their first year, but still).

Originally Posted by mountainstar

DTM, F1 bosses aren't looking there for talent. Paffett got in because of long connections to Mclaren Mercedes and doing a stellar job. But that is clearly an exception not a rule.

Albers also came via DTM, Wurz came to F1 via the old FIA GT - Team bosses look in all directions for talent.

[Bluewolf]

This would be a good move -- F1 drivers are of a very high caliber and on the road courses he will almost certainly be one of the quickest if his car matches his talent.

[marcel82]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Timo Glock hasn't been mentioned in connection with a 2007 F1 drive though. Unless Christian wants to settle into a ChampCar career, his best option might be to push for an F1 drive, even if it is with Midand.

Midland should try surviving this season first.

if Red Bull is giving Klien an option to drive in CC, wouldn't it be slightly possible for them to bring their own car? they have the money, and the intrest in the series, so why shouldn't they?