Gommendy Out, Servia to Race for PBT in Austrailia

PKV Racing's #22 Pay By Touch Racing Car Has Best Chance to Win a Champ Car Race This Year.

The race will be shown live on ESPN2 Saturday, October 20th at 10:30 Central Standard Time and a repeat broadcast will be on Sunday on ESPN2 at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time.

Tristan Gommendy doubtful for the trip to Surfers Paradise, so PKV has moved to field a known quantity in the #22 Pay By Touch Panoz for the tricky street circuit.

“Unfortunately, Tristan had an unresolved business situation that will prevent him from competing this weekend in Australia,” PKV general manager Mark Johnson revealed, “He is continuing to try and resolve the situation, and we have high hopes that he will return to the team for the Mexico City race.

“Fortunately for us, Oriol was available this weekend and, given his proven talent, familiarity with the team - in particular the fact that he will be working with the same engineer he had last year - and strong recent record at Surfers Paradise, we feel bringing him on board will give PKV Racing the best opportunity to have a successful weekend."

Oriol Servia currently sits sixth in the championship with 204 points, just five points out of fifth place, and Johnson is delighted to be able to help a driver who gave so much to the team as Katherine Legge's team-mate in 2006.

"We are pleased because this provides Oriol, one of the top drivers in the Champ Carseries, an opportunity to continue to battle for a top-three spot in the championship standings,” Johnson said.

Servia admits that the 2.795-mile Surfers Paradise circuit is his 'favourite track in the Champ Car series' and the Catalan has been particularly impressive in Australia in the last two years, claiming pole in 2005 and leading the race last year.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue my fight for a place among the leaders in the standings,” he said, “I want to thank Mr Kalkhoven, Jimmy Vasser and Mark Johnson for giving me this opportunity. "The good thing is that I know a lot of the PKV Racing crew members and will be working with my engineer from last year, Yves Touron, so we are already very familiar with each other. I have been fighting for wins on the street circuits all year and I am sure it won't be any different in Surfers.

Hopefully, I can get the win there for the team and myself.” Servia will partner PKV regular Neel Jani in Australia as the Champ Carseries resumes after a seven-week break following the European double-header at Zolder and Assen.

			October 21 - Australia
			ESPN Classic | Sat, Oct 20 11:30 pm ET | Race-Live ESPN2 | Sun, Oct 21 6:00 pm ET | Race-Repeat