Dan aims to be the man

RACER ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke is aiming to live up to his nickname in 2010—having set his sights on racing in the Formula Two series.The Swinton-born driver admits he’s had a “quiet” two seasons after scoring two podiums in
RACER ‘Speedy’ Dan Clarke is aiming to live up to his nickname in 2010—having set his sights on racing in the Formula Two series.

The Swinton-born driver admits he’s had a “quiet” two seasons after scoring two podiums in 2006 and 2007 during a productive stint in the Champ Car series in the USA.

The absorption of Champ Car into IndyCar along with the biting effect of the economic crisis in the States and a subsequent shiortage of sponsorship, meant he was forced to sit out the entire 2008—before returning to single-seaters this year when he drove for team Great Britain in the A1GP series for three races. The highlight was a seventh place finish in Portugal and a superb blast from 14th to seventh in front of 40,000 spectators at Brands Hatch, when he ran consistent fastest laps.

The ill-fated A1GP series—dubbed the World Cup of motor racing—didn’t work out, but it all pumped up his appetite and a meaty F2 test session in Valencia earlier this month has left the 26-year-old targeting a 2010 drive in the Formula One undercard class.

“I'm really hoping I will either race in the F2 series next year or, if not, something in the US,” Clarke told the Advertiser.

“The last two years were a bit quiet after the IndyCar unification and then the economy and difficulty in finding sponsorship. Now those things appear to be on the mend I'm pumped to get back in a car full time and revive those 'Speedy' claims.”