Lack of support prompts cancellation of Champ Car season-finale at Phoenix
The Associated Press
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The promoters of the season-ending Champ Car World Series event in Phoenix on Dec. 2 have cancelled the inaugural event due to a lack of sponsor support.
“An event of this magnitude requires considerable corporate support and, though we did establish some outstanding partnerships, there were simply not enough of these to create economic viability,” said Dale Jensen, owner and managing member of the Sports Property.
The race was to have been run on a newly constructed downtown street circuit.
The group, which also promoted the season-opening race in Las Vegas, Nev., in April, said that event will continue, with the second edition to be run April 6, 2008.
“We obviously are disappointed that the organizers of Grand Prix Arizona cancelled their event,” Steve Johnson, president and CEO of Champ Car said in a statement.
“While we were looking forward to closing our season with a new Champ Car race in Arizona, we’re prepared to now finish instead in Mexico City (Nov. 11) as we have done the past three years.”
The cancellation means the Champ Car series will have no more races in the U.S. this season. The rest of the schedule includes Sunday’s inaugural race in Assen, Holland, followed by Surfers Paradise, Australia in October and the race in Mexico.
Another new event tentatively scheduled in China this season has been postponed until 2008.
“The failure of our previous China promoter – since replaced – to materially comply with our agreement forced us to miss our May date, and we have been unable to secure an appropriate 2007 replacement date with our new promoter,” Johnson said.
The Associated Press
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The promoters of the season-ending Champ Car World Series event in Phoenix on Dec. 2 have cancelled the inaugural event due to a lack of sponsor support.
“An event of this magnitude requires considerable corporate support and, though we did establish some outstanding partnerships, there were simply not enough of these to create economic viability,” said Dale Jensen, owner and managing member of the Sports Property.
The race was to have been run on a newly constructed downtown street circuit.
The group, which also promoted the season-opening race in Las Vegas, Nev., in April, said that event will continue, with the second edition to be run April 6, 2008.
“We obviously are disappointed that the organizers of Grand Prix Arizona cancelled their event,” Steve Johnson, president and CEO of Champ Car said in a statement.
“While we were looking forward to closing our season with a new Champ Car race in Arizona, we’re prepared to now finish instead in Mexico City (Nov. 11) as we have done the past three years.”
The cancellation means the Champ Car series will have no more races in the U.S. this season. The rest of the schedule includes Sunday’s inaugural race in Assen, Holland, followed by Surfers Paradise, Australia in October and the race in Mexico.
Another new event tentatively scheduled in China this season has been postponed until 2008.
“The failure of our previous China promoter – since replaced – to materially comply with our agreement forced us to miss our May date, and we have been unable to secure an appropriate 2007 replacement date with our new promoter,” Johnson said.
