FOR GERMAN SUPERLEAGUE FIXTURE
British driver James Walker will make his Superleague Formula debut on-loan to Scottish club Rangers for the upcoming round at the Nurburgring.
Walker previously shook down the #21 "Reds" machine at Donington Park for Liverpool FC Racing but will now suit up for the "Gers" for the second round of the championship on September 20-21.
Glasgow-born and US-based regular Rangers driver Ryan Dalziel has an existing commitment in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in the US and is unable to compete over the Nurburgring weekend.
The 2008 Grand-Am race winner will be back aboard the Rangers machine for the following Superleague Formula round at Zolder in Belgium – the track where the Scot competed in Champ Car last year.
For Walker, the German weekend will be his first view of Superleague Formula race action – he missed the Donington Park weekend while competing in World Series by Renault at the Nurburgring.
"My first impressions of the Superleague Formula car were really good," Walker said.
"When I tested for Liverpool, I was really happy with the car even though I only did about 25 laps on old tyres.
"It has a lot of power and it looked and felt fantastic – I can't wait for the opportunity to try the car on fresh tyres and represent Rangers next week."
The Nurburgring has been a happy hunting ground for the 24-year-old, Jersey-born Walker. He won the Nurburgring-round of the British Formula 3 Championship at the German Formula 1 circuit in 2005.
"I was out of luck in the race at the 'Ring in World Series by Renault because I picked up a puncture. Hopefully our luck will be a bit better in the Rangers car," Walker said.
"I was third fastest in the World Series test prior to the weekend so I am confident we will be quick in the Superleague Formula car.
"The Nuburgring was the scene of my first major international win in Formula 3 so I have fond memories of the place. Having just raced there a couple of weeks ago should give me and Rangers a great advantage."
Rangers will be looking to bounce back after a tough debut at Donington Park. The Scottish club was one of several cars to slide off the road in the treacherous wet conditions in the second race. To make matters worse, the red, white and blue Rangers machine was further damage when Galatasaray suffered the same fate, sliding off the track and slamming into the already stricken Scottish car.
"There will be a lot of pressure on me because the Rangers car has great support from the Scottish fans, but I am really looking forward to it," Walker said.
"My aim will be to do a great job and hopefully give the Rangers fans something to be proud of."
