01/12/2005
NEWS STORY
A1 Team USA announced today that Phil Giebler will be the team driver for the A1 Grand Prix Race of Nations in Dubai. Giebler, 25, who has already been successful in open-wheel racing abroad, will get his first experience in the 'We the People' car on December 11.
Being able to bring a young and up-and-coming driver into the mix for A1 Team USA is one of the things that team owner Rick Weidinger enjoys the most in his role leading the American team.
"A1 Team USA feels a real responsibility to bring on young, talented drivers like Phil who are looking for a chance to break out on to the bigger stage," said Weidinger. "Phil has already had some success racing in Europe, and we are quite confident that he will be able to score important points for us in Dubai. I think that Phil is a true discovery for A1 Team USA and feel he’s going to deliver in Dubai."
As for Bryan Herta's continued involvement with A1 Team USA, Weidinger made the following comment. "Bryan is still an important member of our A1 Team USA family and he will continue to provide valuable feedback to us, and will race again for the team in the spring."
Gambler, who previously has had success racing in F3, F-3000 and the prestigious ELF/La Filiere Campus Championships in Europe, where he was the only American champion in its history, is excited to wear the stars and stripes and drive the distinctive "We The People" car for A1 Team USA.
"It’s a real honor and privilege to be able to drive for A1 Team USA, and I am excited to represent my country in this exciting new racing series," said Giebler. "I’ve been following this series since its inception, and I was ecstatic when I got the call to come drive for A1 Team USA."
In terms of having a potential learning curve, compared to the rest of the teams in the series which enters the half way point of the season next week, Giebler dismissed this immediately.
"Over the past few years, I’ve raced against at least 25 percent of the drivers in the series and on many of the same tracks that we’ll be racing in the A1 Grand Prix," said Giebler. "This is still a new series, so no one team should have a leg up on us due to experience. With the team that is already in place for A1 Team USA, I am confident we can go out there and score points in Dubai."