The head of the only major motorsport team in Canada, André Azzi has announced on Wednesday his intention to rebuild what Player’s abandoned when the anti-tobacco law came into effect six years ago in Canada: a new drivers’ development program for Quebec and Canada’s best talents.
The FAZZT Race Team was founded in July 2009 and ran its first full season in 2010 with Quebec driver Alex Tagliani behind the wheel of the team’s sole car. Azzi’s new program begins with the running of a second car in 2011 within the professional team.
It also implies the creation of another team, to compete in the Indy Lights series, for which a budget of approximately one million dollar is needed. The 36-year-old businessman addressed the medias in Montreal in hope of getting Quebec Inc. involved in the realisation of his dream.
“I am making the first step in hopes that Quebec’s companies will get onboard with us and create this much needed drivers’ development program. We need to have them understand they will gain from this partnership with us,” said Azzi.
“Our objective is to form a 100% Quebeckers’ team, but it is hard to do right now, six years after Player’s last helped our drivers to build their way up the motorsport ladder. Rob Edwards is our chief exploitation and head director. Rob is a very good young talent seeker. We are confident he will put us on the good track and help us find Quebec’s hidden talents,” Azzi explained.
Driver Maryeve Dufault becames the first driver to get support from FAAZT Race Team. She drove a NASCAR for the first time in Trois-Rivieres and then in Montreal. With the help of the team, she found sponsors as well as a drive and she will benefit from specific drivers’ classes in the future. Like every driver, Azzi says she will have to work hard to make it to Indy Car racing.
“We want to build our future on a new driver. We would love to have someone from the province of Quebec, but for now we will go broader and bring in a Canadian driver. We hope to be able to bring a couple of them in the United States to test an IndyCar this winter. Until then, I have to admit while Paul Tracy used to scare me on TV as a fan, I see thing differently now and he will be considered for our second car,” he indicated.
The owner of La Capsule Sportive has also explained he is expecting the team to cumulate some victories in 2011. He says all of the current sponsors have renewed their involvement with the team for 2011.
“All have found out that they mean much more than a sticker on our car. We have sponsors we are able to give back to. Investors also have to realise that the entire IndyCar family works in collaboration to bring the series back to where it used to be, which means a partnership with us gives our partner access to any company invested in the series. It is a great business opportunity as well as an incomparable visibility,” Azzi explained.
Meanwhile, Azzi has given a few more details on another event coming up in the province of Quebec: an IndyCar race to be held in the streets of the old capital of Quebec City.
“This is a project I do on the side. It is going roundly and we have three possible street circuits lined down. The mayor should be able to choose the one he prefers in a near future. I hope we can make it in the calendar as soon as next year, to the worst in 2012. It is very exciting. All I can say is that it will be a big challenge for the drivers,” Azzi concluded.
The FAZZT Race Team was founded in July 2009 and ran its first full season in 2010 with Quebec driver Alex Tagliani behind the wheel of the team’s sole car. Azzi’s new program begins with the running of a second car in 2011 within the professional team.
It also implies the creation of another team, to compete in the Indy Lights series, for which a budget of approximately one million dollar is needed. The 36-year-old businessman addressed the medias in Montreal in hope of getting Quebec Inc. involved in the realisation of his dream.
“I am making the first step in hopes that Quebec’s companies will get onboard with us and create this much needed drivers’ development program. We need to have them understand they will gain from this partnership with us,” said Azzi.
“Our objective is to form a 100% Quebeckers’ team, but it is hard to do right now, six years after Player’s last helped our drivers to build their way up the motorsport ladder. Rob Edwards is our chief exploitation and head director. Rob is a very good young talent seeker. We are confident he will put us on the good track and help us find Quebec’s hidden talents,” Azzi explained.
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| Maryeve Daufault was the first member of the FAZZT drivers' development program (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com) |
Driver Maryeve Dufault becames the first driver to get support from FAAZT Race Team. She drove a NASCAR for the first time in Trois-Rivieres and then in Montreal. With the help of the team, she found sponsors as well as a drive and she will benefit from specific drivers’ classes in the future. Like every driver, Azzi says she will have to work hard to make it to Indy Car racing.
“We want to build our future on a new driver. We would love to have someone from the province of Quebec, but for now we will go broader and bring in a Canadian driver. We hope to be able to bring a couple of them in the United States to test an IndyCar this winter. Until then, I have to admit while Paul Tracy used to scare me on TV as a fan, I see thing differently now and he will be considered for our second car,” he indicated.
The owner of La Capsule Sportive has also explained he is expecting the team to cumulate some victories in 2011. He says all of the current sponsors have renewed their involvement with the team for 2011.
“All have found out that they mean much more than a sticker on our car. We have sponsors we are able to give back to. Investors also have to realise that the entire IndyCar family works in collaboration to bring the series back to where it used to be, which means a partnership with us gives our partner access to any company invested in the series. It is a great business opportunity as well as an incomparable visibility,” Azzi explained.
Meanwhile, Azzi has given a few more details on another event coming up in the province of Quebec: an IndyCar race to be held in the streets of the old capital of Quebec City.
“This is a project I do on the side. It is going roundly and we have three possible street circuits lined down. The mayor should be able to choose the one he prefers in a near future. I hope we can make it in the calendar as soon as next year, to the worst in 2012. It is very exciting. All I can say is that it will be a big challenge for the drivers,” Azzi concluded.