Champ Car Atlantics newest additions

Looks like John Edwards and the rest of the Atlantic field will have their work cut out for them next year as the Champ Car Atlantics will see an influx of European talent once again competing in the premier Open Wheel racing series.

Walker Racing has just announced the addition of the Mansell brothers to his 2008 Atlantic line-up which also features Canadian Kevin Lacroix. Yes, that’s right, that’s Mansell as in sons of 1992 Formula 1 and 1993 CART champion Nigel Mansell.

Greg and Leo Mansell will cross the pond to make their stateside debut in the Atlantic championship after having spent the previous two seasons racing in Europe. The past two years the brothers Mansell have contested the Formula BMW UK and British Formula 3 International series, which Greg finished tenth overall in.

Greg at 19 is the younger of the two brothers, while Leo is 22 and the brothers along with their dad see this as the next step up the ladder in their pursuits of Open Wheel racing.

Teamate Lacroix, in his sophomore season, won last year at rain soaked Portland in only his second series start. So the potential for results seem apparent, although the team will still have to beat the mighty Sierra Sierra and Forsythe teams.

Meanwhile John Edwards teammate, Canadian Robert Wickens has just made his A1 GP debut in Malaysia. Wickens aquitted himself well by finishing on the podium in third place during the Sprint race, which was his very first outing behind the wheel of the Team Canada entry.

Currently a total of three Atlantic standouts are on A1 GP team rosters, along with Indy Pro Series competitor Arie Luyendyk Jr. as part of Team Netherlands.

Team Canada’s primary driver is James Hinchcliffe with Wickens alongside, While Team Brazil has defending champion Rafael Matos listed as one of its drivers, although Matos is keen to take his $2 million prize check to Champ Car for the upcoming season, in hopes of landing a ride in the shrinking Champ Car driver market…