Tagliani gets Wal-Mart backing

Canadian driver Alex Tagliani and RSPORTS are excited to announce a partnership with the Tide@Wal-Mart Victory Lap Charity Program for the 2007 Champ Car World Series season.

Enhancing their commitment to sick kids as part of a joint national fund-raising program for the Children’s Miracle Network, Procter & Gamble and Wal-MartCanada announced yesterday during a special press conference in Montreal their association with Tagliani and RSPORTS. Along with partners Tide, Folgers, Kellogg's, Duracell, Gillette, Pringles, Old Spice, Jig-A-Loo, George and Fido, P&G and Wal-MartCanada have joined forces to support the championship aspirations of Tagliani and RSPORTS in the Champ Car World Series.

Tagliani will be one of the spokespersons for the Victory Lap Charity Program, a cross-Canada fund-raising effort on behalf of the Children’s Miracle Network, an instrumental force in providing medical care and preventative education to help millions of youngsters overcome disease and injuries of all types. Now in its fifth year, the Victory Lap tour, which in 2006 included a special ticket-sales campaign for the Champ Car race in Montreal, raised some $209,000 last year.

“I really believe we can contend for the championship this year, and the support and confidence that Procter & Gamble, Wal-MartCanada and their partners have expressed makes me even more motivated to succeed," said Tagliani. “Especially if my success on the track helps to raise more funds for the children."

Tagliani will be sporting the logos of the major partners throughout the season on his driver’s suit and helmet, and the RSPORTS’ #8 LXN2 Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone will bear their branding for the series’ three Canadian races – in Mont Tremblant, Toronto and Edmonton.

“It really is an honor to be associated with such a wonderful cause," said RSPORTS team co-owner Paul Gentilozzi. “We hope that through our association we are able to help them exceed their goals, while giving them something to cheer for this season in the Champ Car World Series."

The first of a full 16-race Champ Car World Series schedule kicks off next week on the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada, April 6-8. The Champ Car World Series will spend most of the month of July in Canada, contesting in three events on famous circuits throughout the country. The first stop will be at Circuit Mont Tremblant on June 29-30 and July 1 when the Champ Car World Series returns to the famed circuit after almost four decades since their first-ever race in the Province of Quebec. The series will then return to the streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 6-8, followed by a return trip to Edmonton’s temporary airport circuit at Finning International Speedway on July 20-22.