Perera wins ROY award

Franck Perera

SPEEDTV.COM Open Wheel Racing Fans have voted and spoken! Declaring "FEARLESS" FRANCK PERERA the "MINOR LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 2007".

For a Driver who had never raced in North America till this season, Champ Car Atlantic Rookie Franck Perera racked up an impressive list of accomplishments. From the moment the Frenchman jumped into the Atlantic Car on the last two days of pre-season testing at Laguna-Seca Raceway, he set the fastest times in all four sessions and broke the unofficial track record and never slowed down all season.

In a mere five months, Franck became the first Champ Car Atlantic Driver in the last 11 years to finish all 12 races in the Top-5. The first Non-North American to win the Toronto Grand Prix in 17 years. And closed the season with an impressive 8 podiums, 3 Wins, 2 Poles and 1 Best Lap Time. Garnering Perera hands down the Champ Car Atlantic title "Rookie of the Year".

Winning is no stranger to "Fearless" who early in his Karting career was quickly nicknamed "Mosquito" by journalist because he was so skilled he would quickly buzz past the other drivers. From 1996 to 1999, Franck won five Karting Championships including being crowned "Karting World Champion" at age 15. Which caught the eye of Toyota, who then signed Franck in 2001 along with Ryan Brisco to be the first two drivers in the world in the "Toyota F-1 Young Drivers Development Program".

Perera's Championship wins continued in 2002 as the Formula Renault Eurocup Champion, the 2003 Italian Formula Renault 2.0 Champion, and the 2004 F3 Euro Series Rookie Champion, along with an impressive 5th place in the Macao Grand Prix. And a spectacular 2nd place behind Lewis Hamilton in the GP2 Monaco Grand Prix of 2006.

"I want to thank all the fans for voting for me. I really enjoyed racing in America this year." said Franck Perera, "I want to be in Champ Car next year for sure. We had a pre-agreement before Christmas with a CC team but my management CJMotorsport asked for the contract back so we could be free to do a deal with other teams who are ready to commit now. I hope to announce my new Team the first week of January."