Thienes Joins Condor Motorsports Atlantic Team for 2007
The Condor team tested with Thienes in January and was impressed by his professionalism on and off the racetrack. Thienes, 44, is an accomplished race car driver who also runs a successful civil engineering and land surveying company, Thienes Engineering.
Although he's is at a different stage in his career than most of the young rising stars in the series, Thienes thrives on the challenges of competing against the young lions in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship. Though he was only able to participate in limited testing in the off-season due to his hectic work schedule, Thienes prepared for the upcoming 2007 Atlantic season through exercise and racing go karts to keep his driving skills sharp and he did compete for the team at the final pre-season test at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. He remains committed to improving his racing talent and the Huntington Beach, California native looks forward to driving the #19 Condor Motorsports car this season alongside teammates, speedy French rookie Franck Perera and Dutchman Junior Strous.
"Brian is a great addition to the team," said Condor Motorsports owner Carlos Bobeda. "He is very down to earth and extremely dedicated. What impressed me the most about Brian is that although he is not trying to make a career in auto racing, he takes it very seriously. He spends countless hours examining data. He's always looking for ways to improve."
"I am very excited to participate in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship with Condor Motorsports," said Thienes, who raced in Star Mazda and SCCA competition before making two Atlantic starts last season. "Especially having such talented teammates as Franck Perera and Junior Strous, I'm really looking forward to the 2007 season."
Thienes will make his debut for the Condor Team next week, April 6-8, at the Atlantic season-opening Vegas Grand Prix on the streets of Las Vegas.