Bright abandons CART dream

The 27-year-old will take Craig Lowndes' vacant seat with the Holden Racing Team in Australia's premier V8 Supercar series. His team-mate will be reigning champion Mark Skaife.

Bright only came to the States at the start of this season, joining Dorricott Racing for his first year in single-seaters since winning the Formula Holden title in 1997. He was in contention for the Lights championship in the early part of 2000, but slipped back to sixth overall by the end of the season.

He made his CART debut with Della Penna Motorsports at his home race in Surfer's Paradise, and impressed by moving up to fifth place before crashing out while avoiding an incident involving Roberto Moreno. Bright had been aiming for a full-time Champ Car ride in 2001, but has instead decided to return to the touring car series where he raced with great success in 1998-9.

"I had the chance of remaining in the States and becoming a 'supersub,' that is being available to drive for other teams at short notice," said Bright. "It was a big decision to return to Australia but the HRT drive was the only one I'd come back for. It's the only team I'd give up the US dream for.

"It's not very often a door like this opens and now I have to make the most of the opportunity."

Bright has already tested with the team at Winton this week. Before restarting his touring car career, he will be sharing a Panoz with fellow Antipodean star Greg Murphy in the American Le Mans Series race at Adelaide on New Year's Eve.