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Philippe returns with Conquest

Nelson Philippe will make a surprise return to the Champ Car World Series when he competes for Conquest Racing in the final two rounds of the season at Surfers Paradise and Mexico City

The Frenchman, who last winter failed to land a seat for 2007, will replace Jan Heylen, who finished second for Conquest at the last race at Assen.

Philippe tested for Minardi Team USA at Sebring in January and Conquest at MSR Houston in February but has not raced the new DP01-Cosworth this year. However, he has landed a sponsor - Juniper - since he relocated to Australia, and the company will back him at Surfers Paradise.

Philippe scored his first and so far only Champ Car victory when he won this event last year for the then-named CTE Racing-HVM squad.

Eric Bachelart of Conquest Racing said: "It's great to get more sponsors involved, and Nelson used to race for us so we know he's a good fit here. And he's hugely popular with the crowd in Australia.

"However, although I am excited to work with him again, I am very sad for Jan too. He had had a good season, and is a very good driver. And it's unfortunate timing, coming right after our best result in the series.

"But during the season there were some accidents - almost none of them his fault - and we have to pay for them. So this was a business decision. But ideally I'd like to run both Nelson and Jan in 2008."

Philippe said: "I'm happy to be back in Champ Car, happy it's with Conquest who ran me in 2004 and '05, and very happy I'll be racing in Surfers Paradise where I've spent the last two months now.

"I felt I got a raw deal at the start of the year, but Champ Car welcomed me with open arms, and Conquest approached me, I didn't go to them.

Philippe will have a shakedown test at Putnam Park tomorrow, but admits the focus of that will be standing starts.

"Obviously I have experience of the DP01 from the winter testing, but I haven't done a standing start since 125cc shifter karts! So that's going to be really important for me to learn."

Philippe also stated that he wants to stay in open-wheel racing. "I went to NASCAR races and made a few contacts there, and I've also done some Australian V8 Supercar tests. But I'm only 21 now, so I'm still young and fit enough to do a good job in open-wheel. That's what I love doing."

In a separate deal, Conquest have also landed an Australian-based team sponsor, Opes Prime a securities lending and equity financing company. The long-term sponsor of British driver James Winslow, asked Bachelart's squad to evaluate the Briton's Champ Car potential, hence Winslow's test at Sebring last week.

Philippe's reappearance on a Champ Car grid brings to a total of three driver changes for the next round, along with David Martinez at Forsythe Championship Racing and Mario Dominguez at Pacific Coast Motorsports.

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