Clarke wins second CTE-HVM seat

Team boss Keith Wiggins was not prepared to confirm the news, but another senior source within the team told autosport.com that the deal was to be inked this weekend.

Clarke, who finished fifth in the 2005 British F3 championship, spoke positively of his Sebring experience and his eagerness to compete in Champ Cars.

The Briton stated: "The main thing that interests me about Champ Car is that it's a level playing field here I want to race in a series that allows you to go out and show how good you are and I think Champ Car is the best for that."

Wiggins was impressed with Clarke. Speaking to autosport.com he said: "He's got promise, definitely, and it would be good to get an opportunity to work with a rookie with talent that can develop.

"I'm convinced he could show well in this series. He was together, professional, and certainly not scared of a Champ Car. Our telemetry showed him going sideways with his right foot buried on the exit of one corner.

"I think the kid's got potential - he is good and will become better if he is nurtured. There are other experienced drivers out there who are at Dan's level at the moment, or even a little bit ahead, but you just know that is their peak, that they'll never improve."

Clarke tested for Conquest last December and also tried out one of Conquest's Atlantic cars earlier this year, but he moved into the frame at CTE Racing-HVM, who last Monday announced they had signed Frenchman Nelson Phillipe for one of their seats.

Clarke's appointment ends the hopes of Denmark's Ronnie Bremer who raced with the then-named HVM Racing for five races last year before being leased by Wiggins to Dale Coyne Racing, as HVM sought a better-funded driver for their own car.

Bremer went on to finish second in the rookie standings.