INDYCAR: Complex times for KV Racing
waiting to announce its fourth driver
, and with KV's prized opportunity in mind, one might expect Kalkhoven and Vasser to be inundated with offers from drivers clamoring to secure that final ride, but the K and the V in KV Racing have more pressing issues to clarify.As RACER first reported in September
, the Indianapolis-based team was preparing to move its operation to Carlin Racing's shop in Florida, and with a stated interest in forming an alliance with the 2016 Indy Lights champions, a KV and Carlin collaboration was expected to come together during the offseason.Two months later, and with other teams preparing to start pre-season testing in December, the plans for both parties have remained quiet. By the time the New Year arrives, could the keys to KV be in the hands of Trevor Carlin? Or could KV's owners form a partnership with Carlin?
It's complicated. The answer to both questions is maybe, and all three have been hesitant to speak on the record. Other than Kalkhoven, who confirmed to RACER he will stop in England to speak with Carlin on his return from an extended business trip, little is known about the upcoming plans for KV in IndyCar or the ongoing ambitions held by Carlin to join the series.
As Carlin told RACER
during the weekend where Ed Jones won the Indy Lights championship and the $1 million advancement prize, that funding would have eased Carlin's entry into IndyCar, butwith his recent signing for Dale Coyne Racing
, those startup funds (along with the Briton's talents and the other $2 million in sponsorship he's said to have found) will be used elsewhere.The loss of Jones created a financial setback that slowed the momentum of Carlin and KV coming together, and with a scarcity of fully-funded drivers walking the proverbial paddock, Carlin has been hesitant to commit to purchase or lease KV's cars and equipment to start an expensive IndyCar campaign without a concrete budget in place. Without a funded driver to jump-start the project, Carlin's IndyCar ambitions could be on an indefinite hold.
Conversations within KV suggest the team – with or without Carlin – will be on the grid for the March season opener in St. Pete. As one of four Chevy-powered teams, KV has the most sought-after engine and aero kit in IndyCar, and with a Leader Circle contract worth just over $1 million, it has a couple of strong selling points for any interested drivers that might emerge.
Considering the departure of James "Sulli" Sullivan – the SH in the KVSH entry (pictured) that Sebastien Bourdais drove to victory at Detroit 1 and 14th overall in the standings – and the move by Bourdais and his engineer Olivier Boisson to DCR for 2017, KV will also have some rebuilding to complete with its financial base and team infrastructure.
will become the sole focus of the silly season
.
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