ATLANTIC, BUSINESS: PDR Reorganizes Race Team for 1999
18 September 1998
CORONA, Calif.- Mike David, co-owner of PDR Enterprises, announced he will be stepping aside as team manager of the PDR/Water Joe/Autodesk racing team to focus on development and testing of PDR's Swift 008a chassis for the 1999 season."The level of competition in Atlantic has increased significantly since CART acquired the series earlier this year," David explained. "We have decided to expand our program to include two new drivers for next year's campaign. With the addition of Jean Marchioni ( Jon Mar-Key-O-Ne) as our team manager, we will have the key people needed to support this growth."
Marchioni, of Nice, France, has been involved in open wheel racing for almost 20 years. As founder of JM Racing Inc., he applied knowledge and experience gained in Europe as technical advisor for the Elf-Winfield team competing in the F3 French Championship, to improve the image of karting in the U.S. This includes development of shifter classes and European classes in North America. Marchioni has assisted many drivers in furthering their motorsports careers in North America and Europe. Four of his better known drivers are Formula One drivers Eric Bernard, Erik Comas, Jean Alesi, and CART FedEx Championship rookie Alex Barron, whom he guided to three consecutive Grand National Karting titles.
"Mr. Marchioni helped me a lot as my race engineer," Jean Alesi said. "He taught me how to set up a go-kart and how to drive on a race track. It is thanks to him that I am now on a Formula One top team. I use the knowledge from my days of karting with Mr. Marchioni every day to now."
"I consider Jean Marchioni to be one of the most knowledgeable, competent, dedicated persons I have met," Alex Barron stated. "He truly is an asset to American racing, he implemented the professional environment and image American karting was lacking before."
Marchioni met Mike David several years ago when David was the technical director for Pro-American Shifter Sports, a professional karting association he co-founded.
"Mike David and his son, Michael, have created a very professional and business-like organization in PDR that has tremendous potential for the future," Marchioni noted. "They have surrounded themselves with good people and quality equipment; essential details to the success of a motorsports business. I am proud to be a part of PDR and share time in their growth towards participation with the CART FedEx Championship."
A common interest of both PDR and Marchioni is the need for a structured career development program for talented drivers and crew from karting to FF1600, FF2000 and Atlantics. David indicated Marchioni's immediate responsibilities included interviewing potential drivers for PDR's 1999 two-car Atlantic Campaign and developing on-going relationships with selected FF1600 and FF2000 teams.
"Jean Marchioni has had a major impact on teams and drivers competing in both North America and Europe," David summarized. "There are very few people with his qualifications and experience readily available. When combining his talents with Bob Lobenberg, our driver coach/engineer, our crew chief Scott Gelvin, fabrication specialist Paul Sellenthin and the rest of the PDR team, what we have is a core group equal to the best in any series."
