ATLANTIC: Elton Julian Signs with PDR-Water Joe Racing
17 November 1998
CORONA, Calif. -- PDR Enterprises has announced the signing of Elton Julian, of Bennockburn, Ill., as the first of an expected two-driver team to campaign for PDR in the 1999 KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship. The 24-year old southern California native has over 10 years competitive motorsports experience in Europe and North America and will compete in a PDR-prepared Swift 008a."We opened discussions with Elton at Monterey," said PDR team manager Jean Marchioni. "He has had limited visibility in the United States which has made it difficult for him to secure a full-time ride in CART. He is a proven driver in both British and French Formula Three, and earned enough respect for a Formula One test and subsequent testing contract with Larrousse-Ford in 1994 prior to the team closing down. Elton clearly brings international experience into the PDR fold and offers PDR a very good chance to challenge for the Atlantic championship next year. A successful season with PDR that could lead to a Champ Car opportunity for Elton would have its residual benefits to PDR's future."
Julian graduated from the Jim Hall Racing School for sprint karts in 1988 and promptly scored 10 victories that same year in the International Karting Federation's U.S. Sprint Kart Series.
After becoming the youngest-ever graduate of the Skip Barber Racing School in 1989 at age 15, Julian scored three victories in 12 starts in the Skip Barber Formula Ford 1600 Florida Winter Series, and earned series Rookie-of-the-Year honors. His success continued in 1990 with 44 overall Skip Barber Formula Ford 1600 victories in 60 regional and national competitions.
Julian's first taste of international competition was in the Mexican Formula 3 support race to the 1991 Formula One World Championship U.S. Grand Prix in Phoenix, where he finished eighth. He moved to Europe the following year where he competed in 13 of 16 British Formula 3 Championship events. His eighth place series finish was highlighted by a pole and race victory at Thruxton to become the youngest driver to ever win a British Formula 3 race. Julian's 1992 transatlantic season also recorded a pole and third place finish in the IMSA Barber Saab Pro Series race at Road America, and sixth place in the Molson Indy Vancouver Indy Lights race.
Julian further boosted his European standing following a productive 1993 campaign with the Formula Project team in the French Formula Three Championship. His overall third place finish was punctuated with two pole positions and two second place finishes.
An invitation to test with the Formula One Larrousse-Ford in 1994 showcased his potential when he recorded test times as much as 0.6-seconds faster than the Larrousse-Ford full-time driver. This led Julian to sign a testing contract, but financial constraints leading to a team demise placed his Formula One career on hiatus.
Julian has since competed within a variety of international formula's and sportscar racing venues including the Daytona 24 Hours and 12 Hours of Sebring. In 1995, Julian piloted the Euromotorsport Ferrari 333SP to second place in the WSC class and eighth place overall at Daytona, and the fastest lap and lap record at Sebring.
