Darren Morgan... no longer racing???

[Melz]

Hey guys i just pulled this story off dragster.com.au (sorry mods/admin but i thought i better mention where i got it from), saying that Darren Morgan will no longer drive the Fuchs Top Fueler...

Posted by Grant Stephens on 2006/3/31 10:17:02

After much negotiation, the owners of Lamattina Top Fuel Racing team have today announced that the Fuchs Top Fuel Dragster will relocate to Melbourne at the end of the 05/06 Australian Top Fuel Championship Season.

The Fuchs Top Fuel Dragster will be garaged and serviced at Pavtek Street & Race Engines’ new facilities in the northern suburb of Epping.

Lamattina Team Tuner, Theo Pavlomanolakos is expanding his Melbourne operation - Pavtek Street & Race Engines. The new and improved workshop facilities will further enhance the quality service and machine work experienced by Lamattina Top Fuel Racing since they commenced drag racing at the top level.

Team owners; Angelo, Phil & John Lamattina play vital roles in the operation, maintenance and assembly of the car. Due to huge work commitments associated with being one of the country’s largest carrot producers, the brothers are unable to continue to fill these technical roles at the level required to do the team and the sponsors justice.

As part of the transition and move to the Fuchs Top Fuel Dragster’s new home in Melbourne, the team will be taking a break for the 1st half of the 2006/07 season, with intentions to recommence competition in early 2007.

The team will, however, still compete for the remainder of the 2005/06 season in a bid to gain back-to-back championships, in what has been the most fiercely contested Top Fuel season ever.

During the transition Darren Morgan will step aside as the driver of the Fuchs Top Fuel Dragster. It has always been the plan that Darren would pilot the dragster for the first season or two, after which, one of the Lamattina brothers would take over this role.

The transition period will also see an intense licensing, training and fitness program put into place for Phil Lamattina. Phil will assume the duty of driver of the Fuchs Top Fuel Dragster when the team recommence competition in early 2007.

Lamattina Top Fuel Racing understand that the decision to miss the first half of the 06/07 season may disappoint some of their fans, but this decision was not made lightly. The Lamattina brothers firmly believe that, in the long term, this decision will strengthen the operation and elevate the sport to new heights for the benefit of their supporters and sponsors.