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Simona de Silvestro looks to finally get the ride she deserves. Various sources confirm the 24 year old Swiss driver is leaving HVM Racing after three seasons to join Tony Kanaan at KV Racing Technology. Simona brings her NuClear Clean Energy sponsorship with her to Kevin kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser’s squad. It had previously been reported that HVM and KV planned to join forces, but it looks as if that plan has fallen through.Simona has done wonders in the HVM car, which is generally considered a third or fourth tier ride. In her rookie season, she was the 2010 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Simona also took the 2010 Tony Renna Rising Star award. In 2011, de Silvestro would post back to back Top 10 finishes in the season opening races at St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park before enduring one of the most trying Months of May in recent memory. Her car flipped after a suspension failure in the North Short Chute, catching on fire and leaving the young drive from Thun Switzerland with second degree burns on both her hands. Several days later, Simona would be back in her backup car, Porkchop, locking up a starting spot in the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Shortly afterwards, Simona would suffer a concussion in an accident at Milwaukee Speedway, eliminating her from competition at the next race in Newton, Iowa. That wasn’t the end of Simona’s 2011 struggles as visa problems prevented her from taking part in the race at Sonoma.
In 2012, HVM would make the switch to Lotus power, but the boat anchor that was the Lotus powerplant prevented Simona from showcasing her abilities in 2012. Her best finishes would be 14th at both Belle Isle and Iowa. Unlike the rest of the Lotus teams, HVM was unable to sever their ties with the British company. Instead, they were relegated to field filler status as they simply raced out their contract.
Terms of Simona’s agreement with KV racing are unknown, but she should be present at KV’s offseason testing session this Monday at Barber Motorsports Park.
It’s so good to finally see Simona in a proper ride. Although, the KV team seems to have hit some bumps last season with grumblings from EJ and Rubens. I’m hoping things go well for her and she can finally show everyone the speed many of us knows she has.
Oh, I’d wished that Swiss Missile had raced with a Honda or Chevy motor, alongside someone like Wilson … As you said, that lotus lump prevented Simona from showing her potential (podiums). So I would not have been surprised if she had washed her hands of IndyCar and went sports car racing or touring car racing in Europe.
Kevin, will you be at the testing at “gorgeous” Barber Motorsports Park?
I think Simona is not only fast, but smart. I would expect her to have a number of top 10 finishes on the road courses which seem to be her forte. Glad to see her in a team with a little better financial backing. Vasser isn’t just a good team owner, but I think he’s a great coach as well. I’d also bet Simona improves quite a bit on the ovals as well with Vasser’s help.