IndyCar | RLL Racing looking to add third entry for 2019
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is looking at opportunities at adding a third full time entry for the 2019 season.
RACER.com had reported that Bobby Rahal, David Letterman and Mike Lanigan are having some opportunities come their way about adding another full time entry to their duo of Honda’s. And their are considering taking upon those opportunities.
“There’s a couple good opportunities out there, so I’m much more sure of us having a three car program next year than I’ve ever been,” Bobby Rahal told RACER. “It’s not there yet, but it’s a strong chance and that’s exciting for us.”
One of the top rumored candidates for a ride in a RLL Honda is Indy Lights star and current points leader Colton Herta, who has the backing from his co team owner George Steinbrenner IV who runs Indy Lights in conjunction with Andretti Autosport. Another one to consider who also runs Indy Lights is young Mexican Patricio O’Ward, who captured the Indy Lights victory this past weekend in Iowa. There are also other forms of Motorsport where drivers come from often, like Robert Wickens who before this year was racing a Mercedes Coupe throughout Europe. The RLL team will have a good number of drivers to choose from for there lineup.
Currently only Graham Rahal is commited at the team for 2019. Team mate Takuma Sato would have to sign a contract extension beyond 2018. He is coming off a 3rd place finish in the Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway last Sunday and has showed speed at times throughout the season.
“Other than Graham, we don’t have commitments with anybody,” said Rahal. “And we’d like to keep Takuma with us. After the last couple of races, I think he is happier about the year.”
Rahal Letterman Lanigan is also looking at hiring a crop of new engineers if they were to have a third entry, rather than mixing and paring engineers from Graham Rahal’s team and Takuma Sato’s team.
“In my mind, you can never have to many great people and we’re always on the lookout for more, the people we have are doing great jobs in the positions they’re in, so we’d look to add engineers and whatnot for a third car.”
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