DECEMBER 19, 2002

Ecclestone man goes to aid of CART

David Clare, Bernie Ecclestone's right hand man in the Formula One Constructors Association between 1987 and 1996, has been appointed chief operating officer of CART. Clare will report to the company chief executive Chris Pook and will oversee CART's communicationss, racing operations, marketing and promoter relations.

The appointment is bound to add to the speculation that Ecclestone is planning to be involved in a bigger way in the development of CART as is widely rumoured at the moment. During his 10 years with Ecclestone Clare was responsible for FOCA's financial control, promotion and administration.

Clare left FOCA in 1996 and set up his own promotional company before joining Merit/Burson-Marsteller as Director of Sports Marketing for the Asia/Pacific region.

Clare has been involved in motor racing since 1979 when he worked at Toleman Motorsport, looking after finance and administration. He stayed with Toleman until 1984 when he joined Carl Haas's Formula One Race Car Engineering team, an operation which lasted only two years. He was then taken on by Ecclestone.