Atsushi Hara rejoining Team Orion?

Seen in the pits at this weekend’s Worlds Warm-up race in Thailand, is Atsushi Hara testing what looks like the new Team Orion Vortex motor in his Hot Bodies Cyclone. The former World Champion left the Swiss company at the end of 2006 to join Team Checkpoint, but the US company appears to have done little in the way of development in recent times and this appears to have left the Japanese driver looking for alternatives. Also spotted on Hara’s workbench are some Team Orion cells, and this new combination seems to be working as he is currently fastest after today’s controlled practice although we dont know if he will run with this motor in qualifying.

Image: Pre Worlds [thailandwc08.com]