INDIANAPOLIS -- One of CART's stalwarts for the last 10 years, Walker Racing announced its plans Thursday for a two-car, full-season effort in 2003.

Walker, who has had at least one entry in the series for each of the last 12 seasons, will field a car for one of the top young drivers in Europe as he announced Darren Manning will join the team as driver.

The team has committed to run a second car, whose driver and sponsor will be announced Feb. 4 at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway in conjunction with Champ Car Spring Training.

The 27-year-old Manning made his first big splash on the North American scene in 2002, thrilling a hometown crowd at Rockingham Motor Speedway as he made his CART debut in the Rockingham 500. Manning competed with the Dale Coyne-supported Team St. George and led 18 laps in his debut, despite fighting a broken end plate on his rear wing, finishing the day in ninth.

"Darren has demonstrated his ability on many occasions during his career but we were extremely impressed with how easily he adapted to the Champ Cars last season at Rockingham," Walker said. "We are very pleased to have him as part of our team and look forward to an exciting season in 2003."

As one of England's top young drivers, Manning has built a strong resume. The 1999 Japanese F3 champ and winner of the Macau Grand Prix, Manning has served as a test driver for British American Racing in Formula One for the last two seasons while also competing in the FIA International F3000 series.

Last season, Manning supplemented his testing duties with a ride in the ASCAR stock-car series, but returns this season to the open-wheel machines where he made his name.

"It's going to be great to have the opportunity to do a full season, especially with a team like Walker," Manning said. "I got a little taste of it last year and ever since then I've really wanted to get in the seat for a full season. I'm really looking forward to it."

Walker Racing is no stranger to having success with young drivers, having won races with Scott Goodyear, Robby Gordon and Gil de Ferran in the early stages of their careers. The team ran the last two seasons with Tora Takagi, helping the Japanese driver earn a career-best fourth-place finish at Chicago Motor Speedway.

Manning will make his first run with his new team next weekend at Sebring, starting his preparation for the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Feb. 23. One of the highlights of the year for Manning will be racing in front of his home crowd at Brands Hatch. The British race will be held on the bank holiday weekend May 3-5, bringing the top tier of North American open-wheel racing back to the historic track.