Watkins Glen Plays Host to May FRP Weekend
Salem, NH – Formula Race Promotions is back for a blockbuster weekend at Watkins Glen International, May 11-13, with full and deep grids across the F1600, F2000 and Atlantic Championship Series for the second event weekend of the 2018 race season.
F1600
Tyler O’Connor leads the way for K-Hill Motorsports in the F1600 Championship Series, as the youngster is coming off a double win at Road Atlanta that saw him assume the Championship points lead.
With another three races on tap at Watkins Glen, O’Connor will face no shortage of competition, with Team Pelfrey driver Joey Essma carrying momentum off closing out the Road Atlanta weekend with a win in tough wet conditions.
And the only driver with a win at Watkins Glen in the field, Mikhael Goikhberg, is back after a multi-year hiatus from F1600 competition, strapping in this weekend for Rice Race Prep.
Third in points, Yuven Sundaramoorthy put together a trio of top five finishes at Road Atlanta, and is only one of four drivers in the field with F1600 wins.
Rounding out the top five in the Championship, Masters Class ace Scott Rubenzer shined in April, and was in the lead pack for all three Road Atlanta rounds.
Those top drivers will be joined by 17 others with a strong entry list expected for the tripleheader at Watkins Glen.
F2000
Two F2000 Championship Series drivers added first-time wins to their racing resumes at Road Atlanta, with a tight Championship battle already forming heading into Watkins Glen.
Rounds three and four open from Watkins Glen with Simon Sikes at the top of the 14-race Championship, coming off a brilliant win in Road Atlanta’s rain.
Sikes has a narrow three point lead in the title chase over Steve Jenks, who is also coming off his first career win in a tightly contested race with defending Series Champion Brandon Dixon in round one of the season.
Dixon will hope to return to race-winning form at Watkins Glen, as a second place run at Road Atlanta was all he could muster, not starting the second race.
Other fast young drivers with strong performances to start the season included James Roe and Davis Durrett.
Polestar’s Rob Allaer will also hope to improve on his opening weekend performance, and aims to return to podium form at Watkins Glen.
Atlantic
A pair of past Atlantic Champions highlight the entry list as David and Keith Grant become immediate race win and weekend sweep favorites with their presence for Polestar at Watkins Glen.
They may have their work cutout for them, as Baltazar Leguizamon swept Road Atlanta for K-Hill Motorsports and has no intention of slowing down, and neither does Blake Mount, who finished second in both of the opening rounds.
Other new additions for Watkins Glen, rounds three and four of the 14-race 2018 season, include Kirk Kindsfater, Lee Alexander and Rich Zober.
Bob Corliss, driving for Comprent, leads the Masters Class points off two strong class wins.
On the Web:F1600: www.F1600Series.com | Facebook | Twitter
F2000: www.F2000Series.com | Facebook | Twitter
Atlantic: www. AtlanticChampionshipSeries.com | Facebook | Twitter
About Formula Race Promotions:
Formula Race Promotions (FRP) operates the F1600, F2000 and Atlantic Championship Series. Starting with F2000 in 2006, FRP added F1600 in 2011 and Atlantic in 2012. The Series’ philosophy is to offer a vertical integration between club and professional racing, while offering some of the best race tracks and significant amounts of track time in single-class running. FRP is privately owned and sanctioned by USAC.
Sources: Monty Mathisen/MathisenMedia