Four finalists from a group of 12 karters have been named to the inaugural Mazda Road to Indy and MAXSpeed Group Driver Advancement Program.
The drivers are each awarded a one-day Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda test Jan. 28 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with the support of both Mazda Road to Indy and MAXSpeed Group personnel.
The partnership between the Mazda Road to Indy and Rotax MAXSpeed Group was announced in June to foster the next wave of up-and-coming drivers. Rotax is the largest racing series in the world in any form of motorsports with more than 15,000 drivers competing each year.
Selected by a panel of judges were Oliver Askew, 17, of Tequesta, Fla.; Christian Brooks, 14, of Santa Clarita, Calif.; Sabre Cook, 19, of Grand Junction, Colo.; and Austin Versteeg, 15, of Sandy, Utah. All are competitors in the United States Rotax MAX Challenge program.
The candidates participated in in-depth video interview conferences with Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires champion Gabby Chaves, three-time Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals champion Ben Cooper and veteran karter and multi-time Team USA member Alan Rudolph.
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"Our judges did a great job in the interview process and we couldn't have asked for anything better," said MAXSpeed Group's Richard Boisclair. “I would like to personally thank all the applicants as well as congratulate those who were chosen by our panel of judges."
Added Hinchcliffe, who last week was named to drive the No. 77 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season: "Karting is such an important element to the health and growth of motorsport in North America. The talent pool was deep and all of them should be proud of what they have accomplished and of making it into the finals.”
Agren earns F1600 title
Ayla Agren overtook Sam Chastain on the final lap at Watkins Glen International on Oct. 12 to post her third victory of the season and clinch the F1600 championship.
The three victories over the 14 rounds by Agren, 21, of Norway, were a field high. Team Pelfrey teammates Garth Rickards and Augie Lerch finished second and third, respectively, in the standings.
“This has been a great season, both on and off the track," Agren said. "The environment in the team was always positive and we all pulled in the same direction pushing each other forward. On track it was always a battle, giving us drivers great experience. This championship title is won as a team, and I want to thank Team Pelfrey for everything this season."