May 10, 2010
Daniel consolidates for American series return
 F2000 test day (VIR) - paddock [Eakin; 620x415].jpg)
After a stunning F2000 Championship Series debut, Daniel Erickson (at left) is consolidating his resources for a late-season return.
Photo courtesy of F2000 Championship Series (Janice Eakin).
Daniel Erickson is taking an enforced break from the American F2000 Championship Series - but he's determined to return before the end of the season. With his funds stretched to the limit, and his US race team in the throes of moving to new premises, Daniel put his 2010 campaign on hold until everything is set for another fully professional effort.
Last month, he stunned the F2000 Championship Series regulars at the opening two rounds at Virginia International Raceway by qualifying on pole position for both races. It was his first race meeting in a 'slicks and wings' openwheeler, his first drive of an F2000 car, and his first visit to the challenging 5.3km VIR road course!
In the first round he finished second by just 0.213sec. after mis-timing the rolling start, and in the second round he held a commanding lead until three laps from the finish, when a spark plug lead on his Primus Racing Van Diemen RF04 worked loose, dropping him to 10th place.
"Naturally I'm disappointed not to have been at Road Atlanta for the third and fourth rounds last weekend, but even though I had just enough money for the trip there were good reasons to stay in Australia for the time being," Daniel said.
"First and foremost, Jon Baytos, who owns Primus Racing, is relocating the team and his family at the moment. Under the circumstances it would have been unfair to ask Jon to prepare the car and get everything organised for Road Atlanta.
"It also would have meant another last-minute rush for me to get there in time. I didn't want to start testing on an unfamiliar racetrack only a few hours after flying halfway around the world, like at VIR."
Daniel is optimistic that he can still be a frontrunner when he eventually returns to the F2000 Championship Series.
"I'm sure that Jon Baytos is as keen as I am to pick up where we left off, only this time winning races as well as taking pole positions. It won't be easy in such a competitive series, but after what we achieved first time out at VIR anything's possible."
Meanwhile, Daniel's supporters can buy tickets for his three fundraising prize draws: a holiday in the NSW Snowy Mountains, a Formula Ford racetrack drive, and a Ferrari road driving tour. Details about the three prize draws, which have just 100 $20 tickets each, can be found here.
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