July 19, 2010

 

Biggest challenge awaits Daniel at Lime Rock Park

 

Despite winning both Watkins Glen F2000 Championship Series rounds, Daniel is far from confident heading into next weekend at Lime Rock Park. Photo: Janice Eakin.

 

 

You might think that Daniel Erickson, winner of the last two American F2000 Championship Series rounds, would be confident of a repeat performance at Lime Rock Park this weekend - but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the young Sydney driver reckons he'll have his work cut out just to be competitive, let alone take victory, at the Connecticut circuit.

 

No pre-event testing is scheduled for the Friday-Saturday race meeting, leaving Daniel just two practice sessions to familiarise himself with the high-speed 2.5km layout and fine-tune his racecar before qualifying. Any on-track incidents or set-up issues with his Quantum/Primus Racing Van Diemen could put him behind the eight-ball for Saturday's two 30-minute races.

 

Adding another degree of difficulty to Daniel's task is the likelihood that lap times will be extremely close at the pointy end of the field. Around 15 cars qualified within a second of the pole position time for both Lime Rock Park races in 2009, and this year's 30-car field is just as competitive.

 

"Winning at Watkins Glen has given my confidence a boost, but Lime Rock Park will be without doubt my biggest challenge yet in the series," Daniel said. "There's been a test day before official practice and qualifying at the rounds I've been to so far, but I won't have that luxury this time.

 

"There are two 35-minute practice sessions and then qualifying, so I'll need every lap I can get. The car will need to be pretty much spot-on from the outset for me to have a chance of starting on or close to the front row."

 

Daniel lies sixth in the F2000 Championship Series pointscore, and is the top-placed rookie, despite missing half of the eight rounds held to date due to a funding shortfall. He is averaging more points per round contested than current championship leader, Brazilian Victor Carbone, and has a realistic chance of finishing in the top three - or higher - if his race-winning form continues in the remaining four rounds at Road America and Mid-Ohio.

 

 

LIME ROCK PARK TIMETABLE - PROVISIONAL

 

Friday, July 23

10:00-10:35 US EDT / 00:00-00:35 Saturday, Australian EST - practice

13:30-14:05 US EDT / 03:30-04:05 Saturday, Australian EST - practice

17:10-17:40 US EDT / 07:10-07:40 Saturday, Australian EST - qualifying

 

Saturday, July 24

10:30-11:00 US EDT / 00:30-01:00 Sunday, Australian EST - Round 9

17:15-17:45 US EDT/ 07:15-07:45 Sunday, Australian EST - Round 10

 

 

F2000 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTSCORE (AFTER 8 OF 14 ROUNDS)

1. Victor Carbone (BR)      356

2. Cole Morgan (USA)       276

3. Tim Minor (USA)            220

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6. Daniel Erickson (AUS)  172 - contested four rounds only

 

 

MORE INFORMATION

Primus Racing Parts

Quantum Racing Services

F2000 Championship Series

 

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Jacobson Communications

Publicity - Website Content - Publications - Event Management

 


The Team Erickson members' V8 Race Drive prize draw was held on October 29, 2011, and the winner is Mark Golding (ticket number 0175). Second prize goes to Mark Fogarty (ticket number 0510), and third prize goes to Scott Kennedy (ticket number 0257). Congratulations to the prize winners, and thank you to everyone who participated in this Team Erickson members' fundraiser!