August 30, 2010


Rookie award, pointscore podium
are championship finale targets

 

Continued consistent results in the final two rounds of the F2000 Championship Series at Mid Ohio next weekend should be enough for Daniel Erickson (above, leading Jonathan Scarallo and Cole Morgan in the gripping 12th round at Road America) to achieve his goals of Rookie of the Year and top three in the pointscore. Photo by Janice Eakin.

 

 

Daniel Erickson is aiming for his best ever international championship result as the F2000 Championship Series draws to a close at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend.

 

The young Sydney driver has two goals going into rounds 13 and 14 of the championship: Rookie of the Year; and third place (or higher) in the pointscore.

 

His first goal is virtually assured, as he holds a substantial points advantage over the next rookie, Chris Livengood. His second goal is less certain, because although he lies third overall on 'corrected' points (with each driver's two lowest-scoring rounds deducted, according to the championship rules) no fewer than five drivers are within striking range.

 

Daniel has a mathematical chance of grabbing second overall from 2007 champion Cole Morgan, but with a 60-point difference it would take results at opposite extremes for them to swap places.

 

Even so, the Australian Motor Sport Foundation International Rising Star wasn't feeling any pressure with the championship finale at the 3.9km (2.4 mile) Lexington road circuit less than a week away.

 

"I'm quite relaxed - more than I was before the final rounds of the British Formula Ford Championship last year" he said. "Back then I had to beat my team-mate to finish fifth in the pointscore after an up-and-down season; this time I just have to maintain the consistency I've achieved in the past three races.

 

(Daniel racked up second placings in Round 10 at Lime Rock Park on July 24, and in Rounds 11 and 12 at Road America on August 7-8.)

 

"Maybe the lack of pressure is because I'm not in contention for the championship win after missing four rounds."

 

Daniel acknowledged that his hardest tasks would be to learn the unfamiliar Mid Ohio circuit and fine-tune his Primus Racing Van Diemen in the limited practice time available.

 

"There are only two practice sessions on Friday before qualifying and a race each on Saturday and Sunday," he said. "That means I need to have my car sorted, with no driving errors or mechanical problems, by Friday night.

 

"There's very little margin for error in this championship with around 30 drivers, including some fast and experienced F2000 veterans as well as quick young drivers, at most rounds. But I've struck a good rapport with my race engineer, (Primus Racing Parts owner) Jon Baytos, and I've been training hard in the four weeks since Road America, so there's every reason to believe that we can score two good results at Mid Ohio."

 

Daniel has made a big impression in his first American foray with four pole positions (including two qualifying lap records), two race wins, four second places and two fastest race laps from eight races. Recently he was declared Hard Charger of the Month for August by prominent USA 'development' openwheel racing website eFormulaCarNews.com.

 

 

MID OHIO TIMETABLE

 

Friday, September 3

09:40-10:10 USA EDT / 23:40-00:10 Saturday, Australian EST - Practice session 1

13:45-14:15 USA EDT / 03:45-04:15 Saturday, Australian EST - Practice session 2

 

Saturday, September 4

09:40-10:10 USA EDT / 23:40-00:10 Sunday, Australian EST - Round 13 qualifying

13:45 USA EDT / 03:45 Sunday, Australian EST - Round 13 race (19 laps)

 

Sunday, September 5

09:40-10:10 USA EDT / 23:45-00:10 Monday, Australian EST - Round 14 qualifying

13:45 USA EDT / 03:45 Monday, Australian EST - Round 14 race (19 laps)

 

Follow Daniel's progess 'live' during practice, qualifying and the races on Twitter.

 

 

2010 F2000 CHAMPIONSHIP 'CORRECTED'* POINTSCORE AFTER 12 OF 14 ROUNDS (aggregate totals in brackets)

1. Victor Carbone (BR)            461(489)

2. Cole Morgan (USA)             382 (404)

3. Daniel Erickson (AUS)        322 (322) - contested eight rounds only

4. Phil Lombardi (USA)           319 (340)

5. Keith McCrone (USA)         298 (322)

6. Tim Minor (USA)                  279 (279)

7. Fabio Orsolon (BRA)          257 (258)

8. Jonathon Scarallo (USA)    249 (249)

 

* After deducting each driver's two lowest-scoring rounds, according to F2000 Championship Series rules.

 

 

MORE INFORMATION

Australian Motor Sport Foundation

Primus Racing Parts

F2000 Championship Series

 

 

The 3.9km (2.4-mile) Mid Ohio Sports Car course in Lexington, Ohio, is the venue for next weekend's final two rounds of the 2010 F2000 Championship Series.

 

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Jacobson Communications

Publicity - Websites - Publications - Event Management

 

 


*** NEWS FLASH! *** Thursday, September 2: In his first sighting of the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, Daniel Erickson has set the second-fastest lap time in testing for this weekend's final two rounds of the American F2000 Championship Series. Daniel's best lap was just 0.316sec. off the all-time qualifying record. Story to follow.