Veach to run for 2012 Star Mazda title
Mazda Road to Indy Star Continues His Climb Up the IndyCar Ladder
INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2012) - Andretti Autosport announced today it has signed Zach Veach to compete in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Veach will drive the #77 Team Zakosi Data Backup car.
Though this will be his first full season in the series, Veach is no stranger to the Star Mazda Championship car. Veach recently drove to victory in the first two rounds of the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear Winter Series, held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. in November. He earned two pole positions and led every lap during the race weekend in the No. 77 Team Zakosi Data Backup Star Mazda car. During the 2011 season, Veach also competed during the final two rounds of the Star Mazda Championship. He secured a third place podium finish at the final race of the season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Veach, a 17-year-old from Stockdale, Ohio, finished fourth in the 2011 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda. He helped Andretti Autosport secure the team championship title for the second consecutive year with one win, five podiums and three pole positions. He also captured the inaugural Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Winterfest Championship title earlier this year with two race wins. In 2010, Veach finished fifth in the overall USF2000 driver championship points, despite starting the season two races behind the rest of the field.
Away from the track, Veach stays active as a spokesperson for FocusDriven, an advocacy group for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using their cell phones, has campaigned for Oprah Winfrey's "No Phone Zone," and even created a phone app to fight texting behind the wheel. He also released a book titled 99 THINGS TEENS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE TURNING 16, where he shared his battle with bullying, which later led to his campaign work for the Cyber Safety Academy's No BULL Challenge.
ESPN The Magazine recently named Veach a "NEXT" athlete in motorsports and is one of CNN's "Intriguing People," as well as being nominated for the Sports Illustrated "Sports Kid of the Year" award.
In addition to Zakosi Data Backup, The Young Marines, ADS IT Solutions, Replay XD, and Arai Helmets are providing additional support on the #77 effort.
Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the Star Mazda Championship is one of two series part of both the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver program. Andretti Autosport is currently the only INDYCAR team to compete in each level of the Mazda Road to Indy.
Prior to the start of the 2012 season, Veach will wrap up his campaign for the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear Winter Series title heading into the final three events with the points lead at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. January 20-22.
The 2012 Star Mazda season will begin March 24 in St. Petersburg, Fla. For more information and a full season schedule, visit www.AndrettiAutosport.com and www.StarMazda.com.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT: "We're always impressed with Zach and how he handles himself both on and off the track. There's no doubt in my mind that he'll be successful again this year as he steps up to Star Mazda full-time. I look forward to watching him move up the field this season."
ZACH VEACH, DRIVER, #77 TEAM ZAKOSI DATA BACKUP: "I'm really excited to be racing in the Zakosi Data Backup Star Mazda car this season, especially with Sage [Karam] as my teammate again. The time I was able to spend in the car earlier this winter gave me a chance to change my driving style to better suit the Star Mazda car, and I think with a bit more testing I'll be ready to compete for the championship. I would like to thank Michael Andretti, Zakosi Data Backup, my family and the whole team that continues to support me. I can't wait to get on track!"
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INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2012) - Andretti Autosport announced today it has signed Zach Veach to compete in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Veach will drive the #77 Team Zakosi Data Backup car.
Though this will be his first full season in the series, Veach is no stranger to the Star Mazda Championship car. Veach recently drove to victory in the first two rounds of the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear Winter Series, held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. in November. He earned two pole positions and led every lap during the race weekend in the No. 77 Team Zakosi Data Backup Star Mazda car. During the 2011 season, Veach also competed during the final two rounds of the Star Mazda Championship. He secured a third place podium finish at the final race of the season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Veach, a 17-year-old from Stockdale, Ohio, finished fourth in the 2011 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda. He helped Andretti Autosport secure the team championship title for the second consecutive year with one win, five podiums and three pole positions. He also captured the inaugural Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Winterfest Championship title earlier this year with two race wins. In 2010, Veach finished fifth in the overall USF2000 driver championship points, despite starting the season two races behind the rest of the field.
Away from the track, Veach stays active as a spokesperson for FocusDriven, an advocacy group for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using their cell phones, has campaigned for Oprah Winfrey's "No Phone Zone," and even created a phone app to fight texting behind the wheel. He also released a book titled 99 THINGS TEENS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE TURNING 16, where he shared his battle with bullying, which later led to his campaign work for the Cyber Safety Academy's No BULL Challenge.
ESPN The Magazine recently named Veach a "NEXT" athlete in motorsports and is one of CNN's "Intriguing People," as well as being nominated for the Sports Illustrated "Sports Kid of the Year" award.
In addition to Zakosi Data Backup, The Young Marines, ADS IT Solutions, Replay XD, and Arai Helmets are providing additional support on the #77 effort.
Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the Star Mazda Championship is one of two series part of both the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver program. Andretti Autosport is currently the only INDYCAR team to compete in each level of the Mazda Road to Indy.
Prior to the start of the 2012 season, Veach will wrap up his campaign for the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear Winter Series title heading into the final three events with the points lead at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. January 20-22.
The 2012 Star Mazda season will begin March 24 in St. Petersburg, Fla. For more information and a full season schedule, visit www.AndrettiAutosport.com and www.StarMazda.com.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT: "We're always impressed with Zach and how he handles himself both on and off the track. There's no doubt in my mind that he'll be successful again this year as he steps up to Star Mazda full-time. I look forward to watching him move up the field this season."
ZACH VEACH, DRIVER, #77 TEAM ZAKOSI DATA BACKUP: "I'm really excited to be racing in the Zakosi Data Backup Star Mazda car this season, especially with Sage [Karam] as my teammate again. The time I was able to spend in the car earlier this winter gave me a chance to change my driving style to better suit the Star Mazda car, and I think with a bit more testing I'll be ready to compete for the championship. I would like to thank Michael Andretti, Zakosi Data Backup, my family and the whole team that continues to support me. I can't wait to get on track!"
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Atlantic Championship Series Launching for 2012
Dec. 15, 2011
Sharon, CT – Formula Race Promotions has announced the formation of the Atlantic Championship Series for SCCA-legal Formula Atlantic race cars. The Series will be run in conjunction with the highly successful F2000 Championship Series and F1600 Formula F Championship Series, sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. A six-round, three-event Championship is planned for 2012.
The year will open May 10 – 12 at Road Atlanta with F2000 and Formula Drift, followed by a trip to New Jersey Motorsports Park, June 29 – July 1, with ARCA, TransAm, F2000 and F1600. The season will wrap up at Summit Point, August 24 – 26, with CCS Motorcycles, F2000 and F1600.
“We are responding to numerous requests from inside the Atlantic community and are pleased to offer this spectacular class of race cars a dedicated series. While the car counts are not currently in the F2000 or F1600 league, we feel there are sufficient enthusiastic teams and drivers that, if offered a compelling program, will respond with their entry and participation,” said Michael Rand, managing director.
“As a five-year competitor in Atlantic, and its immediate predecessor, Formula B, in the dark ages of the early 1970s, I am personally very excited to see this develop in 2012 and beyond,” Rand said.
Formula Race Promotions will bring in dedicated technical staff just for the Atlantic Championship Series, while utilizing the existing Timing and Scoring, Chief Stewards and Registration personnel of the F2000 and F1600 Championships.
All cars will be required to run Hoosier Racing Tires, 13” diameter bias ply or 15” diameter radials. Sizes, compounds and purchase details are to be announced at a later date. Meanwhile, all chassis and motor rules are per the 2012 SCCA GCR.
Registration fees will be $950, and include a permanent number, participation in the points championship, participation in any and all contingency programs that may be instituted, and SCCA Pro Racing driver and crew licenses.
Each event entry fee (double race weekend) will be $1,250.
All events feature two races per weekend, six races in total, and a driver’s best-five results will count toward the 2012 title. Points will be awarded per the established Formula Race Promotions table, as utilized by both F2000 and F1600.
Purses are yet to be announced, but each race winner will receive, at a minimum, the equivalent of the event entry fee in the form of a check or products.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in each race, plus the top four in the season-ending points, counting the best five of six results.
More information will be available soon on www.AtlanticChampionshipSeries.com
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Sharon, CT – Formula Race Promotions has announced the formation of the Atlantic Championship Series for SCCA-legal Formula Atlantic race cars. The Series will be run in conjunction with the highly successful F2000 Championship Series and F1600 Formula F Championship Series, sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. A six-round, three-event Championship is planned for 2012.
The year will open May 10 – 12 at Road Atlanta with F2000 and Formula Drift, followed by a trip to New Jersey Motorsports Park, June 29 – July 1, with ARCA, TransAm, F2000 and F1600. The season will wrap up at Summit Point, August 24 – 26, with CCS Motorcycles, F2000 and F1600.
“We are responding to numerous requests from inside the Atlantic community and are pleased to offer this spectacular class of race cars a dedicated series. While the car counts are not currently in the F2000 or F1600 league, we feel there are sufficient enthusiastic teams and drivers that, if offered a compelling program, will respond with their entry and participation,” said Michael Rand, managing director.
“As a five-year competitor in Atlantic, and its immediate predecessor, Formula B, in the dark ages of the early 1970s, I am personally very excited to see this develop in 2012 and beyond,” Rand said.
Formula Race Promotions will bring in dedicated technical staff just for the Atlantic Championship Series, while utilizing the existing Timing and Scoring, Chief Stewards and Registration personnel of the F2000 and F1600 Championships.
All cars will be required to run Hoosier Racing Tires, 13” diameter bias ply or 15” diameter radials. Sizes, compounds and purchase details are to be announced at a later date. Meanwhile, all chassis and motor rules are per the 2012 SCCA GCR.
Registration fees will be $950, and include a permanent number, participation in the points championship, participation in any and all contingency programs that may be instituted, and SCCA Pro Racing driver and crew licenses.
Each event entry fee (double race weekend) will be $1,250.
All events feature two races per weekend, six races in total, and a driver’s best-five results will count toward the 2012 title. Points will be awarded per the established Formula Race Promotions table, as utilized by both F2000 and F1600.
Purses are yet to be announced, but each race winner will receive, at a minimum, the equivalent of the event entry fee in the form of a check or products.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in each race, plus the top four in the season-ending points, counting the best five of six results.
More information will be available soon on www.AtlanticChampionshipSeries.com
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2012 F2000 Schedule Set
Sharon, CT – The F2000 Championship Series 2012 schedule will see the popular tour visit seven different tracks in North America, with double race weekends at each.
For the seventh straight year, the Championship will open at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in April, followed by a May trip to Road Atlanta with Formula Drift, Lime Rock Park on a spectator-heavy Memorial Day weekend, New Jersey Motorsports Park at the end of June with ARCA, and then onto Mid-Ohio in late July, before Summit Point at the end of August. The season finale will take place at Watkins Glen International in October.
The schedule is in response to data collected over six successful seasons, and an end-of-the-year 2011 survey, completed by Series participants.
“For our seventh season, we have a few, now, traditional dates as well as revisiting a few tracks in conjunction with great spectator weekends. The spacing of the events allows breathing room between race weekends and from spring to fall almost every month has something going on,” added Michael Rand, Series managing director.
The Series last visited New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2008 for a season finale, and last ran at Summit Point in the summer of 2009.
An opening weekend at VIR will be accompanied by a traditional Thursday test day. Road Atlanta and New Jersey will also feature Thursday testing, with Mid-Ohio seeing a more traditional twilight testing window on Thursday evening.
The Series will keep its points rules, dropping the lowest two scores for each driver before compiling the final standings.
Meanwhile, the road to F2000, the F1600 Formula F Championship Series, will expand its 2012 program after a successful inaugural season in 2011. F1600 will join F2000 at all events in 2012.
F2000 officials expect strong car counts in 2012, with the 2011 season closing on a strong note, with 36 entries at Watkins Glen. New chassis manufacturers Radon, RFR, and Spectrum are expected to increase their numbers in a paddock dominated by Van Diemens.
2012 Tentative F2000 Schedule:
April 12 – 15: VIRginia International Raceway (with Historics)
May 10 – 12: Road Atlanta (with Formula Drift)
May 25 – 26: Lime Rock Park (with TransAm)
June 28 – July 1: New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt) (with ARCA and TransAm)
July 26 – July 29: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (with SCCA)
August 24 – 26: Summit Point (with CCS Motorcycle Racing)
October 12 – 14: Watkins Glen International (with Historics)
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For the seventh straight year, the Championship will open at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in April, followed by a May trip to Road Atlanta with Formula Drift, Lime Rock Park on a spectator-heavy Memorial Day weekend, New Jersey Motorsports Park at the end of June with ARCA, and then onto Mid-Ohio in late July, before Summit Point at the end of August. The season finale will take place at Watkins Glen International in October.
The schedule is in response to data collected over six successful seasons, and an end-of-the-year 2011 survey, completed by Series participants.
“For our seventh season, we have a few, now, traditional dates as well as revisiting a few tracks in conjunction with great spectator weekends. The spacing of the events allows breathing room between race weekends and from spring to fall almost every month has something going on,” added Michael Rand, Series managing director.
The Series last visited New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2008 for a season finale, and last ran at Summit Point in the summer of 2009.
An opening weekend at VIR will be accompanied by a traditional Thursday test day. Road Atlanta and New Jersey will also feature Thursday testing, with Mid-Ohio seeing a more traditional twilight testing window on Thursday evening.
The Series will keep its points rules, dropping the lowest two scores for each driver before compiling the final standings.
Meanwhile, the road to F2000, the F1600 Formula F Championship Series, will expand its 2012 program after a successful inaugural season in 2011. F1600 will join F2000 at all events in 2012.
F2000 officials expect strong car counts in 2012, with the 2011 season closing on a strong note, with 36 entries at Watkins Glen. New chassis manufacturers Radon, RFR, and Spectrum are expected to increase their numbers in a paddock dominated by Van Diemens.
2012 Tentative F2000 Schedule:
April 12 – 15: VIRginia International Raceway (with Historics)
May 10 – 12: Road Atlanta (with Formula Drift)
May 25 – 26: Lime Rock Park (with TransAm)
June 28 – July 1: New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt) (with ARCA and TransAm)
July 26 – July 29: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (with SCCA)
August 24 – 26: Summit Point (with CCS Motorcycle Racing)
October 12 – 14: Watkins Glen International (with Historics)
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