2012-championship-down-to-the-wire
Sharon, CT – The F1600 Formula F Championship Series will come down to the final doubleheader weekend at Watkins Glen International, with rounds 11 and 12 deciding the 2012 title between American Brandon Newey and Finland's Matias Koykka.
Newey, driving for Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb/Agajanian, is coming off his third win of the year in a wild rain race at Summit Point in the No. 98 Mygale/Honda. The Purdue University student leads the Championship standings, without the two lowest point drops figured in (per Series rules), by just six points over Finland's Koykka, driving a Spectrum/Honda for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.
With those two drops figured in, however, Koykka takes back the Championship lead by just 15 points, setting up a dramatic finale to the hotly-contested 2012 Championship on the long course at Watkins Glen.
Said Newey: “We are going to take each session as they come and try to maximize each one. The Championship is going to come down to the wire, so it will be important not to make any mistakes.”
Both drivers will be without their usual teammates for the weekend.
For Koykka, teammate and three-race-winner Shae Davies will not make the trip from Australia, having suffered injuries last weekend in a race Down Under.
Due to age restriction rules at Watkins Glen, Garett Grist will surrender the No. 97 Mygale/Honda to Adrian Starrantino, from California.
Jeremy Grenier looks set to take home third place in points, in the Citation/Honda, and looked near to a win in the rain at Summit Point, as did Steve Oseth, in another Citation/Honda, who could take third in points before the doubleheader at Watkins Glen is done. Art Foster, in the first Ford-powered car, is just a few points off Oseth, and could also capitalize on trouble, or predicted rain at Watkins Glen.
If trouble happens between Newey and Koykka, Grenier is mathematically eligible for the overall title, but would need a lot of luck in both races.
Foster currently leads the CellMark Paper Hard Charger season standings, having made up 17 positions during the year. The winner of that statistic will take home a bonus cash prize at the Series banquet on Sunday night. Meanwhile, Dan Pyanowski is a close second, with 15 spots gained, followed by Sean Maisey with 14, and Joe Colasacco with 12.
Friday October 12 kicks off the weekend with a pair of F1600 practices, at 11:25 and 3:55 local time before Saturday morning opens to an 11:25 qualifying session and 3:55 race start. Sunday sees a slightly different schedule, with an 11:25 qualifying round followed by a 4:00 green flag with live audio available for Saturday and Sunday’s sessions along with photos, news, results and more at www.f1600series.com.