Franklin Futrelle in for F1600 Season Opener at Raceworks

April 4, 2013
Franklin Futrelle

Augusta, GA  - Franklin Futrelle of Augusta, Georgia, will contest his first ever F1600 Formula F Championship Series race, April 11-14 at VIRginia International Raceway, driving a Van Diemen/Honda for Raceworks. Futrelle is a late addition to the field, putting together a last-minute deal to team with race winner Jim Goughary in the no. 9 entry.

The 27-year-old appeared on Speed Channel’s SETUP in 2008, and won the SCCA Triple Crown the same year in a Formula Mazda. More recently he has taken wins in the SCCA Super Tour at Sebring and the already-legendary Circuit of the Americas in a Spec Racer Ford.

 “Although I have never driven a Formula F car, I feel like a top five is realistic, given how well Raceworks prepares and sets up the cars,” said Futrelle.

Making matters more interesting for the driver is the fact he is a current Skip Barber instructor, and going up against a plethora of young and fast Skip Barber graduates.

“It will be exciting to put the teacher against the students,” added Futrelle, who is supported by Meco Inc of Augusta, the Friends with Benefits Fund and Skip Barber Racing.

“I would really like to thank my sponsors Meco Inc of Augusta and Skip Barber Racing, but I have to give an extra big thank you to Jerry Ranalli of Augusta, without him this weekend would not be possible.”

Futrelle has known teammate Jim Goughary since he was just 10 years old. “He was in SCCA Spec Racer Fords when my father was driving,” Futrelle explained.

“We have stayed in touch over the years and over the winter I contacted him with interest in running a Formula F car, and we put a deal together when he had an open seat.  It has worked out well because Raceworks is just two hours from where I am based.”

Futrelle launched his career when he was just 10, racing go karts and running on ovals located through the Southeast for four years.

He moved up to a Bandeloro Car for three years before going to SCCA driving school and starting in Spec Racer Ford in 2002, becoming the youngest driver to win the South Atlantic Road Racing Championships and earn the Jim Fitzgerald Award.

In addition to his Spec Racer Ford experience, Futrelle has tested a LMP 675 (P2) prototype, and has run a handful of F2000 pro events in a former category, in addition to time in a Pirelli World Challenge Viper, Shelby Can-Am car and more.

Keep up with the news from VIRginia International Raceway, where testing starts April 11, at F1600Series.com – the weekend has four days of track time, with Saturday and Sunday each featuring a race.

 

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