FRP Teams and Drivers Ready for VIR Weekend

F1600

Weather played a role for F1600 Championship Series drivers over three races at Watkins Glen International in May, and tightened the Championship chase between teammates from K-Hill Motorsports. Six of 21 rounds are in the books for 2018, with races seven, eight and nine scheduled for VIR this weekend.

While the headlines were about Tyler O’Connor’s two wins at Road Atlanta, the story flipped at Watkins Glen, as teammate Dario Cangialosi took two victories, while another K-Hill driver, Yuven Sundaramoorthy, also took the top step of the podium.

Now, heading into Watkins Glen, two points separate O’Connor’s Championship lead from teammate Cangialosi.

Team Pelfrey’s Joey Essma put in two podium drives at Watkins Glen and sits third in the points heading into this weekend’s triple-header at VIR, just ahead of Sundaramoorthy.

Ryan Bjerke, Baylor Griffin and Dexter Czuba follow in the Championship points, all coming off strong weekends at Watkins Glen. Czuba, of note, finished second in round four, his best F1600 result to date.

In the Masters Class, Joel Haas has a 12-point lead over Mike Scanlan.

F2000

One win and three podiums has propelled Steve Jenks to the F2000 Championship Series points lead after four races.

Heading into two rounds this weekend at VIR, the Tumenas Motorsports driver has wrestled the Championship lead away from Simon Sikes with a 15-point margin.

Joining Jenks at Tumenas Motorsports will be young American hopeful Aaron Jeansonne.

2017 Series Champion Brandon Dixon sits third, with one win coming at Watkins Glen.

Among other winners, Sikes triumphed at Road Atlanta and put together a third place run at the Glen; while James Roe’s impressive driving in the rain took him to victory lane in round four for Arms Up Motorsports.

Reece Everard, who nearly won at VIR last year, is back after missing Watkins Glen in the No. 61 entry, while other contenders expected include John LaRue and Robert Allaer.

Atlantic

Baltazar Leguizamon has remained perfect over four Atlantic Championship Series races in 2018 for K-Hill Motorsports, taking four victories, including two in challenging wet conditions.

He will now attempt to extend that at VIR in rounds five and six of the season, and extend his points lead over teammate Blake Mount, who has finished on the podium in all four races this year.

The pairing will have their challengers, as David and Keith Grant return for Polestar with a long list of VIR success.

There's also Spencer Brockman, who retired from the race lead at Watkins Glen with a car issue, and is looking for his first trip to the top step of the podium.

In the Masters Class, Bruce Hamilton is chasing Bob Corliss for the points lead, with additional entries expected from Kirk Kindsfater, Lee Alexander, Rich Zober and Lewis Cooper Jr.