Mällinen Set for Watkins Glen After Victory in Season Opener

May 9, 2016

Liberty Lake, WA – Max Mällinen is coming in with momentum on his side for this weekend’s triple-header event at Watkins Glen International, fresh off his first F1600 Formula F Championship Series victory in the No. 10 Swan Motorsports entry at Road Atlanta last month.

“This coming race weekend is going to be one for the books,” said Mällinen, the 2014 and 2015 Formula F SCCA Majors Champion, “The Race 3 Atlanta win not only gave me the momentum to put together a winning drive on the track, but gave Mirl and the whole Swan Motorsports crew yet another reason to put together an even faster car than Atlanta.”

In his first start in the F1600 pro series since the summer of 2014, Mällinen put together two solid finishes in races on Saturday before storming to victory on Sunday at Road Atlanta.

The 17-year-old now sits fourth in points in the 21-race campaign, and returns to 11-turn, 3.4-mile high-speed Watkins Glen this weekend, where he last raced in 2014.

“I remember going 2 and 3 wide through the esses and the box back in 2014. With the newly paved surface, it not only will be faster, but the racing will be just that much closer.” added Mällinen.

As he finishes high-school, Mällinen is well-poised to put a Championship bid together in the F1600 Series, which continues to be one of those most competitive junior-level racing categories in North America.

“Every driver on track has the will and tools to win. It’s simply a 150mph chess game every time the green flag drops. Sometimes you make the move and other times the move is made on you. But to win the championship, every race must be a success.” Mällinen continued.

Watkins Glen will be a familiar circuit for the aspiring racer, but has a new feel to it, after a bid-budget re-pave, the track is expected to be significantly faster.

Two practice sessions for F1600 drivers this Friday will give them an hour to fine-tune their setups for morning qualifying on Saturday followed by three races in just over 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.

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