The 100th: Watkins Glen Preview

June 26, 2013
Connery is coming off his first win of the year.

Sharon, CT – The landmark 100th race in the history of the F2000 Championship Series will take place at Watkins Glen International this coming weekend, marking rounds seven and eight of the 14-race 2013 campaign. The biggest field in the last three years is expected – and the front has gotten more competitive with Kyle Connery passing Tim Minor to find victory lane at Lime Rock and a host of other drivers looking for the top step of the podium at the Glen.

Connery, of course, is coming off a win at Lime Rock in the rain, and the last time he was in the No. 91 Van Diemen at Watkins Glen, he won both races. Connery currently holds the “race” track record at the circuit for the F2000 cars.

Minor and his Ski Motorsports No. 88 Citation have thus far looked nearly untouchable this year, with five commanding wins, but the rest of the field seemed to inch closer at Lime Rock. Minor has run well at Watkins Glen in the past and will figure in for wins in front of the Grand-Am Six-Hour crowd.

Defending Series Champion and race winners HP-Tech Motorsport will add a second car for 15-year-old karting ace Santino Ferrucci, who will partner with 17-year-old Roberto Lorena who is coming off two podiums at Lime Rock.

For the 100th race festivities, the Series will hold a separate gathering following the second and final race of the weekend on Saturday afternoon, which is race number 100 – awarding separate trophies for the winner, Masters Class win, and the best drive of the race.

Making his first appearance on the entry list in more than a year is Brazil’s Fabio Orsolon, flying into upstate New York a day after his wedding, and set to pilot the factory-backed No. 77 Radon chassis entered by GTP Motorsports.

Tim Paul re-joins the field after missing two weekends with other racing commitments, and Zach Craigo returns in addition, following strong runs at VIR and Road Atlanta.

WISKO's Federico Mosconi is fresh off a 15th-to-third race in the rain at Lime Rock, adding to his VIR podium, and team mates Kevin Kopp and Shane Morris have also shown speed this year. Kopp, of course, has a number of podiums on his F2000 resume and is in his sophomore season for the Dulles, Virgina-based team.

As the entry list details a who’s who of North American prep shops, chassis and drivers, R-Sport will enter two Metrik chassis for Keith McCrone and Tim Dunn and Polestar will bring a trio of cars for David Grant, Dan Denison and Bill Jordan. Grant is expected to make the switch from the Van Diemen to the new Spectrum F2000 chassis, and that could happen this weekend for the 2012 Atlantic Champion, sitting second in the Championship.

An action packed schedule sees two practice sessions on Thursday afternoon, followed by a 9:00 am practice, 10:30 qualifying and 5:30pm race on Friday, June 28. Saturday concludes with race number 100 and a green flag expected at 11:55am. All times are local, and live audio, timing, results, photos, news and more updates will be available on www.f2000series.com.

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