Formula Car Challenge racers make up over 70% of SCCA Majors Group Five Races
Willows, CA
April 9th, 2018
Rounds three and four of the 2018 Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear championships occurred this past weekend at Thunderhill Raceway Park. The race group featured 26 open wheel racers, and 19 of them were qualified FCC competitors.
The weekend started with a very rainy test day, and the track was still damp and slick come Saturday morning. The first qualifying session was the very first dry session of the weekend, and the track was really green.
Pole Positions for Round 3
FormulaSPEED Courtney Crone 1:49.85
Pro FM Jay Horak 1:48.42
Formula Mazda Bill Weaver 1:49.33
Race one got off to a clean start, and most of the drivers were still being cautious about track conditions. Sean Prewett and Mel Kemper had some minor contact early in the race, and Prewett was unable to continue. Kemper was able to recover and secure 3rd place in the FM class. Bill Weaver lead the Formula Mazda class from pole and retained the position at the finish. All race Woody Yerxa kept the heat on Weaver, and Yerxa took the 2nd position in FM. Brad Drew was the Hard Charger of the race gaining seven positions to finish sixth in FM. FormulaSPEED driver Courtney Crone had her mirrors filled with competitors, but was able to still be the lead driver when the checkered flag came out. Jay Horak continued his winning streak in Pro Mazda, making this his 3rd consecutive win of the season.
Round 3 Podium – Formula Mazda
1st – Bill Weaver
2nd – Woody Yerxa
3rd – Mel Kemper Jr.
Round 3 Podium – FormulaSPEED
1st – Courtney Crone
2nd – Rayce Dykstra
3rd – Bryson Lew
Round 3 Podium – Pro Formula Mazda
1st – Jay Horak
2nd – John Purcell
3rd – Sean Prewett
The grid for Round 4 was set by the best time of the previous three sessions, and so not all drivers took advantage of the second qualifying session. Pro FM racer Sean Prewett was one of the few that decided to go out for the session, and was able to improve his grid position.
Sunday lived up to its name with beautiful weather, and great racing. Good battles were happening every where you looked. John Purcell and Jay Horak were battling for 1st in class and overall. Graham Rankin in his Atlantic got between them and John held on for the overall and Pro FM win. In the FM class Mel Kemper pushed Bill Weaver lap after lap, but Weaver drove flawlessly and Kemper secured second. Derry O’Donovan had an amazing drive and capitalized on a mistake by 3rd place starter Woody Yerxa, taking the final podium position in Formula Mazda.
Round 4 Podium – Formula Mazda
1st – Bill Weaver
2nd – Mel Kemper Jr.
3rd – Derry O’Donovan
Round 4 Podium – FormulaSPEED
1st – Courtney Crone
2nd – Rayce Dykstra
3rd – Bryson Lew
Round 4 Podium – Pro Formula Mazda
1st – John Purcell
2nd – Jay Horak
3rd – Sean Prewett
At every Formula Car Challenge event series partners provide additional awards to the competitors. At this event, select drivers were awarded complimentary Goodyear Racing tires. The next event for the Formula Car Challenge is April 27th – 29th at Buttonwillow Raceway Park.
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