Skip Barber Racing School – Page 3

Skip Barber Formula Race Series kicks off at Road Atlanta April 4-5

The 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series season kicks off this week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The 2.54-mile road course has hosted many Skip Barber races, but this will be the first with the new Skip Barber Formula car. The first round of the expanded eight-round, 16-race season will see a variety of drivers, from first-time racers to veterans of the series.

Top drivers across all motorsports across the world have started their racing journey through the Race Series. Sergio Perez, Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden, Ryan Hunter-Reay, A.J. Allmendinger, and Juan Pablo Montoya are just some of the names of previous Skip Barber Race Series drivers. With equalized race cars and a focus on driver development, the Skip Barber Formula Race Series is the perfect platform for aspiring racers to jumpstart their racing dreams.

The drivers returning for the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series include last year’s runner-up Jeshua Alianell as well as final round standouts Jaxon Bell and Spencer Schmidt. In the Masters class, last year’s champion Bob Perlmutter and third-place finisher Edgar White return for the entire season. Newcomers to the Skip Barber Race Series include Andretti Autosport development driver Sebastian Wheldon, karting champion Caleb Grafrarar, Lincoln Day, Kinsley Cronin-West, Barrett Wolfe, Thomas Tarlton, Rob Tarlton, Alan Orzynski, and more join the list of rookies in the series.

Catch all the action from Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta! Make sure you follow Skip Barber Racing School on Facebook and Instagram for race weekend updates of the Skip Barber Formula Race Series! Live timing is available on the Skip Barber website.

Jaxon Bell set to run full 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series season

Skip Barber Racing School is proud to announce that Jaxon Bell will compete full-time in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series season. With his limited, but impressive racing experience, Bell is looking to be a championship contender this season. …

The 19-year-old California native has only completed one full race weekend to date at the 2022 season finale at Circuit of The Americas but showed impressive results finishing on the podium with last year’s champion Elvis Rankin and championship contender Jeshua Alianell in both races. Jaxon is the son of former IndyCar driver, and current NBC broadcast analyst, and Skip Barber brand ambassador Townsend Bell.

“I chose Skip Barber as the starting point for my racing journey because they have the best reputation for success in the industry,” Bell said. “The goal for this season is to win the Skip Barber Race Series Championship and climb the USF Pro Championships ladder to one day compete in IndyCar and win the Indianapolis 500.”

The Skip Barber Formula Race Series is set to take the green flag across eight legendary racing venues across the United States. Bell is excited to make his debut laps at all the tracks in the series calendar, but mostly looking forward to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“I’m looking forward to WeatherTech Laguna Seca the most because of the elevation change and the new track surface,” Bell said. “The new track surface will generate a lot of grip and make for some exciting racing.”

Join Jaxon in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series! Experience the thrill of competing behind the wheel of an open-wheel car on some of America’s most legendary racing venues including VIRginia International Raceway, Lime Rock Park, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Road America, and Circuit of The Americas. Graduates of the Skip Barber Racing School 2-Day Advanced Formula Racing School and those with valid racing licenses are eligible to compete in the Skip Barber Race Series.

The arrive-and-drive race series combines the expert coaching of Skip Barber instructors with a true spec series, utilizing state-of-the-art Mygale Formula cars, offering a premier amateur racing environment at world-class North American tracks. Equalized race cars and a focus on driver development allow a driver’s true talent to determine the race outcome. The 2023 Skip Barber Race Series Champion will win a scholarship to compete in the 2024 USF Juniors or USF2000 season, with second place receiving a full-season scholarship to compete in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series and third receiving a half-season Skip Barber Formula Race Series scholarship. Join the elite class of Skip Barber alumni including Sergio Perez, Michael Andretti, Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, Josef Newgarden and Alexander Rossi.

Learn more about our Formula Race Series by clicking here.

Barrett Wolfe added to full-time Skip Barber Formula Race Series field

Skip Barber Racing School proudly announces that Barrett Wolfe will compete full-time in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series season. The 19-year-old Las Vegas native is set to make his first pro racing start after recently completing his 3-Day and 2-Day Advanced Racing Schools at Circuit of The Americas and VIRginia International Raceway. He is aiming to have a strong debut season this year.

Wolfe’s passion for racing started by playing racing video games. Since then, Wolfe has completed track days, competed in rental karting and sim racing, but visited Skip Barber Racing School when it was time to jump to open-wheel car racing.

“The Skip Barber Race Series was not only more affordable, but the easy access to coaching, programs, and testing was better than the other series I was considering,” Wolfe said. “I haven’t competed in a real-life series like this before. I’m very excited to learn, gain experience, and be competitive in the Skip Barber Race Series.”

The Skip Barber Formula Race Series is set to take the green flag across eight legendary racing venues across the United States, but Wolfe is most looking forward to VIRginia International Raceway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

“VIR and Road Atlanta are two tracks that I’ve always liked the layout of,” Wolfe said. “The elevation change at VIR is very thrilling when you’re in the driver’s seat and Road Atlanta is a fast layout that I am excited to drive and race on for the first time.”

Join Barrett in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series! Experience the thrill of competing behind the wheel of an open-wheel car on some of America’s most legendary racing venues including VIRginia International Raceway, Lime Rock Park, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Road America, and Circuit of The Americas. Graduates of the Skip Barber Racing School 2-Day Advanced Formula Racing School and those with valid racing licenses are eligible to compete in the Skip Barber Race Series.

Learn more about our Formula Race Series by clicking here.

Lincoln Day joins Skip Barber Formula Race Series for full season

Skip Barber Racing School proudly announces that Lincoln Day will compete full-time in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series season. The 16-year-old Wyoming native will make his first racing start with the Skip Barber Formula Race Series after …

Day is a recent Skip Barber Racing School graduate, completing his 3-Day Formula Racing School at Circuit of The Americas in December of last year. He then returned to Austin, Texas, and completed his 2-Day Advanced Formula Racing School earlier this month. When asked what track he looks forward to the most this year, Day points to Circuit of The Americas, home of the United States Grand Prix, where one of Day’s racing idols, Kimi Raikkonen, had his final win in Formula 1.

“My short-term goal for the year is to win a race in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series,” Day said. “In the long run, I hope to one day be competing in WEC.”

Although Day hasn’t made his first pro start, he has track day experience behind the wheel of a diverse fleet of cars, including Porsche GT4 Clubsport, Radical SR3XX, and Formula 3 cars. Day hopes to be able to transfer his track time to the Skip Barber Formula car and be a contender for the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series championship.

Join Lincoln in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series! Experience the thrill of competing behind the wheel of an open-wheel car on some of America’s most legendary racing venues including VIRginia International Raceway, Lime Rock Park, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Road America, and Circuit of The Americas. Graduates of the Skip Barber Racing School 2-Day Advanced Formula Racing School and those with valid racing licenses are eligible to compete in the Skip Barber Race Series.

Learn more about our Formula Race Series by clicking here.

Maloy joins Skip Barber Formula Race Series for full season

Skip Barber Racing School proudly announces that Nicholas Maloy will compete full-time in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series season. The 17-year-old Utah native is a recent Skip Barber graduate, completing his 3-Day and 2-Day Advanced Racing …

Maloy brings a solid racing resume including three podium finishes in the Yokohama Porsche Sprint Series behind the wheel of his Porsche GT4 last year in the last race of the 2022 season at Sonoma Raceway. Of those three podium finishes, one included being on the top step with his first ever race win. Nicolas plans to compete in the 2023 Porsche GT4 Junior Series, as well as the Skip Barber Formula Race Series. Coming from the sports car over to the open-wheel car, Maloy says he felt right at home almost immediately and loved the car. When Nicholas isn’t behind the wheel of a car, you can find him working out at the gym or practicing on his racing simulator.

“My goal for the year is to be able to win both the Skip Barber Formula Race Series Championship and the Porsche GT4 Junior Series Championship,” Maloy said. “In the long-run, I hope to be competing at one of the top levels of open-wheel racing in either Formula 1 or IndyCar.”

Join Nicholas in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series — experience the thrill of competing behind the wheel of an open-wheel car on some of America’s most legendary racing venues including VIRginia International Raceway, Lime Rock Park, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Road America, and Circuit of the Americas. Graduates of the Skip Barber Racing School 2-Day Advanced Formula Racing School and those with valid racing licenses are eligible to compete in the Skip Barber Race Series.

Learn more about our Formula Race Series by clicking here.

Skip Barber Race Team expands into GT4 America

After two successful seasons competing in TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School, the Skip Barber Race Team is set to build on their achievements of back-to-back TC class champions and TCA top-three overall finishes. In addition to the …

In GT4 America competition, Carter Fartuch and Matt Forbush will pilot the No. 37 Skip Barber Racing School Toyota GR Supra GT4. Forbush competed in TC America in 2020 and advanced to GT4 America in 2021 behind the wheel of the Toyota GR Supra GT4, where he has been competing ever since. Fartuch is coming fresh off a strong season in TC America, where he debuted the 11th-generation Civic Si from Honda Performance Development and finished runner-up in the TCA championship. Although most recently experienced in touring cars, Fartuch in no stranger to SRO GT racing. He was the 2019 Saleen Cup Young Class Champion and is looking forward to returning to GT racing.

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Ken Fukuda, Director of Race Series and Driving Schools for Skip Barber Racing School, will return to TC class competition, piloting the No. 42 Skip Barber Racing School HPD Civic Type-R. In his debut season, Fukuda showed continuous improvement and capped off the year with a podium at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Joining Fukuda in TC class will be 18-year-old Celso Neto. Neto brings over experience from racing in his home country of Brazil, competing in the Brazilian Touring Car Championships, Stock Car Light and Turismo 1.4. Neto competed in TC America for half of the season last year and secured two podium finishes and four top-five finishes. Neto will pilot the No. 7 Skip Barber Racing School HPD Civic Type-R.

A pair of Skip Barber Racing School students turned pro racers will compete for the Skip Barber Race Team in TCA class. William Lambros will drive the No. 77 Skip Barber Racing School Gen 11 HPD Civic Si. Lambros transitioned from karts to cars with Skip Barber Racing School at 14 years old and joined the Skip Barber Driver Development program in 2018. He competed in USF4 and the Skip Barber Formula Race Series, where he landed multiple race wins. Lambros’s resume also features trips to the podium in Spec Miata and Legend cars.

Cooper Broll will join Lambros in TCA competition, behind the wheel of the No. 19 Skip Barber Racing School Gen 11 HPD Civic Si. Broll has completed multiple Skip Barber Racing School programs since his first 3-Day school last year. He has completed programs at Lime Rock Park, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sonoma Raceway, Circuit of The Americas, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Catch all the action from Sonoma Raceway live on the Skip Barber Racing School Facebook page and YouTube channel. Live timing is available on the Skip Barber website. Make sure you are following Skip Barber Racing School on Facebook and Instagram for race weekends updates of the Skip Barber Race Team.

Fukuda returns to TC America with Skip Barber Race Team

Ken Fukuda returns to the Skip Barber Race Team in the 2023 TC America season, competing in TC class. Fukuda, Director of Race Series and Driving for Skip Barber, will be back behind the wheel of the No. 42 Marin Acura/Skip Barber Racing School HPD Civic Type-R. In addition to his director and racing role, Fukuda instructs across Skip Barber’s collection of driving and racing schools.

Fukuda brings various racing experience from Rotax 125cc karts, F2000, SCCA, VLN, and more. After his first full season in the TC America competition last year, Fukuda is looking to build off his progress and contend for the championship in 2023, having continued to improve throughout the season and capping it off with a podium finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“I’m returning fresh and with momentum from our podium finish at Indianapolis last season,” Fukuda said. “I’m excited to be back in the No. 42 Marin Acura/Skip Barber Racing School HPD Civic Type-R at my home track and looking forward to taking care of some unfinished business.”

The Skip Barber Race Team is going into its third season after back-to-back TC class championships, manufacturer championships, and a pair of top-three points finishes in TCA. Last season, the team secured 13 victories across all drivers with over 25 podium finishes. Fukuda will take his first green flag of the season at Sonoma Raceway on March 30.

Gafrarar to run full Skip Barber Formula Race Series season

Multiple karting champion Caleb Gafrarar will compete full-time in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series season. The 14-year-old North Carolina native made his karts-to-cars transition last December with his 3-Day Formula Racing School at Circuit …

Last year, Gafrarar secured four championships and 24 race wins across multiple series, including SKUSA Pro Tour Championship in X30 Junior, SKUSA Pro Tour Vice Champion in KA Junior, USPKS Champion in X30 Pro Junior, and California ROK State Champion in VLR Junior. In addition, Gafrarar was the USA representative for the FIA Academy Trophy 3 race series in Europe, racing in Belgium, Italy, and France.

“I believe that the Skip Barber Racing School will give me the practice, skills, racecraft, and tools to successfully compete in open-wheel race cars,” Gafrarar said. “The goal is to be a professional motorsports driver, with the desire of open wheel racing, I believe Skip Barber Racing School can help get me there.”

When asked what track he is looking forward to this year, Gafrarar points to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta because of its elevation change and high speed, high commitment corners. In addition to campaigning in the full Skip Barber Formula Race Series season, Gafrarar plans to run a limited karting schedule at select SKUSA and USPKS events.

Learn more about our Formula Race Series by clicking here.

Skip Barber Racing School becomes official racing school of Andretti Autosport

Andretti Autosport has today announced a partnership with Skip Barber Racing School, the world’s largest automotive education and entertainment company. The partnership builds upon decades of history between the two brands, with over a dozen of Andretti’s IndyCar drivers, past and present, and five members of the Andretti family having been trained in Skip Barber programs.

The newest member of the Andretti driving family to train with Skip Barber will be junior development driver Sebastian Wheldon. The son of the late two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, Sebastian will make his Skip Barber Formula Racing Series debut April 3-5 at Road Atlanta, with support from Gainbridge. Graduating from the karting ranks, this will mark the first season of car racing for the eldest Wheldon brother as he follows in the footsteps of his father who enrolled in the Skip Barber Racing School Formula Car Lapping Day at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2000.

The 2023 Skip Barber Formula Racing Series will consist of eight weekends and 16 races that will offer drivers access to iconic racetracks from coast to coast. New this season, the series will award $500,000 in scholarships with the overall series champion being offered a scholarship valued at $100,000 to advance to the USF Juniors Series the following season.

“Skip Barber Racing School represents one of the best training opportunities in the world for young racing talent. We’ve been fortunate to have a strong friendship over the years and are proud to be able to evolve this into a greater opportunity for our future racers,” said Michael Andretti, Chairman and CEO of Andretti Autosport. Sebastian will take a big step in his career this year competing in the Skip Barber Formula Racing Series with Gainbridge, and we’re excited to watch his continued development. I have no doubt he’ll be up to speed quickly and will grow immensely in the Skip Barber program.”

Dan DeMonte, CMO of Skip Barber Racing School, said, “Learning to become a professional driver at the highest levels of our sport requires desire, talent, and great coaching. We are excited to partner with Andretti Autosport to guide Sebastian on his championship journey. Both brands’ history and combined legacies in the racing industry make for a perfect union between the organizations.”

Wheldon commented, “I am super excited to compete in my first-ever car race in less than a week. I have already spent a few days with Skip Barber doing their five-day racing school and it was an awesome experience. All the team members are so knowledgeable, and I am looking forward to learning more as I start racing. It’s an incredible opportunity to have the support of Andretti Autosport and Gainbridge in a program that has launched the careers of several notable professional open-wheel racing drivers.”

Broll joins Skip Barber TC America race team

Cooper Broll will drive for the Skip Barber Race Team in the 2023 TC America season, competing in the TCA class. Broll will be behind the wheel of a Skip Barber HPD Civic Si. The California native began ski racing at age 8, but his career was cut …

Cooper Broll will drive for the Skip Barber Race Team in the 2023 TC America season, competing in the TCA class. Broll will be behind the wheel of a Skip Barber HPD Civic Si.

The California native began ski racing at age 8, but his career was cut short after a tick bite led to Lyme disease. Broll was so debilitated by Lyme that he had to drop out of all sports and could barely go to school for 2 years. Thanks to an incredible group of doctors, Broll made a full recovery several years ago and will carry International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) on board this year to raise awareness of this often invisible illness.

In addition to ILADS, Broll will also carry Pied Parker as a sponsor this season. Pied Parker is the future of parking technology that uses smart cameras and artificial intelligence to quickly, inexpensively, and remotely manage parking lots.

Broll has completed multiple Skip Barber Racing Schools since his first 3-Day Skip Barber Racing School last year. He has completed programs at Lime Rock Park, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sonoma Raceway, Circuit of the Americas, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca behind the wheel of our Mustang GT, Formula 4, and most recently, the HPD Civic Si.

“The Honda is so responsive, agile, and quick,” Broll said. “It’s a different experience from any car I have ever driven. It handles like it’s on rails, and every part, from the clutch actuation to the steering, is precise and sharp. The possibilities feel endless when driving the Civic Si.”

Skip Barber Racing School offers training for aspiring race car drivers like Broll and has graduates at the professional level of every racing series, including IMSA, Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and SRO. This winning combination highlights the amateur-to-pro race car driver ladder system supported by SRO’s TC America series and the Skip Barber Racing School. Broll is a real-world example of the program’s success.

“Skip Barber is not like other teams,” Broll said. “They are professional, experienced, safety conscious, and incredibly passionate about racing. From day one, Skip Barber has been welcoming and supportive. I’m happy Skip Barber will give me an incredible chance to progress in my professional racing career.”

“We are proud to have Cooper advance to our TC America program and compete for the TCA championship,” said Joe Monitto, Chief Revenue Officer of Skip Barber. “This is why we developed our Race Team, to give our graduates a path to pro racing. All of us at Skip Barber look forward to watching him continue to succeed behind the wheel in the upcoming season as he kicks off his pro racing career.”

Broll will take his first green flag with the Skip Barber Race Team at Sonoma Raceway on March 30th. The Skip Barber Race Team is going into its third season after back-to-back TC class championships, manufacturer championships, and a pair of Top 3 points finishes in TCA. Last season, the team secured 13 victories across all drivers with over 25 podium finishes.