World Speed Pre-Season Testing Continues for Star Mazda and Formula Mazda Challenge Series
World Speed Motorsports is continuing to test as the Star Mazda and FMC Series opening days draw closer. In February alone, the team will surpass the 20,000 mile mark as new drivers to the team do what they can to prepare themselves for battle against the returning veterans.
On the Championship Level Star Series team Eric Freiberg will join 2007 WSM team members Taylor Hacquard and Chris Cumming for the entire schedule. Freiberg will be in his second full season of Star competition and is excited to join the WSM team. “The team won the championship with Adrian Carrio in 2006 and they obviously are still on top of their game,” Freiberg said. “I’m really excited to be a part of their team.”
Taylor Hacquard who tested and ran a limited race schedule in 2007 will be headed into his first full season of racecar competition. “Taylor has really grown with the team,” stated Championship Team Manager John Olsen. “He has improved from event to event and we expect him to do very well in his first full season in cars. Having him and Eric working together will certainly be a benefit to both of them as we return to the full championship in 2008 after running drivers in only a few select races in 2007.”
Chris Cumming who won the 2007 Star Mazda West Coast Championship is looking to add the Expert Star Mazda Series Championship to his growing collection of trophies. Beginning with the first race of the 2008 season at Sebring on March 14, the Expert and Master Series winners will join the top-3 open series finishers on the podium for presentation of trophies, media interviews and the traditional ‘hat dance’ photo session and spraying of champagne.
The World Speed Motorsports Professional Level team has added some more drivers and cars with Sean Prewett stepping up from his Standard Formula Mazda into a Pro car for 2008. Kevin Woods a Skip Barber and Russell Racing graduate took delivery of his car late December and has been getting as much testing as possible since then. Renny Damon a SFR SCCA competitor for many years took delivery of his Pro Formula Mazda and tested it for the first time earlier this month. “We continue to expand the team and the Formula Mazda Challenge Series every year,” noted Operations Manager Mark Milazzo. “It is awesome that we have been able to increase both the Championship and Professional level rosters for 2008, and we continue to look for ways to improve our team and products.” A Formula Mazda Challenge title series sponsor is expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks.
The first race of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is March 14th at Sebring International Raceway during the week of the famous 12 hour race. The Formula Mazda Challenge opener is taking place at World Speed’s home track, Infineon Raceway on March 30th.