GETTING STARTED IN RACING
Everybody wants to feel like a Formula One or Indy 500 pilot, and this is the way to live that dream. A great place to get started is by working with a school. You can use their cars and get some very good instruction on the basics and there are formula car racing schools within a days drive from almost anywhere in the country. Once you are comfortable it is time to consider where you really want to compete. Some drivers stay at the school racing level as it is usually a much smaller budget than moving into a upper level racing series. Serious career minded racers will look to a series that offers TV coverage and big year end career enhancement bonuses such as the Star Mazda Series. For drivers looking to have an enjoyable yet professional level weekend a series like the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear is more appropriate.

“We have taken drivers who have spent a half dozen days with a racing school and we work with them for a few events and helped them get on the podium in a very short period of time,” stated Standing Start Manager Scott Bradley. “Like anything else you need to practice to get good at it, and the benefit of a personal coach cannot be underestimated.”

BECOMING A CHAMPION
At World Speed Motorsports we have many stories of hobbyist drivers winning a championship early in their racing careers. Two that come immediately to mind are drivers Stan Kohls and Chris Cumming. Both of these drivers came directly out of racing school before joining World Speed.

Stan came to World Speed in 2005 and purchased a Pro Formula Mazda. He went on to win the 2005 Formula Mazda Challenge Series. In 2006 the competition increased and 20 drivers competed in the series. Stan took the top slot for the second season in a row with 5 wins. Stan realized early in the season that with all the new drivers joining the series he would have to step up his game. Part of his plan was to retain a professional coach. Standing Start coaches were hired to assist Stan in reaching his goal of back to back championships. "Stan is a pleasure to coach, as he takes the input that you offer him and turns it immediately into improved output," stated one of his coaches. "He also takes notes, and reviews them in addition to his coaching plans. All around Stan has been an excellent student of racing, and is an excellent example of how coaching can enhance the learning process."

Chris Cumming who got started in the same series in 2006 showed signs of brilliance early on, and started working harder and he also secured a Standing Start coach. By the end of 2007 Chris won the Star Mazda West Coast Series Championship, and then he went to all of the Star Mazda Championship races and won the 2008 Experts title. In 2009 he became the first driver to win back-to-back Star Mazda Expert Championships, and has moved up into the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge where he is a race win contender every weekend.

“There are championships available for every level of driver, and at most of the events we compete in you will have someone to race with,” added Telo Stewart President of World Speed. “It has been really great for us to have career minded racers who want to make it to the top, but also to get the opportunity to work with the Walter Mitty’s who really have a long deep love of our sport.”

Contact World Speed Motorsports for help in setting your goals.