One month after turning 15 years of age, Brad Coleman has become the first licensed driver on record to win a professional open-wheel race while under age 16. After taking the third spot on the podium in his first Fran-Am 1600 series race on Saturday, the rookie from Texas returned on Sunday to set the fast lap and win the second event on the 2.25-mile road course at Arizona Motorsports Park.
Fran-Am Series Director Steve Henry said “Brad is a fine example of why Fran-Am has made the 1600 available to 14 and 15 year-old drivers. He displayed an incredible ability to be consistently fast with a great deal of composure. I expect to see this kid in the big leagues in a few years and I am glad we were the series to give him his start.”
World Speed President Telo Stewart said “Brad was incredible on his first professional race weekend and our team is very proud of him. The only two guys to finish ahead of him on the first day were series veterans. He handled himself like a pro all weekend long.”
When asked about the race, young Coleman stated “I appreciate the opportunity that Fran-Am and NASA have given me and other young drivers like me to compete at the professional level. I felt good in the car all three days, and know that this is where I belong. The team at World Speed worked hard to make the 1600 just right for this very technical race track.”
Brad also had a special visitor to his paddock when Arizona Senator Slade Mead came out to see the 15 year-old in action. Senator Mead spent the day with the World Speed team learning about the Fran-Am race series and the opportunity for young American drivers to compete at the top level of motorsports.
This was the first race in a series of 12 races in the Fran-Am 1600 West Coast Series. Coleman will pilot the World Speed/Remote Knowledge formula car in all of the races in contention for the Fran-Am 1600 Championship. The next race is at Willow Springs Raceway on May 24th and 25th in Lancaster, California.