- News>
- Motorsports
Montoya paving the way of baby brother`s launch
Florida, Nov 16: How would you feel if you enrolled in a racing school, and one of the people there to give you advice and encouragement was a CART champion, an Indy 500 winner and a three-time Formula One race winner?
Florida, Nov 16: How would you feel if you enrolled in a racing school, and one of the people there to give you advice and encouragement was a CART champion, an Indy 500 winner and a three-time Formula One race winner?
Well, that exact scenario has only recently happened at the renowned Skip Barber Racing School in Florida, as a 16-year old kart racer, making his first foray into formula cars, took a two-day 'Advanced Racing' course, only to find a famous racer there to offer a hand? His identity? None other than Barber Dodge race winner, Champ Car champion, Indy 500 winner, three-time grand prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya. And who was he helping? His little brother.
Frederico Montoya completed one of Skip Barber Racing's Advanced Two-Day Racing Schools at Sebring last week, using the same car as employed in the four Skip Barber regional race series as well as the Formula Dodge National Championships. Driving the two-litre, 140bhp sequential-gearboxed R/T 2000 cars, the up-and-coming Colombian karting star lapped the venue's 'Modified' circuit within a few tenths of the times recorded by the frontrunners in the regional and national series.
Older brother Juan Pablo was there to lend support, as well as observe the Skip Barber teaching system. The F1 star said even he learned a few things from the instructor corps - : Walt Bohren, Don Kutschall, Todd Snyder and Keith Watts - in charge of the class. The boys' dad, Pablo, was also on hand during the two-day school, and said he was impressed by the curriculum, which included sequential-gearbox technique, trail-brake practice, passing exercises, full-course lapping, starts and re-starts.
Davina Galica, managing director of both the Formula Dodge National Championship and the four regional Skip Barber Race Series, had conversations with Frederico's father about the youngster entering the Southern Region Race Series event at Moroso Motorsports Park in Florida early next month - with Juan Pablo possibly stopping by.
That is the same race weekend that Michael Andretti is scheduled to be on hand to conduct some guest coaching - what an A-list pit-lane, that would makeÂ…
Bureau Report
Well, that exact scenario has only recently happened at the renowned Skip Barber Racing School in Florida, as a 16-year old kart racer, making his first foray into formula cars, took a two-day 'Advanced Racing' course, only to find a famous racer there to offer a hand? His identity? None other than Barber Dodge race winner, Champ Car champion, Indy 500 winner, three-time grand prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya. And who was he helping? His little brother.
Frederico Montoya completed one of Skip Barber Racing's Advanced Two-Day Racing Schools at Sebring last week, using the same car as employed in the four Skip Barber regional race series as well as the Formula Dodge National Championships. Driving the two-litre, 140bhp sequential-gearboxed R/T 2000 cars, the up-and-coming Colombian karting star lapped the venue's 'Modified' circuit within a few tenths of the times recorded by the frontrunners in the regional and national series.
Older brother Juan Pablo was there to lend support, as well as observe the Skip Barber teaching system. The F1 star said even he learned a few things from the instructor corps - : Walt Bohren, Don Kutschall, Todd Snyder and Keith Watts - in charge of the class. The boys' dad, Pablo, was also on hand during the two-day school, and said he was impressed by the curriculum, which included sequential-gearbox technique, trail-brake practice, passing exercises, full-course lapping, starts and re-starts.
Davina Galica, managing director of both the Formula Dodge National Championship and the four regional Skip Barber Race Series, had conversations with Frederico's father about the youngster entering the Southern Region Race Series event at Moroso Motorsports Park in Florida early next month - with Juan Pablo possibly stopping by.
That is the same race weekend that Michael Andretti is scheduled to be on hand to conduct some guest coaching - what an A-list pit-lane, that would makeÂ…
Bureau Report