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Jacob Douglas Eyes Championship Climb At Mid-Ohio
Jacob Douglas Eyes Championship Climb At Mid-Ohio

Scoop

time04-07-2025

  • Automotive
  • Scoop

Jacob Douglas Eyes Championship Climb At Mid-Ohio

Kiwi talent Jacob Douglas returns to the grid this weekend in the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires, targeting a major push up the points standings as the season enters its final stretch. Douglas heads into the double-header at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sixth in the standings, locked in a tight battle for second place. While his Pabst Racing teammate Max Garcia enjoys a commanding 72-point lead in the Driver's Championship, Douglas remains firmly in contention, just 45 points oƯ second place. The 20-year-old New Zealander arrives at Mid-Ohio in strong form, following an impressive outing at Road America that saw him secure back-to-back podiums in the opening two races and charge from the back of the field to a top ten finish in Race 3 after being caught in a mid-race incident. 'Really looking forward to getting back out there,' said Douglas. 'We tested at Mid-Ohio earlier this year and had solid pace, even with poor weather and a focus on long-run setups. I'm feeling confident after a strong showing at Road America, where we picked up our third and fourth podiums of the season. 'The championship fight is still wide open. A strong weekend here could put us second in the standings heading into the final two race weekends. Max has a healthy lead, but we're not counting anything out just yet.' Douglas also spoke to the value of momentum at this stage of the year: 'We're heading into a really important phase of the season. It's all about consistency now, maximising every session, qualifying well, and keeping it clean in the races. Mid-Ohio can be unforgiving, so staying sharp and adaptable will be key.' Douglas brings additional experience at Mid-Ohio from his time in the USF2000 Championship, where he scored two top ten finishes. That familiarity could prove crucial as he aims to capitalise on every opportunity in this weekend's key battles. Track action kicks oƯ with two test sessions on Thursday (local time), followed by oƯicial practice at 12:45 am NZST on Saturday. Qualifying gets underway at 4:15 am NZST the same day. Race 1 takes place at 3:55 am NZST on Sunday, with Race 2 scheduled for 9:15 am NZST. Both races will run over 30 laps. Fans can catch all the action live on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel. About Jacob Douglas Jacob Douglas is a 19-year-old racecar driver from New Zealand. He is a multiple-time national champion in karting and was the 2023 USF YACademy Champion. He took 11 podiums, including seven wins, in USF 2000 machinery in the United States in 2023, before making two GB3 cameos in 2024. He is a member of New Zealand's prestigious Elite Motorsport Academy, winning the renowned Bruce McLaren and Ian Snellgrove trophies among the Class of 2024 In 2025, he returns to North America to compete his rookie season in the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires. Where to watch: The USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires can be viewed live on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel.

Douglas Heads To The Oval After Breakthrough Victory
Douglas Heads To The Oval After Breakthrough Victory

Scoop

time22-05-2025

  • Automotive
  • Scoop

Douglas Heads To The Oval After Breakthrough Victory

It has been a busy and rewarding month for Kiwi teenager Jacob Douglas in the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires – and the action isn't over yet. This week, Douglas and his Pabst Racing team head to Indianapolis Raceway Park for the season's only oval round, following a breakthrough maiden victory at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course less than two weeks ago. The 0.686-mile (1.104 km) oval presents a unique challenge for the field, with two test sessions scheduled for Thursday, followed by qualifying that evening. A single practice session on Friday will lead into the round's only race. Douglas enters the event sitting fifth in the championship standings, buoyed by his race win in Indianapolis and confident in the team's pace. 'I'm really looking forward to getting back out there,' said Douglas. 'I haven't driven on an oval since 2022, so it's been a while, but I really enjoyed it last time. It's incredibly intense – the walls at IRP come up quickly, and you run right up alongside them. It takes maximum concentration, but we're ready for it. 'We've had strong pace all year, and getting that win at IMS proved it. I'm excited to carry that momentum into this weekend.' Douglas's victory came in Race 2 of the IMS triple-header and served as redemption after cruel misfortune in the opening race when, while leading, an electrical issue forced him to retire. Furthermore, contact from another competitor in a congested Turn 1 while battling for the lead in Race 3 denied him another potential podium. Since then, Pabst Racing has remained busy, heading to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a two-day test. Douglas collectively completed 81 laps across four of the six sessions, finishing in the top seven in each of them. 'Conditions in Ohio were a bit mixed,' Douglas added, 'but we focused on setups and long-run pace in preparation for our round there later this season.' Douglas's performances throughout May have also impressed team owner Augie Pabst. 'Jacob's Indy pace was phenomenal all weekend,' he said. 'The team was thrilled to see him on the top step at such an amazing place. 'We made great progress at the Mid-Ohio test, albeit with challenging weather conditions. We're looking forward to capitalising on the gains made while testing when we head back in early July' On-track action at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park begins with testing at 4:00 am and 7:00 am NZST (12:00 pm and 3:00 pm EDT) on Friday, followed by qualifying at 9:30 am NZST (5:30 pm EDT). The round's sole race gets underway at 1:30 pm NZST (9:30 pm EDT) and will be streamed live on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel.

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