Junior Open Wheel Talent

Atlantic Championship
After a successful test at Palm Beach, Frédéric Vervisch has signed with Genoa Racing for the Sebring International Raceway season opener. Vervisch was actually looking for a World Series by Renault ride, but decided the Atlantic Championship was a better bang for his buck. At this time, he will only run the opening round at Sebring. In 2008, the 22-year-old race driver won both the German and the Asian Formula 3 Championships. As stated earlier, he looked very impressive in his first test with Genoa at PBIR.

British standout James Winslow has signed with Conquest Racing to run the full 2009 Atlantic Championship. He will partner Harald Schlegelmilch at Sebring. Winslow won the Australian Formula 3 Championship last season with 5 wins and 9 podiums. His average finish in the championship was 3.56, including one DNF. That said, the competition he will face this season looks to be much stiffer.

Star Mazda
Former Team USA Scholarship winner Joe D'Agostino has signed with Andersen Racing to contest the opening race at Sebring International Raceway in the Star Mazda Championship. As part of the Team USA Scholarship in 2004, Joe spent several years in the European ranks, competing in British Formula Ford, Formula Renault, as well as running in the historic Formula Ford Festival. He finished fourth in the 2004 Formula Ford Festival and 3rd in the 2005 British Formula Ford Championship. It will be nice to see Joe back in a car, even if it is only for one race. I know he is still working on putting together the funding for a full season, so if he puts up some decent results in Sebring, ...I wouldn't be surprised to see him back for a few more races in 2009.

Formula 3 Euro Series
Christian Vietoris has re-signed with Mucke Motorsport to run the 2009 Formula 3 Euro Series. Vietoris has shown flashes of speed in his past endeavors which include winning an A1GP race for Team Germany as well as winning the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in 2006. Last season, in the Formula 3 Euro Series, he had some real solid results in his first ten races. At the midpoint of the season, his luck seemed to turn around as he logged 4 DNF's in his final 10 races. He was also DQ'd during the final weekend at Hockenheim. If the 19-year-old is able to put together a consistent season, he should do quite well in the overall championship.