February 6, 2011 – G-Phactory Kart Racing, long-time distributor for the Sodi Kart product line, is pleased to announce their new partnership with TruSpeed Motorsports (www.TruSpeed.com). Looking to bridge the gap from karting to the often scary world of professional motorsports, G-Phactory and TruSpeed will implement a driver development and placement program as they look to help aspiring race car drivers make the next step up the motorsports ladder.

“I couldn’t be any more excited to be working with all of the guys at TruSpeed,” expressed G-Phactory President Preston Newberry. “They have welcomed us with open arms and I am confident that this will turn into a great program for all of us. We have some great programs in the works for 2012 and beyond and we will be rolling those out very shortly. It has been a crazy process to finalize everything with all of the racing going on right now but things are getting sorted and we encourage everyone to come check out our new home.”

TruSpeed Motorsports is one of the leading Porsche supported race teams in the United States and is accustomed to winning. Having claimed the World Challenge GT class championship with former karter Patrick Long in 2011, TruSpeed will welcome the SuperKarts! USA (SKUSA) KZ2 winning team with open arms.

“I am very excited to work closely with the Preston and everyone at G-Phactory/Sodi Racing. Having G-Phactory in our facility is a win-win for them and for TruSpeed,” expressed Rob Morgan, Founder and President of TruSpeed Motorsports. “It gives TruSpeed and G-Phactory a true “ladder system” for driving for all of our customers. The customer base for each company is very similar and I believe both companies have positioned themselves to offer services that most race shops can’t offer. My daughter has done some karting with Preston and Andrick, and I can’t say enough good things about them. Needless, to say I am looking forward to our new opportunity with G-Phactory.”

Already making the move to their new location in Costa Mesa, California, G-Phactory will have their own dedicated shop with in the 29,000-sq/f confines that TruSpeed Motorsports operates from. Not only will G-Phactory have one of the best race team work shops to prepare equipment in, they will also include an immaculate showroom for new and existing customers to enjoy their latest offerings as well as browse some great display vehicles that TruSpeed Motorsports offers.

Tyler Tadavic, Truspeed General Manager stated, “We are very excited and pleased to have the G-Phactory operation in house with us. They provide a great service that will be very valuable for our customers and vise versa. Its a great opportunity to work together and build a program that will encompass all aspects of the motorsports business.”

G-Phactory Karting Company and TruSpeed Motorsports have planned a Grand Opening / Open House for Friday, April 6, 2012, the week before the famed Long Beach Grand Prix. The shop will be open for the general public, as well as new, existing and potential customers to come and see what this new partnership is all about.

G-Phactory / TruSpeed Motorsports Location:

365 Clinton Street – Unit A

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

For more information on G-Phactory Kart Company, please visit them online at www.GPhactory.com or contact Preston Newberry at 741.841.2700 or via e-mail to Preston@GPhactory.com.

For information on press releases or other media services offered by Race Tech Development, please contact Mike Maurini via e-mail at Info@RaceTechDevelopment.com or 317.270.8723. Race Tech Development can also be found on Twitter at @RaceTechDvlp as well as Facebook at their Race Tech Development Fan Page.

Having fought back magnificently from a torrid Teretonga curtain-raiser with a podium finish second time out at Timaru and a superb lights-to-flag victory a week later still at Taupo, Jordan King has moved even further up the Toyota Racing Series title standings courtesy of another strong weekend at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.

In optimistic mood, Jordan headed north to New Zealand’s newest circuit, whose undulating, bumpy and demanding 2.6km layout is characterised by constant elevation changes, blind, cambered corners and steep, tightening drops – presenting a stern challenge to the Toyota Racing Series’ 19 competitors.

After settling himself in during practice, in a tremendously close qualifying session, the talented young Stoneleigh-based single-seater ace produced a lap time good enough for sixth on the starting grid for race one. He proceeded to take the chequered flag in the same position, right in the wheeltracks of his Ferrari-backed M2 Competition team-mate Raffaele Marciello.

“That left me on pole position for race two,” Jordan recalled, “but unfortunately, I had a bad start and lost a place and then there was a re-start, at which I got out-dragged into Turn One. I wound up third in the end, which was still a good result and good points for the championship.”

That it indubitably was, as the 17-year-old BRDC Rising Star flashed across the line less than half-a-second shy of the runner-up, in so doing cementing his fourth rostrum finish of the campaign. He would again feature right up at the sharp end in the weekend’s third and final outing, the 20-lap New Zealand Motor Cup.

“I got another bad start,” he recounted, “which we later deduced was due to my not releasing the clutch right and there being more grip on the track than expected. I was then hit from behind and dropped down to 12th place, but subsequently made two really good re-starts after safety car periods to regain a couple of positions. I made a few more back before the end of the race, and I was pretty pleased with that as the track is tight and twisty and as such, not massively conducive to overtaking.”

Seventh when the flag came down, the combination of results has moved Jordan up a spot into fifth in the championship table, a mere four points shy of countryman Josh Hill in the duel for the honour of finishing as the Toyota Racing Series’ top Brit. Even third place is mathematically within reach, meaning that with just one meeting remaining – the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild – the battle is very much still on.

“It was another tough weekend, but good to score some more solid points,” mused the Princethorpe College A-Level student and Hugo Boss brand ambassador in conclusion. “You always want a bit more, but it was nice to come away with another trophy and make progress in the championship, and our speed was certainly right there again. Let’s see what we can do at Manfeild now!”

To keep up-to-date with Jordan’s latest career news and results, please visit:
www.jordanking.co.uk

pictures are courtesy of Bruce Jenkins

While many of Britain’s top-flight Kart racers enjoyed a well earned break during the traditional off-season in January there was no such opportunity for Littleborough’s Andy King to relax as his preparations for the 2012 season continued apace on and off the track.

The 17 year-old Senior Rotax driver, currently based in Conwy and studying for a National Diploma in Motorsport at Myerscough College, is coming off a career-best year in 2011 in which he finished third in the British Super One Senior Rotax Championship and tenth in the Rotax World Finals.

Entering his first full season with multiple British and European Championship winning team Strawberry Racing Andy is preparing for a duel assault on the British Super One and Rotax Euro Challenge championships and his potential has been realised by leading British Motorsport weekly paper Motorsport News, who put him second on their annual list of 50 young racing drivers to look out for in 2012.

“I’m really looking forward to the new year,” beamed Andy, who is aiming to emulate outgoing Super One Champion Ed Brand, who sealed the title with Strawberry in 2011. “I’m one hundred per cent confident in my team and equipment and I know that we have the package to achieve what we all expect. It won’t be easy but preparations have started really well. This time last year I was testing and trying to beat the Strawberry team, now I’m with them!”

Andy began the month of January with the official Super One presentation at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, where he was also invited to compete alongside the likes of Le Mans 24 Hour winner David Brabham in the annual Autosport Charity kart race to help raise money for Race 2 Recovery.

“It was nice to be able to unwind with the whole team and to see everyone rewarded for their efforts last year. Strawberry Racing had a great year in 2011 in Mini Max, Junior Max and Senior Max and it sets a high standard for this year’s drivers to match.”

Although the result of the Charity Kart race did go the way of Andy and his co-drivers in the Racing for Charity team Andy knew that the result was one thing that wasn’t important on this occasion.

“It was for a great cause and it was a lot of fun. Some people took it a bit too seriously but the whole event was a lot of fun and it was an honour to be asked to drive for the defending champions and help raise a lot of money.”

No sooner had the fun ended it was time to get back to business as Andy and his mechanic David ‘Dodge’ Gregory began testing for the first major event of the new season, the annual Rotax Winter Cup at Campillos near Malaga. Although the frigid surroundings of Paul Fletcher International in Lincolnshire and Whilton Mill in Daventry are somewhat different to what Andy can expect later this month in Southern Spain Andy had to familiarise himself with the front braking system used in Europe but not in the UK.

“I’ve only driven with front brakes once before so it was a great help to get back in the kart and have a couple of days to get used to them,” continued King, who enters the Spanish event with confidence having experienced the rigours of international competition in last years World Finals. “I’m hungry for victory. I’m going to be able to hit the ground running. I was able to get comfortable with Strawberry last year and now I’m settled in the new environment and I’m setting out to bring home a trophy.”

“The Winter Cup is a good race to set the season in motion,” added Gregory. “It will be a strong field and it’s a great way to see what you’re up against for the rest of the year. I’m confident that Andy will stay relaxed and do very well.”

Hornchurch’s fastest teenager Bobby Thompson has enjoyed a flying start to his 2012 karting season on and off the track as he begins his bid for glory in the Formula One Management backed Formula Kart Stars series, the same championship that set Lewis Hamilton on the path to Formula One glory.

The 15 year-old Emerson Park school student, one of the leading drivers in the 75mph Junior Rotax class, got his 2012 season underway with a stunning second place in the opening round of the PFI Winter Series in Lincolnshire on the same track that will host a round of the World Karting Championship later this year.

With many of the leading British Championship runners using the PFI Winter Series as a base from which to launch their 2012 campaigns, Bobby started the final from sixth place but was soon moving up the order and chasing down the leader. Mastering some exceptionally tricky track conditions, the chequered flag waved just as Bobby got within striking distance of a first major victory in his Junior Rotax career.

Thompson splashed across the finishing line less than one second behind winner Toby Sowery and holds a close second place in the points standings with two rounds remaining.

Bobby’s burgeoning career then took him to the world renowned Autosport International Racing Car show in Birmingham’s NEC Arena where the spotlight once again fell on him, although this time it was in front of a live audience on stage.

Confirming his continuing relationship with Caudwell Children’s charity in a series of interviews on the main karting stage, Bobby also discovered that he was one of just six drivers in the UK to have earned a dream prize test run in a 130mph Powerboat, which will take place later this year with leading Powerboat racing team Powerboat P1.

“I’m really happy to continue working with Caudwell in 2012,” said Bobby, who has now incorporated the Caudwell logo on his new crash helmet. “I’ve had a good start to the new season and I’ve got a great shot at winning the Winter Series if I keep up my current form.

“The Powerboat prize was a complete surprise and I won it after setting the fastest lap of the whole weekend at one of last year’s Stars rounds. It just proves that I have got the speed to compete with the best in the country and if I get a bit more good luck this year then I know I can win the Formula Kart Stars Championship.”

To learn more about Bobby Thompson’s karting career and discover potential sponsorship opportunities please check out Bobby’s official Twitter page @BTMotorsport and website www.bobbythompson.co.uk.

“I am excited the Winter Series is starting,” noted Lagudi. “I am very happy with the way previous testing went and I am definitely looking forward to the season starting.”

Announced in November, Lagudi will pilot the Belardi Auto Racing #4 USF2000 machine for the full Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda series. After a successful partial season in 2011, including seven top-tens, two top-fives and a podium finish at the Baltimore Grand Prix, Lagudi will be a favorite to contend for the overall series title and is ready to take on the challenge.

“The competition will be fierce in 2012, and the standard is set high for all the drivers,” continued Lagudi. “I really wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Preseason action for the Cooper Tires Winterfest begins February 6-7 at Sebring International Raceway and concludes February 11-12 at Palm Beach International Raceway, leading up to the series opener March 15-16 in conjunction with ALMS’s 12 Hours of Sebring. The 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda series will see 11 stops at some of the most prestigious tracks North America has to offer. Running weekends with the IZOD IndyCar series, the American LeMans series and the United States Auto Club, Lagudi is set to contest for the series title with championship-caliber team Belardi Auto Racing. The Las Vegas, Nevada resident is working towards a dream career in motorsports and is proud to represent drivers taking the first step in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder development program.

Roman Lagudi is proudly sponsored by High Performance Distributors and Champion Stone, Tool and Supply. For more information on Roman Lagudi, please visit www.RomanLagudi.com or email Paul Lagudi at paul@romanlagudi.com.