Minnesota-based team earned nine podium finishes en route to third and fourth in the title fightMINNEAPOLIS, MN - JDC MotorSports had an eventful, but ultimately successful Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda campaign in 2010. With a talented driver line-up consisting of Mikhail Goikhberg, Raphael Abbate, Martin Sala, and Luke Ellery, the Minnesota-based squad consistently challenged for top honors in the 12-race championship, ending the season with a non-points win, nine podium finishes and two drivers in the top-four of the title fight.
Given JDC MotorSports entered the newly revitalized USF2000 National Championship with only one driver having ever previously taken part in a Formula Ford 2000 race ? Goikhberg running a single F2000 Championship Series event in 2009 ? it should not have been surprising that the season-opening doubleheader on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., proved to be an up-and-down affair. On the upside, the trio of Sala, Abbate and Goikhberg all showed good speed and skill right of the box, with Sala narrowly missing out on a podium finish via a fifth place finish in Round One. On the downside, the Colombian?s second-ever series race ended with his No. 19 Gulf/Aero Gal/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry up against one of the concrete retaining walls.
Things however took a dramatic upswing when the JDC drivers traveled to northern California to take part in a non-points event at the famed Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course with the Pacific F2000 Championship. In what would be one of the highlights of the season, Goikhberg captured his first pro series win, leading a quality group of drivers to the checkered flag.
Building on that success, the JDC duo of Goikhberg and Abbate were among the drivers to watch when the series title chase resumed at O?Reilly Race Park and the Iowa Speedway. Despite having never raced on a oval previously, Goikhberg established himself as a championship contender via a pair of podium finishes in his No. 10 Chetverg/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry, while Abbate followed suite in his No. 11 Avery Dennison/Alphacolor/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports car with a runner-up finish in front of the IndyCar Series squads at Iowa.
The trend of seeing a JDC MotorSports cars battling for top honors continued when the series traveled to New Jersey Motorsports Park. Not only did Goikhberg extend his series podium streak to four, but he was once again joined by Abbate on the podium in the second race of the doubleheader, with Sala right behind in fourth.
Unfortunately the fine run of form by the JDC racers ended a month later outside of Chicago at the technical Autobahn Country Club facility. While Abbate and Sala were able to collect fifth and sixth place results respectively in the opening race of the doubleheader, the weekend ended with Goikhberg involved in incidents in both races, and his teammates barely cracking the top-10 in Round Eight.
Initially it appeared that the penultimate event at the high-speed Road America would be another trying affair, as Sala?s season came to a premature end via a practice crash. Goikhberg and Abbate had other ideas however, with the Russian leading the way with another double podium run, and the Brazilian adding a pair of top-fives.
With the historic Road Atlanta road course playing host, the USF2000 season-finale proved to be yet another up-and-down affair. While neither Goikhberg or Abbate were able to end their campaigns they way they had hoped, series newcomer Luke Ellery kept the JDC MotorSports name near the top of the charts, piloting the No. 5 Luke-Ellery.com/JDC MotorSports racer to a podium finish in Round 12.
Having taken home third (Goighberg) and fourth (Abbate) place in the final point standings, JDC MotorSports now turns its attention to winning the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda title fight in 2011. An intensive off-season testing schedule is already been planned, with interested drivers urged to contact team principal John Church about opportunities for the coming season.
Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team?s website @ www.jdcmotorsports.com For direct contact, please contact John Church @ 952-233-3075
About JDC MotorSports:
Involved in formula car racing since its inception in 1994, JDC MotorSports has established itself as one of the leading junior open-wheel teams in North America. Initially making its mark in the F2000 class of club racing competition, JDC MotorSports was soon a team worth watching in the pro ranks. Competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship, the team not only won races, but also helped develop multiple young drivers. In 2005, JDC MotorSports expanded its efforts, entering the Star Mazda Championship. Quickly becoming one of the top teams in the series, JDC captured both the driver and team titles in 2007, as well as Rookie of the Year honors, with Dane Cameron scoring a series-high three wins. In 2008, JDC MotorSports was the runner-up in the Star Mazda Championship and finished fourth in its inaugural season F2000 Championship Series competition. The Minnesota-based team won the Star Mazda Championship title with Rookie of the Year Adam Christodoulou, and the F2000 Championship Series title with Chris Miller in 2009.
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