Motorsports Brands - Phil Giebler Racing, Bobby Oergel's PR1 Form Driver Development Program

ANAHEIM, Dec. 30, 2012: Phil Giebler Racing and Bobby Oergel’s PR1 Motorsports have formed a joint driver development program to bridge the gap from karting to formula cars starting with the 2013 season.

The partnership brings together two of the nation’s championship-winning teams in karting and junior formula racing. Giebler’s team has multiple wins in the Superkarts! USA regional and national series and in Rotax series. PR1 has wins in the Pacific Formula 2000 and Formula F Super Series.

“We want to create a path for young drivers to move from karts to get some valuable experience behind the wheel of a formula car,” Giebler said. “The Honda-powered Formula F car and series is a great place for drivers to get their first taste of car racing in a controlled spec series that is professional and affordable.”

Formula F uses a 1600cc engine based on the Honda Fit and Oergel’s team uses the Mygale chassis, one of three used in the series last year. PR1 has factory support from Honda and Mygale.

The program will take to the track for its initial running on Jan. 3 with a test at Buttonwillow (Calif.) Raceway Park’s road course with drivers Carter Williams of Clovis, Calif., Mason Daughters of Polo, Mo., Dakota Dickerson of San Diego and Mianna Wick of Grand Junction, Colo. Williams, Daughters and Dickerson have raced and Wick has tested for PGR.

Giebler will be the driver coach for the program and for Oergel’s team. He was the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 2007 and won races in Firestone Indy Lights, French Formula 3 and French Formula Renault after an outstanding career in karting in the United States and Europe.

Oergel also was a top karter before moving into team ownership.

“Bobby Oergel and I go way back to our karting days as teammates in the mid-90s for the Tony Kart importer's racing team,” Giebler said.

The Giebler/PR1 program includes a financial discount for PGR drivers for testing and racing.