ZETEC CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS AND DRIVERS KEEPING BUSY DURING RACING BREAK

	ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (September 5, 2002) —The Formula Ford 2000 Zetec
Championship is currently in the middle of a two-month layoff between races.
While no race action is taking place, the majority of the teams and drivers
are keeping busy during the break.
	As is common between races, several teams will go testing, looking to
improve and learn more about the car and the driver. In addition to the
series sanctioned test at Road Atlanta, September 23-24, numerous teams and
drivers will participate in private tests throughout the country during the
layoff between races. However, during what is affectionately known as “silly
season” in the racing industry, another activity takes place. Teams and
drivers begin to make preparations for the upcoming season.
	Those drivers looking to return to Zetec Championship, will use the break
to evaluate this year’s performances, and begin to look at which team they
will run with and what car they will contest in 2003. For some, it will be
an easy decision of staying with the same team and contesting the same car.
For others it may be more complex, perhaps involving moving up from the
American Continental Championship, which uses the older Ford Pinto engine
package, to Zetec Championship, which uses the Ford Zetec engine package. In
addition, with the introduction of a three-year chassis freeze in 2003, many
drivers will be looking at purchasing the new RF03 Van Diemen. Whatever
decisions the driver makes, a key component will be money. For this reason,
drivers will use the time away from the track to approach and meet, both
current and potential sponsors, in an effort to secure the necessary funding
for the upcoming year.
	As a training series, a great number of drivers will not return to Zetec
Championship next year, but rather, will move up the motorsports ladder. For
those drivers, the break between races gives them the opportunity to meet
with teams in various series, such as the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship
and Infiniti Pro Series, to discuss openings and opportunities for the 2003
season. As with the returning the Zetec Championship drivers, meeting and
approaching sponsors about funding for the upcoming year, will be a vital
task performed during the break by the drivers looking to move up the
motorsports ladder.
	“I feel it’s important to talk to as many teams as possible,” said current
Zetec Championship leader Bryan Sellers. “You obviously hope that what you’
ve done on track has generated some interest, but meeting with teams
face-to-face is an important first step in establishing a relationship, that
may lead to bigger things.”
	“Looking for money is the biggest issue,” said four-time race winner Tonis
Kasemets. “It’s something you have to work on every day. I’m confident I can
succeed and can continue my progression as a professional race car driver.”
	Apart from testing, teams involved in the Zetec Championship will use the
gap between races to evaluate and contact potential drivers for the upcoming
season. Over the past several years, teams have paid particular interest to
drivers coming up through the karting ranks and those with experience in
either, STAR Mazda or Canadian Formula Ford Championship. In 2002 alone,
over 60% of the registered drivers came from this group.
	“We are always keeping on eye on the young up and coming drivers,” said
Cape Motorsports President Dominic Cape. “If you wait for drivers to contact
you in this business, you are really doing yourself a real disservice. By
going out and approaching the drivers you want, you really improve your
chances at winning the championship.”
	The 2002 Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship continues with Rounds Eleven
and Twelve at Road Atlanta, October 10-11, as part of the Petit Le Mans
weekend.