Three SRFKC drivers earn Formula BMW scholarships

January, 20, 2004


Three SRFKC drivers earn Formula BMW scholarships
Matt Champagne, James Hinchcliffe and Trevor Daley shine in Spain

TORONTO, ONTARIO - The Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship presented by 
Toronto Star Wheels has once again proven that the drivers that compete in 
the series are second to none - worldwide. Four series regulars, 2002 
Formula Senior Champion and Sunoco Ultra 94 team driver Matt Champagne, 
five time Rotax Max race winner James Hinchcliffe, Formula Senior driver 
Trevor Daley and Canada Senior multi time race winner Marco Di Leo were all 
selected by BMW to travel to Valencia, Spain last week to compete in the 
worldwide Formula BMW scholarship tryouts.

The Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship drivers faced off with 20 other 
drivers from around the world, some with household last names like Rahal 
and Unser. There were only six scholarships available and amazingly three 
of them went to Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship drivers. Champagne, 
Hinchcliffe and Daley each earned a $40,000 (US) Formula BMW scholarships 
for use in the inaugural North American Formula BMW championship in 2004.

Champagne was happy to be chosen, and he talked about the talent level of 
the tryouts. "Out of the 24 that were there, four of the five Canadians 
were drivers from the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship - that alone 
says something about the series," Champagne said. "The talent level for the 
tryout was very high, especially from Columbia and Brazil - Michel 
Jourdain's (Team Rahal driver in the CART series) cousin was there! For 
three of us from the Sunoco Ron Fellows series to earn scholarships, it 
just shows the level of talent and professionalism in the Sunoco Ron 
Fellows series."

Hinchcliffe felt the 'Canadian knowledge' off the track really helped. 
"This proves that Canada - and in particular the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting 
Championship knows how to train drivers. In that series, we are exposed to 
the media and series sponsors, where we learn about the off track side of 
racing. That training really helped at the tryout. I think the BMW guys saw 
the potential in all the Canadian drivers and that's why we were picked."

Daley had never sat in a race car before competing at the tryout, and he 
too came home with a scholarship, lending testament to the series producing 
top drivers that are ready to step straight into a professional car racing 
career.
"Because of the professionalism of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting 
championship - the way it is run - and being able to race against the top 
drivers, it is a very good baseline for moving up," Daley said. "All of us 
from the series shared information at the tryout. During the second part of 
the tryout, we switched cars and I got the one Matt had earlier. Talking to 
Matt about it and having Dan Di Leo there timing us really helped."

Ron Fellows was overjoyed at the performance of the Canadian drivers. "This 
is a huge feather in the cap for our series and major partner Sunoco. This 
is what the series was designed to do - to prepare drivers to make the most 
of these kinds of opportunities. I am really happy for Matt, James and 
Trevor. We know how good our Canadian drivers are -both on and off he track 
- and these scholarship awards have now verified that. As the series 
continues to attract growing corporate support, others will soon be able to 
follow in Matt's, James' and Trevor's footsteps."

The three drivers will now have some time to finalize their plans for 2004, 
but being part of the North American BMW Junior team is a huge boost to 
their career hopes as Champagne pointed out. "Being under the BMW banner 
means a lot to all three of us. It means that they, like Sunoco and Ron 
Fellows are serious about taking Canadians to the top levels of the sport."

The objective of the SRFKC is to help foster a professional environment for 
kart drivers; help create a positive attitude towards appearance, conduct 
and discipline; help foster the employment of the best practices for the 
safe and fair running of competitions; and help kart drivers to move up the 
racing ladder to automobile racing.