Rohnert Park's Hauff Wins Red Bull Formula One Driver Search Run-Offs

Contact: John Cardinale

 (707) 334-9805

 

Rohnert Park's Hauff Advances to Semifinals in 

Red Bull Formula One Driver Search

 

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Rohnert Park's Matthew Hauff was
the big winner on Thursday, taking the top spot in the West Coast 2005
Red Bull Driver Search Run-Offs held at the Infineon Raceway Karting
Center.

 

Hauff, a 16-year-old student at Rancho Cotate High School, took the
victory in Thursday's 20-lap main event. He was one of five drivers
(ages 13-17) selected to advance to the semifinal qualifying event in
Sebring, Fla., in September. If he is successful in Florida, Hauff would
advance to the finals in October at the legendary Autodromo Fernanda
Pires Da Silva Circuit in Portugal. 

 

"This feels great," Hauff said. "The kart ran great and never got loose
on me and it never got stuck. It stayed fast the whole way. I can't tell
you how great this feels."

 

Manteca's Scott Speed, a past competitor at the Red Bull Driver Search
Run-Offs at Infineon Raceway, is currently competing in Europe and has
been a test driver for the Red Bull Formula One team at two events this
year, including the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis.

 

"It's my dream to drive one of those cars," Hauff said.

 

The two-day event at the Infineon Raceway Karting Center attracted 92
competitors, with five racers earning the trip to Florida: Hauff; Ryan
Phinny (Carmel Valley); Paul Zimmerly (Ridgefield, Wash.); Michele
Bumgarner (Phillipines); and Alexander Rossi (Nevada City).

 

Hauff has been racing for five years, beginning his career as an
11-year-old with the Prairie City Kart Club. He currently competes in
the Jim Russell Karting Championship Series at Infineon Raceway and has
three victories on the year.

 

All drivers competed under the eye of lead judge Danny Sullivan, who is
a former American Formula One driver for Tyrell-Ford, 1985 Indy 500
champion and 1988 CART champion.  Drivers competed in equally-prepared
Rotax karts provided by Red Bull.  They advanced to the test at Infineon
Raceway by virtue of their performance at indoor karting events held
around the country.  In addition to the event at Infineon Raceway, an
East Coast Run-off was also held in Massachusetts in July.

 

The Red Bull Driver Search program is designed to directly address the
lack of American presence in the Formula One Series. After a successful
launch in 2002, the Red Bull Driver Search has continued with the goal
of developing young American talent and one day placing drivers in
Formula One. Only twice has the United States flown the winning flag at
the world championship, the last by Mario Andretti in 1978.

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---------------------------

John Cardinale

VP of Media/Community Relations

Infineon Raceway

Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476

wk: 707-933-3907

cell: 707-334-9805