2007 Sunoco Team Ultra 94 drivers named after Evaluation Day
2007 Sunoco Team Ultra 94 drivers named after Evaluation Day Curtis Fox, Richard Hibbs, Chris Holman and Eric Gerrits join the team for 2007 MOSPORT, ONTARIO Sunoco's Team Ultra 94 has gained four new drivers for the 2007 season. The four drivers, Curtis Fox, Richard Hibbs, Chris Holman and Eric Gerrits were selected after a grueling day of testing at the fifth annual Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship Evaluation Day. Evaluation Day was made tougher than usual by the weather. On again and off again snow and rain with a temperature just above freezing made the day difficult for all 12 drivers vying for four open spots on the 2007 Sunoco Team Ultra 94 roster. "I think this has been the toughest group yet to judge," said Ron Fellows, who along with the Bridgestone Racing Academy instructors, and former Sunoco Team Ultra 94 champions Matt Champagne, Marco Di Leo, Frank Launi and Daniel Morad kept an eye on the 12 drivers all day. "I remember going through this myself," said 2006 champion Morad. "It is a very stressful time for all these drivers today. They all did a good job." All the selected drivers were very excited when they heard their name called out at the Evaluation Day dinner after the event. "This is a great opportunity," said Chris Holman. "I wouldn't ever get this opportunity if it weren't for Ron Fellows and Sunoco," added Richard Hibbs. Eric Gerrits was attending his second successive Evaluation Day, and he made the team this year. "Last year I learned a lot on how to approach this day," Gerrits said. "This year I was a lot more relaxed and could focus on driving." Gerrits still has one important race left this year, as he will represent Canada in the Rotax Max World Finals in Portugal in the middle of November. Curtis Fox was a little hard on himself, offering his own assessment of his performance. "At the start, I was just trying way, way too hard," Fox said. "Then in the afternoon I started to feel more comfortable, and I was able to do what needed to get done to earn a spot on this team." Fellows was happy with his new recruits, saying, "We have a good group this year. They are all very close in performance, and that should make next year very interesting. I don't think we'll see one driver dominate like we did this year with Morad but he is a special talent so I expect they will all do well in 2007 for Sunoco." Sunoco Team Ultra 94 fast facts; The Sunoco Team Ultra 94 drivers are chosen from over 300 drivers in the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship Presented by Toronto Star Wheels. Out of the 300 drivers, a number of them are invited to the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship Evaluation Day. From those, three or four earn scholarships to join Sunoco's Team Ultra 94 for the following year. The selected drivers are given a fully funded scholarship to compete in the Bridgestone Academy F2000 series. Sunoco also sponsors the series and is proud of the school's 13 year injury free record, the personal coaching, and the track time that the drivers receive. In 2003, inaugural team members Matt Champagne and Jordy Vorrath finished one-two in the series, with Vorrath taking the 'most poles' award. Aaron de Heus came home fifth in the 2003 championship. The 2004 members were 2003 Formula Senior Champion Juliana Chiovitti, multi-time Formula Senior race winner Frank Launi, who won the 2004 championship and consistent Rotax Max Senior front runner Jamie Holtom. Frank Launi won the championship in 2004, with Jamie Holtom finishing third. The 2005 team consisted of 2004 double class winner Marco Di Leo, Formula Senior race winner Matt Pritiko, and Formula Senior driver Robert Wickens. Di Leo posted an impressive 7 wins in 9 starts on his way to the championship, just beating out teammate Matt Pritiko, who finished second in the championship. The 2006 Sunoco Team Ultra 94 drivers are Adriano Bilotta, Devin Cunningham, Kyle Marcelli and Daniel Morad. The 2007 Sunoco Team Ultra 94 drivers are Curtis Fox, Chris Holman, Richard Hibbs and Eric Gerrits. For more information on Sunoco's Team Ultra 94 contact; Russ Bond, 905-852-2900 r.bond@russbondagency.com Brad Brown, k.andb.brown@sympatico.ca (416)-233-8727 Release prepared by Russ Bond Agency -30-