Nathan to make a fresh start at Lime Rock Park
 qualifying - Nathan Morcom rearview [Valet 8245; 780x600].jpg)
With no pressure to score F2000 Championship Series points, Nathan will go all-out to win races in the final four rounds. Photo by Dennis Valet.
It might seem strange, but Nathan Morcom is approaching rounds 11 and 12 of the F2000 Championship Series at Lime Rock Park next weekend as if they were rounds one and two! With no realistic chance of overhauling the series leaders in the four remaining rounds, Nathan, who is third in the rookie standings and sixth overall, will be going all-out for race wins rather than driving conservatively to rack up points.
“Actually it will be easier than if the championship was at stake, because I won’t have to decide if every overtaking move could cost me points if it doesn’t stick," he said. “Whenever there’s an opportunity, I’ll just go for it!”
The 2.4km (1.5-mile) Connecticut circuit will mark Nathan's return to the American ‘development’ openwheeler series following an 11-week break. A decision was made after Mid-Ohio in early-July to skip Mosport later in the month so that Primus Racing could address issues behind his lacklustre results since he won the opening round at Virginia International Raceway in April.
Nathan isn’t blaming Primus boss Jon Baytos, though. “To be fair to Jon, in the first half of this year he had commitments to some long-term projects, one of which was re-establishing Primus Racing as a team in its own right instead of hiring other teams’ equipment and personnel. To do that he had to find and then fit out a workshop, which took a lot of time and energy that normally would have gone into the racing side.
“I know that Jon has been extremely disappointed that the car preparation this year hasn’t been up to the high standard that he sets for himself and everyone in his team. The car problems we’ve had have been frustrating because they’ve prevented Jon from doing what he’s famous for, which is setting up race-winning cars. This series is so competitive, and the race weekend timetables are usually so tight, that a small problem in testing or practice can make the difference between starting from the front row and midfield.
“I’ve been close enough to the pace often enough during the season to know that we only need our full quota of track time to be serious contenders,” Nathan said.
2011 F2000 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (USA), ROUNDS 11 & 12
Lime Rock Park (2.4km/1.5 miles) – Lakeville, Connecticut
Lime Rock Park (2.4km/1.5 miles) - Lakeville, Connecticut
TIMETABLE (subject to change without notice by the race meeting organisers)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
10:00-10:25 USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time (00:00-00:25 Saturday, Australian Eastern Standard Time) – practice session1
13:55-14:20 USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time (03:55-04:20 Saturday, Australian Eastern Standard Time) – practice session 2
15:00-15:25 USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time (05:00-05:25 Saturday, Australian Eastern Standard Time) – Round 11 qualifying
17:05-17:30 USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time (07:05-07:30 Saturday, Australian Eastern Standard Time) – Round 12 qualifying
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
09:00-09:15 USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time (23:00-23:15 Sunday, Australian Eastern Standard Time) – warm-up session
10:25-10:55 USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time (00:25-00:55 Sunday, Australian Eastern Standard Time) – Round 11 race
16:00-16:30 USA Eastern Daylight Saving Time (06:00-06:30 Sunday, Australian Eastern Standard Time) – Round 12 race
Follow Nathan's progress 'live' during practice, qualifying and racing on the F2000 Championship Series Twitter page!
POINTSCORE AFTER 10 OF 14 ROUNDS
1. Remy Audette (CAN) 417
2. Chris Livengood (USA) 315
3. Kyle Connery* (USA) 309
4. Robert La Rocca* (VEN) 272
5. Tim Minor (USA) 267
6. Nathan Morcom* (AUS) 188 – contested 8 rounds only* rookie
MORE INFORMATION
F2000 Championship Series website
