For Immediate Release
Hope Claims Third Win in a Row, Closes in on Championship
Fontana, Calif. (October 17, 2015) – Tom Hope seized the lead of the race on lap two and never looked back as he raced to a dominant victory in Round 11 of the Pacific Formula F2000 Championship Series presented by Primus Racing Parts and Pirelli Tires Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday increased the points gap to championship series rival Peter West to 26 points.
California Sports Car Club’s (CalClub) Pacific Coast Road Racing Championships provided the venue for a stand alone run group for the series on the 2.88 mile road course inscribed within the 2 mile oval.
The 9:00 am morning practice was led by Ira Fierberg, proving his medically enforced layoff, recovering from a torn ACL, had taken little away from his ability to get around the speedway where he has claimed six consecutive victories from 2011-2013.
A fifteen minute qualifying session began at 11:30 under partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures and once again it was Ira Fierberg, #27, Sparco, Injury Law, LDF Pro Fitness, The Yard, Dave Freitas Racing Van Diemen who led the way with a lap of 1m42.146s to claim the pole position. Fierberg’s lap was a scant 0.268 of a second ahead of Tom Hope, #18, Dart, Primus Racing Parts, H+M Racing Van Diemen as the top five qualifiers set times in the 1 minute 42 second bracket. Next up was Hope’s main challenger for the championship Peter West, #99, Racing Optics, Kodenko Jeans, Malibu Health, Frank Monise Motors, Dave Freitas Racing Van Diemen, followed by Robert Armington, fresh from his fifth place finish at the SCCA Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway, in his #11, Firestone 805, Audioengine, Tomasi Motorsports Van Diemen, father and son Harin and Tim De Silva in their Dave Freitas Racing Van Diemens, Connor Funk, #97, Dave Freitas Racing Van Diemen, former Sports 2000 racer Sterling Ellsworth, #22, That’s My Juice Racing, LLC Van Diemen and John Fabijanic, #69, Piper DF5. Paul MacFarlane, #37, Magtax, HorseTrak Software, Van Diemen/Pinto suffered from gearbox problems and was unable to compete.
Before the green flag fell there was drama as Peter West was unable to get fired and was left on the grid as the field set off on the pace lap. The green flag waved and it was Tom Hope jumping out to an early lead but by the end of the first lap it was Ira Fierberg crossing the start/finish line to lead the first lap followed by Hope, Tim De Silva, Armington, Harin De Silva, Funk, Ellsworth and Fabijanic with Peter West, having finally started, joining the field now a lap behind.
Hope took command of the race on the second lap, leading from there to the finish and though he was closely challenged by both Fierberg and Tim De Silva. Armington retired on lap two with ring & pinion failure.
After four laps of close pursuit at the front the Fierberg/De Silva threat evaporated when a skirmish between the two DRF teammates occurred that resulted in Fierberg retiring with contact damage and De Silva dropping down the fourth place, leaving Hope in the lead now followed by Harin De Silva, Funk, Tim De Silva, Ellsworth, Fabijanic and West.
Once T. De Silva and Fierberg had dropped from the chase, Hope was able to continue on to the end and take the checkered flag with no further threat having built a substantial gap to the followers led by Funk having passed Harin De Silva for second place, H. De Silva, T. De Silva, Ellsworth, Fabijanic and West. For Hope it was his fifth victory of the season increasing his lead in the points chase. He also set the fastest race lap to claim the two bonus points that come with it.
Series Rookie Connor Funk had another consistent run to finish in second place in his first appearance at Auto Club Speedway, further adding to the success he has had this season.
Harin De Silva finished third and for him it was his second podium appearance, the first coming at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca earlier this year.
Tim De Silva finished fourth unable to capture the glory of his two earlier victories in his limited appearances in the series and fortunate not to suffer any damage in his contact with Fierberg.
Sterling Ellsworth finished fifth in his first appearance in the series and was followed to the line by John Fabijanic in sixth also a first time participant.
Peter West finished in seventh and is still within range of Hope but can ill afford to have another dismal result.
The final race of the season will be held on Sunday afternoon.
F2000 Qualifying: 1. Ira Fierberg, (Van Diemen-P), 1m42.156s; 2. Tom Hope, (Van Diemen-P), 1m42.424s; 3. Peter West, (Van Diemen-P), 1m42.669s; 4. Robert Arminigton, (Van Diemen-P), 1m42.787s; 5. H. De Silva, (Van Diemen-P), 1m42.872s; 6. T. De Silva, (Van Diemen), 1m43.149s; 7. Connor Funk, (Van Diemen-P), 1m44.643s; 8. Sterling Ellsworth, (Van Diemen-P), 1m48.462s; 9. John Fabijanic, (Piper DF5), 1m48.549s. Tires: A-Avon, C-Cooper, G-Goodyear, H-Hoosier, P-Pirelli.
F2000 Round 11 (12 laps): 1. Hope; 2. Funk, +8.488s; 3. H. De Silva, +13.052s; 4. T. De Silva, +13.707s; 5. Ellsworth, +18.791s; 6. Fabijanic, +20.851s; 7. West, +1 laps.
Fastest race lap: Hope, 1m42.395s. Master class winner (over 50): West. Points: 1. Hope, 214; 2. West, 188; 3. Funk, 169; 4. T. De Silva, 87; 5. Kodenko, 83; 6. H. De Silva, 63; 7. Armington, 52; 8. Fierberg, 37; 9. Kirby, 34; 9. Freitas, 34; 11. Browne, 31; 12. Rozenboom, 20; 13. Ellsworth, 17; 14. Fabijanic, 15.
The series can be followed at https://www.facebook.com/pacificf2000racing and https://www.twitter.com/PacificF2000.
For more details go to http://www.pacificf2000.com or contact Peter West at 310-363-9444, or by email, pacificf2000