AWR CommenceS Pre-Season Testing

​PITTSBURGH, PA. (January 10, 2003) – Andersen Walko Racing recently completed extensive testing at three different tracks, in preparation for the upcoming 2003 Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship season.

The newly formed team began its pre-season testing program at Sebring International Raceway just after New Years. Running in conjunction with an SCCA Club Racing National event, drivers Andrew and Doug Prendeville completed three days of trouble free testing.

Driving for the first time since the 2002 season-finale, the Prendeville brothers used the opening stages of the test to learn the challenging 3.7-mile road course and become familiar with the new aerodynamic and tire package instituted for the upcoming year. As the test progressed, both drivers steadily got quicker, gathering valuable seat time. By the end of the test both the drivers and the team felt significant gains had been made.

Immediately following the test a Sebring, the team traveled to Roebling Road in Savannah, Ga., for one day of testing. Driving on the abrasive 2.02-mile road course, the team focused on finding mechanical grip and evaluating the new Avon radials. The test proved to be a tremendous success, with both drivers completing over 200 trouble-free miles on one set of tires each.

Andersen/Walko concluded it's first pre-season test program at Carolina Motorsports Park. Working on assorted car setups, the drivers and the team gathered a vast amount of data during two days of testing.

"The tests were definitely a success," said Andersen/Walko co-owner John Walko. "It was important to get Andrew and Doug some seat time before the season started, particularly at Sebring, which neither one had ever seen before. The new tires are real impressive. We were able to do in excess of 200 miles on a set without suffering significant loss in performance."

"It was great to get back in the car," said Doug Prendeville, who qualified on the front-row at the 2002 season-finale. "I really like the new car package. It's fun to drive and should make for some great racing."

"I'm looking forward to the start of the season," said Andrew Prendeville, who won the SCCA Club Racing Formula Continental National Championship last year at the prestigious Valvoline Runoffs. "I like the new car package more than last year, which is hard to believe since I loved driving the Zetec last year. I think the team can post some good results this year."

Andersen/Walko Racing will conduct further pre-season tests ahead of the 2003 Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship season-opener, March 13-14, at Sebring International Raceway, part of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.