FAIRFIELD, N.J., Feb. 20 - Andersen Walko Racing (AWR), one of the most successful formula car prep shops in North America, has become a dealer for Pi Research data acquisition products.
AWR will use that company's systems in all three of its cars competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec championship in 2004. Andrew Prendeville, Adam Pecorari and Mike Andersen are the drivers. Dan Abbale, Jonathan Klein and Chris Meredith drive for AWR in the Formula SCCA series. Scott Willard's Formula Continental car is prepped by AWR, as is Tim Dunn's Formula Ford. The team is currently installing Pi's new Delta Lite system with "X Sport" dashes and Toolbox Lite software into many of its cars. "We've had a long-term working relationship with members of AWR," explained Jason Knuteson, SCCA Club Racing sales manager for Pi Research, USA, which is based in Indianapolis. "AWR is one of our premier teams in SCCA Club Racing, and we're excited to have them on board. All of their team cars are on Pi systems." "We chose PiXpress because its new dash display is excellent and it offers a new 'qualifying mode,' which gives drivers instant feedback," said Andersen, who in addition to being one of the team's drivers is also its data acquisitions expert. "In addition to using Pi systems, we will carry their products and accessories for sale to other teams," added his father, team co-owner Dan Andersen. The new X Sport from PiXpress was developed directly from the steering wheel-mounted instrumentation used in the cockpits of Indy car and Formula 1 race cars. It allows drivers to see the data when they want to, and neatly replaces gauges or other bulkhead-mounted instrumentation in a small, lightweight package mounted directly on the steering wheel. Among the things it keeps track of are lap times and lap numbers completed; the driver's current lap position against the fastest lap of the day; real-time speed and RPMs; minimum corner and maximum straight speeds; gear numbers; and high-intensity gear changes in order to protect the engine. Logged data includes lap times, maximum speed and RPMs, and maximum and minimum sensor values for each lap. Data can be downloaded to a PC laptop to discuss in driver debriefings, hopefully resulting in better lines and faster speeds. For more information on Pi, see www.piXpress.com and www.piResearch.com. AWR has offices in Fairfield, N.J. while its race cars are housed in a shop in North Versailles, Pa. For more information call (973) 244-1900 and see the team's Web site at www.andersenwalko.com. -lm-
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FAIRFIELD, N.J., Jan. 21 - Andersen Walko Racing (AWR), one of the most successful formula-car prep shops in North America, announced today that Andrew and Doug Prendeville, Adam Pecorari and three-time and reigning SCCA Formula Continental National Champion Mike Andersen will compete in AWR entries this year in the Formula Ford Zetec Championship (FF2000), which is part of the Cooper Tires Championship Series.
The team's drivers line-up for its Formula SCCA (FSCCA) and SCCA national programs will be released soon. Several of the drivers are in the middle of an extensive winter testing schedule organized by the company, which has offices in Fairfield, N.J. and a 7,500-square-foot race shop in North Versailles, Pa., near Pittsburgh. Andrew Prendeville and Adam Pecorari plan to contest all of the FF2000 Zetec events, while Doug Prendeville and Andersen will run in selected events. "Our goal is a one-two championship finish, nothing less, and with these two talented pilots running the entire schedule we can accomplish that goal," said team co-owner Dan Andersen. Andrew Prendeville, 22, of Monroeville, Pa., finished fifth in the FF2000 Zetec championship last year running with AWR after earning the SCCA Formula Continental National Championship at the prestigious SCCA Valvoline Runoffs in 2002. "I'm definitely going for the championship this year," he said. "I think we can do much better than we did last year. This year I want to be on top. I think the competition is going to be just as tough as last year, but I think my experience last year will really help going into this year's events." Pecorari, of Ashton, Pa., ran in the FF2000 Zetec championship for the team last year too, scoring one podium finish and three top-five finishes and finishing eighth in points for the year. The 19-year-old was named the series' "Rising Star" at last year's awards banquet. Prior to moving into formula cars he captured two International Karting Federation (IKF) Grand National championships and was a finalist at the world-famous Monaco Cup in Monte Carlo. "My goal is to be on the podium at every race," Pecorari said. "As far as the championship goes, we'll have to see. I believe that I have a good chance of winning the title, but Andrew is going to be one of the drivers who will be my toughest competition. It's going to be a good season." Pecorari added that he's pleased to be a member of the AWR squad. "They're really a professional team and their cars are good," he said. "They're really nice guys too." Doug Prendeville plans to compete in the first two races (Sebring, Fla. in March and Road Atlanta in April), while Mike Andersen's 2004 season is scheduled to begin at the Road Atlanta race. He plans to compete in approximately four events, and is especially looking forward to the two races at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Although Andersen has run only a limited schedule of SCCA Formula Continental events since 1998, the 30-year-old Green Pond, N.J.-based driver has accumulated a dozen SCCA national victories, 17 SCCA national poles, four SCCA Runoffs poles and five SCCA track records in addition to his three SCCA national Formula Continental championships. He took a break from competition from 1996 through 1997, but before that he was a star of the pro Formula Ford 2000 series, finishing fourth in 1992, second in 1993 and third in 1994. "I'm not planning to defend my Formula Continental championship; we sold that car," he explained. "Once they finalize the FF2000 Zetec schedule I'll decide how many race I'll do. I usually do four or five races a year." Can he beat his two teammates who will be running the entire schedule? "Well, I'll try!" he said with a smile. "I've beaten Andrew before but I've never raced against Adam." Doug Prendeville, Andrew's older brother by three years, lives in Morristown, N.J. He got started in the sport through local go-kart events and the Bertil Roos School. He won the Bertil Roos Hard-Charger Award in 2001. He competed in SCCA Formula Continental events in 2002, finishing third in the Northeast division point standing and nabbing a second place at the Valvoline Runoffs. He ran the entire FF2000 Zetec series last year with AWR, finishing 13th in points and gaining a great deal of experience which will help him in 2004. AWR was formed in November 2002 with the merger of two-time SCCA national champions Andersen/Kish Racing and John Walko Racing. The team finished third overall in its first season together on the FF2000 Zetec trail. The team is led by Dan Andersen, co-owner, team president and Mike's father, and John Walko, co-owner, team manager and chief engineer. Dan Andersen, one of the most influential men in the junior open-wheel formula car ranks in North America for over a decade, organized the U.S. Formula 2000 national championship series with partner Mike Foschi in the early nineties and ran it successfully through 2001. He has also owned and operated his own successful race team with his son for many years. Walko is recognized as one of top engineers in Formula Ford, Formula Continental and Formula Ford 2000 racing today, with multiple SCCA national championships and runner-up finishes. He was chosen as "Engineer of the Year" for 2003 in the FF2000 Zetec series. He also ran the factory Carbir team in the U.S. F2000 series. -awr/lm- MONDAY, DEC. 23, FAIRFIELD, N.J., -- Andersen Walko Racing has announced its first driver lineup for the 2003 season. Brothers Doug and Andrew Prendeville of Morristown, N.J., front-runners in SCCA Formula Continental competition last season, will pair up in the professional Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship.
“We are proud to have reached an agreement with two promising young stars so soon after we announced the formation of our team,” said team co-owner Dan Andersen. “We watched Doug and Andrew last year and we were impressed, and we are excited that we can help them move up the motorsports ladder.” The Prendevilles made waves last season by finishing 1-2 at the SCCA’s National Championship Runoffs, with Andrew qualifying on pole and taking the title, in just their first full year of racing. After getting their start at the Bertil Roos Racing school in 2001, the two bulldozed the SCCA’s Northeast division in 2002, with Andrew, 19, winning the division on the strength of four wins, and Doug, 24, placing third with two wins. At the prestigious June Sprints, Andrew finished second while Doug took third. For their efforts they were awarded co-rookie-of-the-year status in the Northeast division. The two also made their pro debuts. Andrew contested four FF2000 races, earning two top-10 finishes and one outside-pole starting spot. Doug made two FF2000 starts, including one from outside pole, and also entered two Fran-Am Formula Renault races, producing finishes of seventh and third. Andersen Walko racing was recently formed through the merger of two-time SCCA National Champions, Andersen Kish Racing, with pro FF2000 veterans John Walko Racing. In addition to the two-car effort in the FF2000 Zetec Championship, the team will field entries for two drivers in the new Formula SCCA class, and will continue fielding cars in SCCA’s Formula Continental class. John Walko, Co-Owner, Team Manager and Chief Engineer, is recognized as one of the best race engineers in Formula Continental and FF2000 racing today. His accomplishments include winning two SCCA National Championships and two runner-up finishes at the SCCA Runoffs in the past four years, including 1999 and 2000 FC runner-ups, 2000 FF National Champion, and 2001 FC National Champion. On the pro side, Walko ran the factory Carbir team in U.S. FF2000 competition, winning the American Continental Championship for year-old cars in 1999 and 2000. His pro drivers in 2001 and 2002, Paul Dana, Tom Dyer, Josh Schreiber, Joel Nelson, Mike Andersen, and Doug Prendeville recorded four podium, 11 top-five and 16 top-ten finishes. Walko recorded his first pro win in 2002 with Dyer on the oval at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Dan Andersen, Co-Owner and Team President, is one of the most respected figures in the junior open-wheel ranks, with a proud tradition of helping develop young American driving talent. Dan founded the U.S. FF2000 pro series in 1991 and guided it for 10 years, turning it into one of the top open-wheel development formulas in the world with numerous graduates enjoying successful careers in CART and the IRL. Dan also has owned and operated his own successful race team for his son Mike for the past 5 seasons, and heads a $20 million/year contracting business he founded in New Jersey in 1974. Commonly referred to as the "Olympics of Motorsports," the Valvoline Runoffs® at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, October 2-8, will bring the country's top amateur road racers to the 2.4-mile, 15-turn permanent road course with SCCA Club Racing National Championships on the line. This season-ending battle traditionally features over 600 of the nation's top amateur drivers competing in 24 classes for the most coveted prize in amateur auto racing - an SCCA National Championship. The 2000 event is the 37th edition of the Valvoline Runoffs® and the seventh consecutive time Mid-Ohio has played host. Some of the best and most well-known road racers have claimed gold at the event Car and Driver calls one of the "Top Ten" in motorsports. Skip Barber, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Paul Newman, Roger Penske, Bobby Rahal, Jim Trueman and Jimmy Vasser have all won SCCA National Championships en route to professional careers in motorsports. "You race against the best and it's just like a pro race because the importance is there," Elliott Forbes-Robinson said. Forbes-Robinson won a B Sedan title and a C Production title at the Runoffs in 1976, and an A Production title in 1978. "It's a great feeling to know you can get in your car and be the best in the country." The winners of the 24 classes typically represent an eclectic group of champions. Some victors are hobbyists racing for the sheer thrill of competition. Others, such as three-time CART champ Bobby Rahal, opened doors to professional racing at the SCCA Club Racing level. To earn the right to race for an SCCA National Championship, drivers must compete in a minimum of six national events in one of eight SCCA divisions. The top eight competitors per division in each of the 24 classes are invited to the Runoffs. After a day of practice and three days of qualifying, competitors will square off in 20-lap races to determine this year's best amateur drivers. "The Valvoline Runoffs® is some of the best racing action you will see at Mid-Ohio," Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course President Michelle Trueman Gajoch said. "The competitors' entire seasons come down to one 20-lap race. They go home as the best in the country, or they go home thinking about and working toward next year's event." To make the Valvoline Runoffs® possible, the SCCA recruits more than 600 volunteers from over 35 states and Canada. The diverse crowd, which comes to Mid-Ohio as course marshals, technical inspectors, and timing and scoring officials, will travel from as far away as Washington, Florida and New York to help stage this year's "Olympics of Motorsports." The Valvoline Runoffs® has been part of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course season schedule since 1994, when the SCCA National Championship event came to the historic course after 24 years at Road Atlanta. Mid-Ohio has the second longest tenure as host of the event. The Formula CategoryIn the SCCA there are six formula classes are all single-seat, open-wheel racecars. They are built to detailed specifications for weight, size and engine displacement. There are incredible power to weight ratios in each class. Van Diemen RF99Van Diemen was founded in 1973 by Ross Ambrose and Ralph Firman Sr., whose children Marcos Ambrose, Ralph Firman Jr. and Natasha Firman have since gone on to have successful racing careers. The company's name comes from the island of Tasmania, Australia, which was formerly known as Van Diemen's Land and is where Ambrose was born and lived before moving to the UK to co-found the company.
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