// Swede looking to bounce back in USF Pro 2000
// Heating up: six different nationalities represented in championship top six
Joel Granfors targets a quick return to front-running form when USF Pro 2000 descends on Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, for a fresh pair of races this weekend.
Granfors, who celebrated his 18th birthday last week, has clinched three podiums – including a breakthrough win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – so far in his rookie campaign in U.S. single-seater racing.
A more difficult weekend last time out at Road America, however, meant Granfors and his Exclusive Autosport squad did not add to their podium tally in Wisconsin.
A swift return to the rostrum, consequently, will be high up the wish list as racing resumes at Mid-Ohio.
“We had a tough weekend at Road America, but we believe that was track specific and we actually had a much better test, at Mid-Ohio, just a few days later,” says Joel Granfors. “We just need to press on and I’m confident we’ll be right back up there this weekend.”
Just over halfway through the season, the USF Pro 2000 championship race continues to gain momentum with six drivers of six different nationalities currently running each other close in the standings.
Out front, local American Myles Rowe leads the way ahead of Italy’s Francesco Pizzi, Brazil’s Kiko Porto, fourth-placed Granforsof Sweden, Mexico’s Salvador de Alba and Ireland’s Jonathan Browne.
The top six is currently separated by 67 points – almost the exact same amount (66) on offer for a clean-sweep this weekend alone in Mid-Ohio. Factor in subsequent meetings in Toronto, Texas and Oregon, and it’s clear to see the scholarship race is still very much a wide-open affair.
This weekend’s USF Pro 2000 event at Mid-Ohio takes place across Thursday-Saturday. First up are a pair of test sessions on Thursday, followed by qualifying day on Friday. Both races are staged on Saturday.
GUIDE: Everything you need to know about USF Pro 2000
Live streaming is available for all races throughout the season via usfpro2000.com, YouTube and the USF Pro Championships App.
// TIME TABLE (U.S. Eastern)
USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires
Rd. 6 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (USA)
Thursday 29 June
Test 1: 1:15-2:20 pm
Test 2: 4:10-5:10 pm
Friday 30 June
Practice: 8:00-8:30 am
Qualifying 1: 10:25-10:55 am
Qualifying 2: 1:05-1:35 pm
Saturday 1 July
Race 1: 11:55 am-12:45 pm
Race 2: 5:25-6:15 pm
LIVE STREAMING & TIMING
www.usfpro2000.com
USF Pro Championships App
// CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires
After 5/9 rounds
1: Myles Rowe (USA), 209 p.
2: Francesco Pizzi (ITA), 161 p.
3: Kiko Porto (BRA), 159 p.
4: Joel Granfors (SWE), 154 p.
5: Salvador de Alba (MEX), 142 p.