ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – With two races still remaining in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing clinched the 2012 Team Championship during this past weekend’s races on the Streets of Baltimore. The team’s drivers have combined to win 10 of 12 races this season. Drivers Matthew Brabham and Spencer Pigot each claimed victory in Baltimore.
Brabham took the pole for the first race around the 2.04-mile, 13-turn temporary road course, while Pigot started second. A breaking error by Brabham in the first turn allowed Pigot to take the lead from his teammate and he never looked back, claiming his sixth victory of the season. Brabham worked his way back up the field and finished second in addition to setting the fastest lap of the race.
In Race 2, Brabham and Pigot lined up 1-2 again, and remained nose-to-tail for the first 10 laps. Unfortunately Pigot’s day ended earlier when he was hit by a slower car once the duo got in traffic. Brabham went on to win the race, his fourth of the season.
“I am just happy how everything turned out at the end of the weekend,” Brabham said. “It was disappointing yesterday to make a few mistakes so today I was just concentrating on not making any mistakes, keeping it clean, staying out in front and out of trouble. It worked out for me in the end and the track was really, really fun to drive on. Cape Motorsports gave us awesome cars throughout the entire weekend which made it easy on us as drivers. I really was quick and I have to thank the team for that. I have to thank the city of Baltimore for a great event and USF2000, Cooper Tires and Mazda for doing all the work they do.”
Brabham now leads Pigot by 41 points (307-266) heading into the final two Rounds at Virginia International Raceway, September 14-16.
“It was a pretty up and down weekend for us in Baltimore,” Pigot said. “The first day went really well, it was great to get another win. It's always fun racing in Baltimore. The track is great and the support from all the fans is really cool. Unfortunately the second race was a disaster. I got hit by a slower car as I was getting through lap traffic and it took me out of the race. There are still a few more races so I'll be ready to keep fighting when we get to VIR. I have to thank all the guys for giving me a great car all weekend.”
After bad luck in the first races of the season, Trent Hindman thought his luck was turning around after solid finishes at Road America. Unfortunately in Race 1, after having the right rear tire cut by debris, his car hit the wall and ended Hindman’s day. He had a much better second race and rebounded with a tenth-place finish. He is currently sixth in the point standings.
“Baltimore was definitely a successful weekend if you ask me,” Hindman said. “I learned so much during the three days we were on track that I cannot wait for next year's race. Obviously we had a little hiccup in Race 1, but overall I am incredibly happy with how it all went. Dominic, Nicholas and Cisco did an awesome job with the car all weekend and it was great to drive. Now my focus is on the VIR test and race weekend so I can finish off my rookie year of USF2000 with some strong results.”
In the National class, Henrik Furuseth claimed finished first in class and eighth overall to claim victory in Race 1, his fifth class win this season. Race 2 didn’t have as favorable results for the young driver. He clipped a wall, breaking the car’s suspension. The team quickly repaired the damages in pit lane and he finished 10th. He remains second in the National class point standings (seven points back). With two races left, the team still has a chance of winning both driver championships.
“I had what I would call an up and down weekend in Baltimore,” Furuseth said. “I started second in Race 1, had a good start and got the lead. I pulled away early in the race and was able to stay in the front until the checkered flag. Race 2 was not as good. I had a good start and was in the lead, but I unfortunately hit the wall almost halfway through the race, and I had to get in to the pit to repair the damages on the car. The team did a great job repairing the car, and I was able to continue the race and finish it. Overall the weekend was good. I did close the gap between the championship leader to just seven points. The team did an awesome job setting up the car throughout the weekend. It was really fun racing in the streets of Baltimore.”
With the team championship in the books, the Capes now have their focus solely on the driver championships.
“To clinch the team championship is a great feeling,” said team owner Dominic Cape. “However, there are still two championships left – the Championship and National Driver Championships. Henrik is in a great position to win the National Championship, and Matthew and Spencer have been battling all season for the wins. What happened to Spencer in Race 2 demonstrates that anything can happen on the race track, so we will head to VIR and hope for the best.
"We would like to thank all the members of the team for the contribution to the championship: Will Paul, Francisco Navarro, Chris Valle, Alan Oppel, Don Conner, Reggie Cape, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Wayne Taylor, Lauren McCrystal, and also a big thanks to Elite Engines and Braille Batteries.”
The USF2000 series heads to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia September 14-16. For more information and live timing and scoring, please visit www.usf2000.com. You can also follow the team on Facebook and Twitter (CMwithWTR) for updates.
Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing was formed in 2010 as a partnership between two successful racing entities. With leadership from brothers Nicholas and Dominic Cape, and along with Wayne Taylor and his organization in Indianapolis, the team campaigns cars in the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda and the F1600 Formula F Championship Series. In 2011, the team helped Petri Suvanto claim the driver championship. For more information, please visit www.capemotorsports.com.