SALINAS, CA - Coming off his second Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship podium of the season at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Peter Portante heads west for the Allied Building Products Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Portante's main focus is keeping his momentum up to continue with the good results. He has raced Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in previous years with the Skip Barber Race Series, which yielded decent lap times and finishing positions. This time he will be piloting the #41 Belardi Auto Racing (MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development/Intercity Lines, Inc./California Scents/Beurre & Sel/B&R Electrical Contractors/Randy's Wooster Street Pizza/Northern Construction/Velez Computer Systems/Pagliacci's) car, which is a change from the Skip Barber cars. However, Portante is confident the team will get the results they want.
Portante will have quite the off-track schedule while in California as well. He will make a stop at the Monterey Public Library (625 Pacific Street Monterey, CA 93940) on Thursday, September 5th, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for autographs, photos as well as media interviews. Portante will then be making an appearance at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Monterey County for a special donation drive, presented by Mazda, on Friday, September 6th, at 9:00 a.m. For each pet adoption Mazda will be giving away a special 1:43 scale model car for their "Free Car with Every Adoption" promotion. To adopt an animal, or make a donation, please visit the SPCA of Monterey County at 1002 Monterey Salinas Highway, Salinas, California 93908. You may also bring donations for the shelter to the USF2000 trailer in the paddock.
Portante on his biggest challenge for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca:
"The biggest challenge heading into this race weekend is to just keep momentum. We have really started to be where we need to as far as pace so I am looking to keep it up and improve for Mazda Raceway."
For More Information on Portante, visit his Website at http://www.peterportante.com, follow him on Twitter @portante24 and like him on Facebook at Peter-Portante-Racing.