Up-and-coming teenager from New York overcame difficulties to score top-10 in Round Six
LEXINGTON, OHIO – The saying goes 'if not for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all', and that certainly applies to Luca Forgeois. The talented up-and-coming racer was poised to showcase his pace and talents during the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course over the weekend (August 4-5), but the poor luck that has haunted the New Yorker throughout the 2012 campaign was again present. Despite continued setbacks, the former National class champion still exited Rounds Six and Seven with one top-10 finish.
Given Forgeois had been among the lead pack on the timesheets during official testing at Mid-Ohio in early May, the 2011 USF2000 National class champion was looking forward to the end of series summer hiatus with a return visit to the Ohio road course. Things, however, did not get off to an ideal start, as engine problems not only restricted Forgeois' time on track in testing, but prevented him from turning a true lap at speed during the two practice runs.
While extremely disappointed with the start to his Ohio event, the No. 9 Café Noir/Splashlight/Gearup Belardi Auto Racing pilot put the setback behind him come qualifying. Despite being behind his counterparts with regards to fine tuning his car for the conditions and the technical 2.258-mile layout, where car balance is key, Forgeois still managed to crack the top-10 in the timed run, earning a row five starting position for Round Six via the 10th best lap.
Returning the cockpit later in the day for race one of the twin bill, the 16 year-old was poised to work his way forward. While Forgeois ultimately ran a rare trouble-free race, his car lacked overall speed, and when combined with limited passing zones, it meant he ended the race in his 10th place starting position.
When the USF2000 field rolled back on-course one day later in front of a large crowd, a wet track - the result of a morning shower - greeted the racers. Forgeois, unlike some of the drivers, was excited about the conditions, believing it provided an ideal opportunity to charge forward. Further showcasing the sort of luck he has dealt with this season, the warm-up lap featured the New Yorker being forced in contact with another racer. That being said, he remained focused on going up the scoring charts. Initially, Forgeois was doing just that, but a subsequent loss of his front nose - a result of the early contact - forced him to pit. Late race cautions further hurt his chances at a comeback drive, as the race was shortened with Forgeois classified a very unrepresentative 22nd at the stripe.
"Overall it was another very challenging weekend," stated Forgeois. "The team and myself were hit with a rather large amount of bad luck, so it was all about keeping my head in the game. We are always faced with challenges in life, and this is one I have to overcome. I just want to assure all my competitors and followers that I won't give up, and come race time at Road America I will show what I can and will do to rise above my recent bad luck."
Forgeois looks to break free from his run of poor luck on August 17-18, when the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda takes to the famed Road America track for the first-ever series tripleheader. The talented teenager from New York won at the famed 4.0-mile road course last season en route to his National class title.
Follow Luca’s career on www.lucaforgeois.com
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About Luca Forgeois:
A resident of New York City, New York, the 16 year-old Luca Forgeois is an aspiring race car driver with the goal of becoming a professional competitor. Luca emerged from his development years in karting to win the 2011 National class title in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, and for 2012, he is back in the series campaigning the headline ‘Championship Class’ category with Belardi Auto Racing.