DANVILLE, VA - Norwegian rookie Henrik Furuseth has so far had an eventful but successful debut season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. The 16-year-old has so far racked up an impressive five wins in just 11 races in the National Class, all the while never having seen any of the American tracks before the 2012 season kicked off.

Furuseth comes off a championship-winning season last year in Europe where he dominated the Scandinavian Formula Basic Championships. Making the move to North American racing and the Mazda Road to Indy has carried great success so far having teamed up with the most successful USF2000 team to date, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. As the season comes to a close next weekend at Virginia International Raceway, Furuseth is only seven points outside the championship lead.

“My season so far has been very good,” Furuseth said. “It has been so much better than I expected before I started racing here. I have really enjoyed my first year in the U.S. The season finale in Virginia is going to be a thriller. My goal is definitely to win both races there and to secure the championship. The track is amazing and I am really looking forward to racing there. Hopefully I can be in a USF2000 Championship Class car next year; that is what I want to do and that is what I am working for.”

Furuseth is managed by ABK Sports Management, which is co-owned by fellow Norwegian race car driver Anders Krohn. Krohn has experience in all rungs of the Mazda Road to Indy, and speaks very highly of Furuseth’s accomplishments to date. 

“Henrik came into this season as a complete unknown to everyone in the American racing scene,” Krohn commented. “But he has certainly put himself on the map as the quickest USF2000 National driver this year, and that should put him in a great position for 2013.”

Born and raised in Eidsvoll, Norway, Furuseth grew up racing go karts in his homeland alongside his bigger brother Sindre. While Sindre decided to take the more traditional route in Norway of rallying, Henrik had his eyes set on open-wheel racing only. In 2011 he won the Scandinavian Formula Basic Championships at the mere age of 15, the youngest-ever champion and race winner in this category. For 2012 the 16-year-old was presented with many options, but the decision was made to join the USF2000 Championship when an offer from Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing came following an impressive test last October. For 2013, Furuseth hopes to move up to the USF2000 Championship Class. He is partnered with Palfinger, Akrene Mek, Felgimport & Würth Norway, and has additional support from Bell Racing Helmets and MOMO.

For more information on Furuseth, please visit his Facebook page, Henrik Furuseth Racing (Facebook.com/HenrikFurusethRacing) and follow on twitter @HenrikFuruseth.