Sainte-Thérèse (QC), May 3rd, 2022 – Quebec driver Jean-Christophe Trahan made his debut in the American Formula 2000 series, a championship organized by Formula Race Promotions, last weekend on Mid-Ohio’s road course.
Trahan enjoyed a successful debut in the series, finishing third in the first race on Saturday before winning Race 2 the next day.
Jean-Christophe Trahan had never driven a Formula 2000 single-seater before he arrived at Mid-Ohio, a race track he also discovered last weekend. In addition, he missed the first practice session and then the qualifying session for Race 1 was cancelled due to on-track incidents. Trahan had only completed a handful of laps before he took the start of his first ever race in the series!
“The second practice session was my first taste of a Formula 2000 race car fitted with wings and slick tires,” commented Jean-Christophe Trahan, who added: “but I felt confident straight away. The car was set up according to the preferences of the driver who raced it last year, with a brake balance very different from what I like. However, I was gradually able to adapt my driving style to suit this car while making some adjustments to make it more to my liking.”
The rookie driver set the fourth fastest time in the only practice session he took part in.
“Unfortunately, I suffered from a minor mechanical problem near the end of the session, which forced me to stop my car at the edge of the race track. For doing so, race officials penalized me by two positions on the starting grid for Race 1, so I started sixth,” explained Jean-Christophe.
His first ever race in the United States, his first in a F2000 race car and his first at Mid-Ohio was more than promising:
“I passed three competitors to finish on the podium. It sounds easy to say, but even though I was still learning the car, I had a good feeling behind the wheel. My only problem came from an unprotected piece of metal what was sticking inside the cockpit, and I kept knocking my leg against it. When I woke up the next morning, I had a bruise the size of a baseball.”
It was raining the morning of the next day, and the qualifying session was again disrupted by off-track excursions and incidents. Trahan nevertheless managed to set the third fastest time, which put him on the second row of the starting grid.
“The track was very slippery. I didn’t put a wheel wrong, and I must admit that setting the third fastest time in these conditions was very satisfying,” said Trahan who finished runner-up of the F1600 Canada series last year.
The track was dry for the start of Race 2. With a tight budget that didn’t allow him to put a new set of tires for the second race, Jean-Christophe Trahan’s car was therefore fitted with a used set of rubber. However, that did not prevent him to fight for first place.
“I wanted to be patient, but I quickly managed to slip into second place. Then, I fought with [race leader] Nathan Byrd for a few laps. I tried to pass him a first time and I didn’t work. My second attempt was successful. I went around him at the end of the long straight, and I found myself into the lead,” explains Jean-Christophe who never looked back on his way to victory.
His maiden victory was made possible thanks to the support of his parents, MF Racing and Blud Lubricants, the Ohio-based company that sponsors the Global Racing Team for which Jean-Christophe drives.
“I am very happy with the result. The F2000 is a great experience for me, and I would like to thank the Global Racing Team for the quality of the equipment they provide me with. I was able to push the car hard straight away and go for it. To drive a very good car really helps building confidence,” Trahan added.
The next round of the American Formula 2000 series will take place May 20-22 at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.
This will be again a new race track for Trahan to learn, but he looks ahead to the challenge: “Barber is the kind of track I love, I can’t wait to race there,” he concluded. This will be the second of three events Trahan is scheduled to compete in during his rookie season in F2000. His third event will be held at Summit Point, West Virginia, August 19-21.
From: JC Trahan Racing
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