Formula Car Challenge Championships To Take Place Alongside the IZOD IndyCar Series

Racers from around the country will converge to battle at the 2013 GoPro Indy� Grand Prix of Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif. (June 01, 2013) - Race fans will once again be treated to the Formula Car Challenge, presented by Goodyear  during the GoPro Indy� Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 22nd-25th. This will mark the fourth time the Formula Car Challenge (FCC) will be paired with the IZOD IndyCar� Series in the Sonoma Valley. Past events have had 33- 35 cars on the grid, making this one of the largest open-wheel races in the country.

The FCC will be hosting their national championship during this action-packed race weekend, which will also host the SCCA World Challenge. Spectators will also be treated to an expansive vendor midway, charity auction and an entertaining pre-event show on Sunday, highlighted by the Patriots Jet Team air show.

The FCC West Coast Region, which is in its ninth season, features a 18-race schedule. Eleven of the races will take place at Sonoma Raceway on a variety of the track's configurations. A large percentage of the series drivers are local California hobbyists, but the series has also been a breeding ground for up-and-coming professional racers. Over the past few season alumni of the Formula Car Challenge have graduated into SportsCars, the Pro Mazda Championship, Indy Lights, and the IZOD IndyCar� Series.

"The past two years we have have 30+ cars at the Indy GP, as well as a great mix of all the FCC car classes, stated Series Official Ben Hettema. "Since this is always the biggest FCC event of the year, it makes sense to make it our National Championship event again for 2013."  Registration for the event is open to all FCC region competitors now. Top performers from every region are expected to attend the Indy GP of Sonoma, as they have in past seasons. 

The Formula Car Challenge has regions across the United States, and is a National Auto Sport Association (NASA)-sanctioned series featuring a multi-class format of open-wheel racecars. Prizes and awards for this event are expected to be announced in an upcoming news release.

• Official FCC video from 2011 (all footage and edits by GoPro)
• Race Week feature broadcast prior to Indy GP weekend
• Ticket information
• IZOD IndyCar Official website

• 2010
• 2011
• 2012 (First year event was run as National Championship)

FCC Alumni Neil Alberico (far right) with the Borg Warner Trophy (photo credit: Eric McCombs - IMS)

Our alumni made us proud at Indy this past weekend, proving once again that the Formula Car Challenge is a great training ground for up-and-coming open wheel racers. Here is who was there, and what they accomplished. (Be sure to check out the IndyLights finish, the closest in history!)

USF2000 "Night Before the 500"- press release

(Neil won races in Pro FM and FM classes in FCC in 2011)

Indy Lights Freedom 100 - video highlights

Gabby Chaves 2nd (Won 2 races in FCC in 2012)

Zach Veach 5th (2011 FCC Winter Series Champion)

Jorge Goncalvez 6th (2009 FCC Winter Series Champion)

Pro Mazda Championship "Night Before the 500"- press release

Kyle Kaiser 7th and hard charger award
(2012 FCC West Coast Region Champion)

Zach Meyer 8th (2011 FCC Winter Series Competitor) 

Lloyd Read 9th (2011 FCC West Coast Region Champion)

Juan Piedrahita 10th (2009 FCC Winter Series Competitor)

IndyCAR - INDY 500

JR Hildebrand (FCC Series Coach 2005-2007) Q 10, R 33

Tristan Vautier (competed in FCC in 2011) Q 28, R 16