Finding the Next Diamond in the Rough
As anyone who follows racing knows, having talent and skill behind the wheel is normally not enough to succeed and/or make your mark in the sport. That is particularly true in the junior formula car ranks. There are numerous stories of quality racers not making the leap to the big leagues simply because they just couldn’t get the support and/or breaks required. Over the past few years, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear has witnessed one team trying its best to make a difference one driver at time, and that squad is Mundill.
Based in Angleton, Texas, at the MSR Houston race facility, Mundill was formed in 2006 by motorsports fans and competitors Dave Mundy and Jeff Hill. Having witnessed many talented drivers not only at MSR, but at tracks and events in the southwestern USA, one of the duo’s objectives right from the get-go was to give those racers the opportunity reach their goals in the pro ranks. With emphasis on cost control, quality service and general bang for the buck, it was not long before Mundill found its way into the highly competitive Star Mazda Championship.
“With Dave’s passion for racing and my primary interests of engineering, physics and teaching, operating a race team was natural fit,” stated Team Co-Owner Jeff Hill. “One of the best parts is the chance to work with and help develop young talent.”
Mundill’s first season of pro competition featured rookies Alex Ardoin and Tony Rivera leading the charge for the team. The driver line-up was at different ends of the open-wheel racing age spectrum; Ardoin a skilled young charger and Rivera a talented middle-aged racer, but both had demonstrated the speed to move the motorsport ranks, although neither had previously been given the opportunity to showcase their skills on a pro stage before Mundill took them under their wings. Within a surprisingly short amount of time, given all the parties involved were newcomers to the series, both the team and drivers were showing what they could accomplish. Ardoin challenged for Rookie of the Year honors, earning one pole position and winning the season-finale at Laguna Seca, while Rivera was a leading Expert Series driver, winning four of the six races he contested. Last, but not least, Mundill established itself as a leading team/prep shop with a reputation for spotting and developing up-and-comers.
After a superb sophomore season that featured another pole position, four more podium finishes and third place in the team standings, Mundill once again showcased its desire to help potential stars in the sport by placing Norwegian Anders Krohn behind the wheel of one its Star Mazda Championship cars. The reigning F2000 Championship Series champ promptly rewarded Mundill’s belief in his abilities by providing the team with its first-ever oval win, as well as routinely challenging for top honors in one of the most competitive seasons in recent series memory.
While funds for everyone involved in racing remains tight in these tough, but steadily improving economic times, Mundill remains focused on continually finding and assisting that next junior formula car racing diamond in the rough. Recently, the Texas-based squad believed it has found such a race pilot from across the pond in England. A native of Eye in Suffolk, England, Garry Findlay certainly has the right pedigree to lead Mundill’s championship charge in the 2010 Star Mazda Championship. The 20 year-old is not only a former standout karter and son of a former Formula Ford 2000 and Formula 3 racer, but he is also very accomplished racer since first getting behind the wheel of race car in 2006. Since winning the British Formula Ford Winter series as a rookie, he finished a close second in the British Formula Ford Scholarship class in 2008 with an impressive 12 wins, and came home third in last year’s MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with one victory. The step to Star Mazda was a natural one.
This speed and skill was further emphasized to the Mundill squad when Findlay made the journey to the MSR race facility for some private testing earlier this year. After turning some impressive times and giving the team great feedback, the duo elected to take part in official series testing at Sebring International with an eye towards a full 2010 Star Mazda Championship campaign. While the talented British race pilot suffered a setback via an off-course excursion during the three-day event, it appeared that he and Mundill were poised to commence a partnership for the upcoming season. This, however, has unfortunately changed as after purchasing insurance for the test with a British firm Findlay had his damage claim denied. As a result of the cost of the Sebring incident, his 2010 race budget was significantly impacted, making it uncertain that he can compete in the series.
“Garry is an enthusiastic and talented driver, and it was immediately apparent the skills learned while competing in the UK has prepared him for the next step in his career,” added Hill. “There is no doubt that he posses the skill, talent and desire to succeed in the Star Mazda Championship. Unfortunately, as with many young drivers, funding is always a problem. Dave and I have done and are doing what we can, but at some point funds are still required. Hopefully something can be worked out, as Mundill would be fortunate to have Garry as a driver in the 2010 championship.”
Despite the sudden setback, Mundill, with continued support from ProRaceSupply, remains committed to racing in the Star Mazda Championship in 2010, giving a motorsports up-and comer the opportunity to make his or her mark on the professional stage in one of the premier development series in North America.
Article courtesy of: eFormulaCarNews