Summarize

Van der Watt on Portland USF2000 podium

Cape Town racer Julian van der Watt ended his US Formula 2000 season in fine style with a maiden podium in the final race of the year at the Portland International Raceway over the weekend. Julian was quick from the get-go in practice before qualifying eighth for both races and ended up ninth in the first race before delivering his drive of the season to stand on the USF2000 podium for the first time in race 2 to move up to seventh in the final championship standings.

“What a way to end the season,” Julian beamed. “It all came together in the end!” The first race was good, but it could have been better — it was really wild out there and one of the guys bumped me from behind, so there was a bit of damage and the engine was cutting intermittently from there. “I did what I could — a pity because we were running the same pace as the leaders and the car was really good so we could have had a better result.

“The second race was brilliant and it was absolutely amazing to finish the season on the podium with the second fastest lap in the race. “We had a huge gap to close to third but we did it, so it’s a huge thank you to the team — the car was amazing to drive. “It’s been a year I will never forget — thank you, thank you, thank you to my incredible Team Pelfrey!”

Julian now looks forward to the Walter Hayes Formula Ford festival before taking a well earned break following a fraught first season of international racing on the USF2000 Road to Indy.
ENDS

Issued on behalf of Julian van der Watt

What:USF2000 Round 8 Report
Where:Portland, Oregon USA
When:1-2 September 2018
Community:South Africa, International, Cape Town.

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