Developing Young Athletes Goes Global

Aiming to prepare young and talented racers for a professional career in motorsports, Global Racing Group returns the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda to contend in the 2017 championship with a new, unique approach to its driver development program.

The Seattle-based team, which absorbed assets from Leading Edge Grand Prix late in the 2016 season and placed second in team points, will expand its team from three to four cars in the upcoming season.

 “We’re hugely excited to be joining a high-profile championship like F4 U.S.,” team founder Christian Pedersen said. “Global Racing Group’s aim is to develop motorsports’ future stars. Competing in a modern, FIA-certified championship like F4 U.S. will give our drivers the experience they need to develop their practical racing skills and shoot for success at the highest level.”

A portion of Global Racing Group’s development program will focus on producing well-rounded athletes who will have a full understanding of the commercial possibilities of the motorsports industry and their obligations within the sport. Global Racing Group’s drivers will be coached in key motorsports disciplines like marketing, sponsorship, business and financial literacy.

“There’s much more to success in motorsports than simply driving a racing car fast,” Pedersen said. “Our 2017 F4 U.S. drivers will work closely with our experienced management and advisory board to understand all of the other skills that are required. This is a unique approach to driver development and we’re expecting to see some positive results in the F4 U.S. series.” 

The development of the team’s open-wheel drivers will be overseen by a 12-strong management, business and sporting advisory board that features Haas Formula One Team driver Romain Grosjean.

Global Racing Group has also partnered with DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, Washington. The partnership will allow the team’s F4 U.S. drivers to fine-tune their circuit racing skills by learning driving techniques that are required in other disciplines such as rally and rallycross. Learning car control techniques on a muddy rally stage has been proven to aid car control on a wet, asphalt race track.

 “We’re thrilled to have established a partnership with Global Racing Group and we’re looking forward to playing our part in helping to develop the team’s drivers in 2017,” DirtFish Rally School general manager, Mac McInnes said. “A cross-discipline approach to driver training is extremely beneficial to youngsters that are taking their first steps in open-wheel racing and we’re hoping to see the Global Racing Group drivers flourish in F4 U.S. next season.”

Global Racing Group is expected to release its final F4 U.S. driver line-up by the end of January. 

To coincide with the team’s launch, Global Racing Group unveiled a new website at GlobalRacingGroup.com now has a social media presence on Twitter (@GRGinfo), Instagram (globalracinggroup) and Facebook (Facebook.com/GRGinfo).

For drivers who want to test with Global Racing Group contact info@globalracinggroup.com or visit F4USChampionship.com for more information.