OLSON FINISHES IN TOP TEN BUT OFF THE PACE IN FIRST AFR POINTS WEEKEND;
MAKES QUESTIONABLE CONTACT WITH COMPETITOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2009
Shanghai International F1 Circuit, Shanghai, China -
In professional racing, bravery and determination are an essential requirement for speed. However, driving finesse is also a prerequisite for fast lap
times. FRD Motorsports American race driver Pete Olson has proven that he has what it takes in the courage department – but also that he has a
distinct tendency to exceed the limits of his 174mph Formula Renault.
While Olson steadily improved during yesterday’s three official SIC [Shanghai International F1 Circuit] Formula Renault practices, coming within a
second of several five year Formula Renault veterans champions, the American’s ragged driving style cost him positions.
Olson qualified in 8th place on Saturday’s first race of the weekend in his FRD Motorsports/Christian Childrens Fund Formula Renault. At the start of
race one, during his first “standing start” in several years, Olson overspun the tires during the F1-style standing start. After being passed in turn one
by two cars, Olson seemingly bullied his way through to re-pass them, almost running one of them off the track. Just a lap later, another competitor
tried to outbrake Olson into a corner. Although the driver clearly had the right to the pass and turned into the corner on the inside of Olson, Olson
ran the normal ‘drive line’ and slammed his left front wheel into the right front wheel of the other driver.
“I knew he had similar lap times to me, and he qualified about a tenth of a second in front of me. A tenth is nothing during a race with a 1:47 pole,
and he had no business being on my inside during that corner. He should not try something like that again.”
However, with only two laps to go, after fending off the driver for most of the race, Olson slid wide in several corners, which enabled his opponent
to squeeze by.
Olson’s engineer Maarten deBusser said: “Olson needs to learn a few things, like smoothness and tire management. It is extremely rare that anyone
wins in their first year in Renault, and Olson is racing against guys with years of Renault driving, and doing well for his experience level. The first
year in Renault is the year to learn the car, and the 2nd season is the time to go for the Championship. Pete is used to the podium and his now that
we have made progress with the setup, he still needs some adjustment in his driving style. The Formula Renault car is like F1, F3, an aero
[aerodynamic car] that requires a completely different skillset, smoothness above all. It takes a certain amount of blind courage, but also a lot of
patience to be the best.”
We wish Pete the best of luck in the next Formula Renault race just six weeks from now, at the Beijing International Circuit, July 11/12.
xxx
For more information contact:
Christian Children's Fund
Media Relations Contact Agent for Pete Olson:
Jennifer Harter
JHarter@CCFUSA.ORG
Communications Associate
Christian Children's Fund
2821 Emerywood Parkway
Richmond, VA 23294
(804) 756-8994
Peter Olson
Chief Instructor, FRD Motorsports
Zhuhai International Circuit
Jin Ding, Zhuhai City
Guangdong, China, 50185
pete@peteolson.com
+86 139 2336 5952
MAKES QUESTIONABLE CONTACT WITH COMPETITOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2009
Shanghai International F1 Circuit, Shanghai, China -
In professional racing, bravery and determination are an essential requirement for speed. However, driving finesse is also a prerequisite for fast lap
times. FRD Motorsports American race driver Pete Olson has proven that he has what it takes in the courage department – but also that he has a
distinct tendency to exceed the limits of his 174mph Formula Renault.
While Olson steadily improved during yesterday’s three official SIC [Shanghai International F1 Circuit] Formula Renault practices, coming within a
second of several five year Formula Renault veterans champions, the American’s ragged driving style cost him positions.
Olson qualified in 8th place on Saturday’s first race of the weekend in his FRD Motorsports/Christian Childrens Fund Formula Renault. At the start of
race one, during his first “standing start” in several years, Olson overspun the tires during the F1-style standing start. After being passed in turn one
by two cars, Olson seemingly bullied his way through to re-pass them, almost running one of them off the track. Just a lap later, another competitor
tried to outbrake Olson into a corner. Although the driver clearly had the right to the pass and turned into the corner on the inside of Olson, Olson
ran the normal ‘drive line’ and slammed his left front wheel into the right front wheel of the other driver.
“I knew he had similar lap times to me, and he qualified about a tenth of a second in front of me. A tenth is nothing during a race with a 1:47 pole,
and he had no business being on my inside during that corner. He should not try something like that again.”
However, with only two laps to go, after fending off the driver for most of the race, Olson slid wide in several corners, which enabled his opponent
to squeeze by.
Olson’s engineer Maarten deBusser said: “Olson needs to learn a few things, like smoothness and tire management. It is extremely rare that anyone
wins in their first year in Renault, and Olson is racing against guys with years of Renault driving, and doing well for his experience level. The first
year in Renault is the year to learn the car, and the 2nd season is the time to go for the Championship. Pete is used to the podium and his now that
we have made progress with the setup, he still needs some adjustment in his driving style. The Formula Renault car is like F1, F3, an aero
[aerodynamic car] that requires a completely different skillset, smoothness above all. It takes a certain amount of blind courage, but also a lot of
patience to be the best.”
We wish Pete the best of luck in the next Formula Renault race just six weeks from now, at the Beijing International Circuit, July 11/12.
xxx
For more information contact:
Christian Children's Fund
Media Relations Contact Agent for Pete Olson:
Jennifer Harter
JHarter@CCFUSA.ORG
Communications Associate
Christian Children's Fund
2821 Emerywood Parkway
Richmond, VA 23294
(804) 756-8994
Peter Olson
Chief Instructor, FRD Motorsports
Zhuhai International Circuit
Jin Ding, Zhuhai City
Guangdong, China, 50185
pete@peteolson.com
+86 139 2336 5952
