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Andersen Racing’s International Karting Program Is Off and Running
PALMETTO, Fla., April 22 — Wes Phillips, Andersen Racing’s director of competition karting, recently represented the Palmetto, Fla.-based team in the first round of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge in Salbris, France. Phillips progressed through the preliminary events and made the final in Rotax Senior. That was an accomplishment in itself, as some 50 other drivers in his class did not make the final at the event, which attracted many of the best Rotax racers in the world.
Phillips started 21st in the final but was caught up in a melee on the first turn of the first lap. “Coming through the 50-miles-per-hour sweeping first bend, my kart was knocked sideways and pushed, and I slid through the entire second half of the corner,” he said. “All I could do was stay on the throttle and counter steer in the hope that the driver of the kart pushing me from the side down the track would let go of his throttle enough to allow my kart to straighten out. He finally released and I resumed the race into Turn 2 with significant loss of position.”
Phillips then started to make his way back up through the field and finished 19th.
“My kart was slightly damaged due to the contact in Turn 1, but I was still content to come away with valuable information that will lead to a better-prepared outing for the second round of the Rotax Euro Challenge in Wackersdorf, Germany May 26-30,” Phillips said.
Andy Dunne of Chicago has been added to Andersen Racing’s roster of drivers competing internationally in the Euro Challenge. “Andy is 16 years old and just got his driver’s license, so a racing trip to Germany will be great exposure for him,” Phillips said. “Andy is the first among a growing list of interested drivers we expect will take part in Andersen’s karting exchange program, which is now up and running.”
Andersen Kart Racing Team International is made possible by the combined efforts of Andersen Racing, Andersen RacePark, Birel, Kalman Motorsport of Hungary and HRS Racing Engines.
Phillips is also in the process of refining Andersen's international driver development program with the assistance of several other major karting teams and manufacturers.
In addition to the international program, Andersen Karting offers corporate, regional and national karting programs from its headquarters at Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla. For more information see andersenkarting.com and andersenracepark.com. Eddie Kish, manager of Andersen RacePark, can be reached by telephone at (941) 723-3900 or by e-mail at eddie@andersenkarting.com, while Phillips’ e-mail address is wes@andersenracingteam.com.
Andersen Racing is a top formula car team that participates in Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights. It is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. Its Web site is at andersenracingteam.com.
Andersen Promotions administers the U.S. F2000 National Championship, which is presented by Cooper Tires and powered by Mazda. Its Web site is at usf2000.com.
About Allied Building Products Corp.:
Allied Building Products Corp., headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., is one of the largest roofing and siding distributors in the United States. Founded in 1950 with five employees and two trucks, today it is a $1.8 billion building material distribution company with over 3,500 employees, more than 200 branches in 30 states, well over one million square feet of office and warehouse space, and an inventory of approximately 85,000 products, from residential roofing and siding to doors, windows, waterproofing, manufactured stone, interior products and commercial roofing systems. For more information see alliedbuilding.com.
About Andersen Racing:
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best and most comprehensive training possible for future open-wheel superstars while giving its marketing partners media exposure and hospitality opportunities at some of the most prestigious events in North America. It provides a unique program utilizing multiple entries in three different platforms: karting, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights.
A sister company, Andersen Promotions, administers the USF2000 National Championship presented by Cooper Tires and powered by Mazda. It is part of both the Indy Racing League’s Road to Indy program and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development system.
Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. The team is headquartered at Andersen RacePark, an 18-acre facility in Palmetto, Fla. that includes a 1-mile road course test track. For more information see andersenracingteam.com, andersenkarting.com, andersenracepark.com and usf2000.com.
