Cameron Takes Pole!

Nov 4, 2006
Attleborough, England — A little earlier this afternoon, Dane Cameron stunned the series regulars by qualifying his red, white and blue Team USA Scholarship car on the pole for tomorrow’s first round of the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy at Snetterton. Teammate – and birthday boy – Robert Podlesni will start seventh after being caught in traffic on his best lap.

The news was relayed by 2003 Team USA Scholarship winner Charlie Kimball, who took the trouble today to drive out to the track from his home in Oxford. “They both did a really good job – especially Dane, of course,” said Kimball, who has raced – and won – this year in the Formula 3 Euro Series. “I went out to watch at the chicane and they weren’t quite getting it right. The Formula Palmer Audi is much bigger and heavier than the Zetec [Formula Ford 2000 cars that both Cameron and Podlesni have been driving this year – and with which Kimball finished third in the 2003 U.S. FF2000 championship], and they were trying to carry too much speed. So I was able to give them a few pointers.”

The advice obviously helped. This year’s pair of Team USA Scholarship winners had only a very brief shakedown session – in damp conditions – earlier in the week at Bedford Autodrome to get used to the 300hp FPA cars, so were facing a very steep learning curve. FPA officials graciously granted an extra 20-minute practice session this morning to enable all the series newcomers to gain some more experience in the tricky-to-handle cars, but still it was a tall order to expect Cameron and Podlesni to match the speed of 20 other drivers who have extensive experience of either the cars or the track, or both.

But both youngsters were quickly on the pace. Cameron turned the quickest time in the second 20-minute practice session and was fourth in the first of two qualifying periods, with Podlesni close behind in sixth. Then, in the final qualifying session, Cameron stormed to the top of the charts to secure the inside front row grid position for the first of three races that will take place tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of James Bearne Photography

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NOTE: Kimball, now 21, has raced in Europe since winning the 2003/2004 New Zealand Formula Ford International Championship while flying the Team USA Scholarship colors. He finished fourth in the 2004 UK Formula Ford Championship and second – and top rookie – in the 2005 British Formula 3 Championship. This year he moved on into the F3 Euro Series with the Signature-Plus team. The Californian had a tough initiation before coming on strongly in the latter part of the season, scoring a series of podium finished and an impressive victory at Zandvoort, Holland. Kimball is preparing to contest the historic Macau Grand Prix in a few weeks as well as looking forward for next season. He tested a GP2 car recently – an experience he described as “amazing!” – and has a couple of tests scheduled with Renault World Series teams.