Hildebrand Clinches Third in FPA Autumn Trophy

Nov 13, 2005
West Kingsdown, Kent, England –– One third-place finish and a pair of fourths today at Brands Hatch – highlighted by a handful of sensational around-the-outside passes at the daunting Paddock Hill Bend – was enough to secure a tie for third place in the final Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy standings for 2005 Team USA Scholarship winner J.R. Hildebrand.

“Overall, I’m quite satisfied with how everything has gone,” said the 17-year-old from Sausalito, Calif. “I’ve been able to race on two great tracks – Snetterton and Brands Hatch – while racing against rather stiff competition. I’ve had a great experience and learned a tremendous amount.”

Hildebrand started each of today’s three races from the third row of the grid and lost no time in working his way toward the front. He actually lost a position off the starting line in Race One to Stuart Prior, but reclaimed the place in spectacular style by diving around the outside at Paddock Hill Bend – an off-camber, dipping right-hand turn taken in fourth gear at around 95mph. Hildebrand repeated the move on South African Chris Hyman before putting the pressure on Greek driver Andy Demetriou, who staunchly defended his third place until the checkered flag.

Race Two saw Hildebrand start from sixth after crashing yesterday in qualifying, but once again he stunned onlookers by repeating his outside-line passes on Hyman and Prior – on consecutive laps – at Paddock Hill Bend.

“That was seriously impressive,” said a spectating Jonathan Palmer, who won championships in both Formula 3 and Formula 2 in the 1980s before racing competitively in Formula 1 for the Williams team. (Palmer went on to establish a similarly successful business career which includes founding Formula Palmer Audi in 1998.) “Did no one tell him he’s not supposed to be able to make that move look so easy?”

Hildebrand again closed quickly on Demetriou, whereupon the pair exchanged positions twice before the Greek
tangled with a slower car at the Druid’s hairpin, allowing Hildebrand through into third place behind pacesetters Josh Weber, from England, and Iceland’s Viktor Jensen.

Race Three was rather more straightforward. After starting fifth, he made a couple of early passes but by then his over-worked tires were past their best and he was unable to hold off a charging Demetriou, who pulled off a gutsy inside-line move at Paddock.

“I was really struggling with the car by then,” related Hildebrand. “We only had one set for the weekend and I suppose I overused them while I was learning the race track yesterday morning.

“Of course, I would’ve liked to bring home another podium, but I’m very pleased with finishing third in the championship. I came to the series not knowing what to expect from cars, tracks and competition that I had never seen, and have come away with a wealth of knowledge for the future. I can’t thank all of those who have helped make this possible enough; it’s been an amazing experience.”

The Team USA Scholarship, now in its 16th year, has received support this year from Mockett.com, a Torrance, Calif.-based producer and supplier of “Fine Architectural Hardware For Your Fine Furniture,” Sparco USA, RACER magazine, Mi-Jack Conquest Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Jim Russell Racing Schools and former Scholarship winners Jimmy Vasser (1990), Bryan Herta (1991), Tony Ave (1992), Memo Gidley (1995), Buddy Rice (1997), Paul Edwards (1998/’99), Andy Lally (1999), Joey Hand (2000), A.J Allmendinger and Bryan Sellers (2001).

Today’s results from Brands Hatch:

Race One: 1. Josh Weber (GB), 20m50.236s (88.32mph), 2. Viktor Jensen (ISL); 3. Andy Demetriou (GR); 4. J.R. Hildebrand (USA); 5. Chris Hyman (ZA); 6. Stuart Prior (GB); etc. Fastest lap: Weber, 44.690s, 98.77mph.

Race Two: 1. Weber, 21m32.840s (85.41mph); 2. Jensen; 3. Hildebrand; 4. Hyman; 5. Paul Warren (GB); 6. Mark Powell (GB); etc. Fastest lap: Jensen, 44.819s, 98.49mph.

Race Three: 1. Jensen, 20m30.463s (89.74mph); 2. Weber; 3. Demetriou; 4. Hildebrand; 5. Joshua Southall (GB); 6. Hyman; etc. Fastest lap: Weber, 44.987s, 98.12mph.

Final championship positions: 1. Weber, 116 points; 2. Demetriou, 96; 3. Hildebrand & Jensen, 90; 5. Hyman, 86; 6. Tom Haines, 66; etc.

Photo courtesy of James Bearne Photography