Edwards Claims Historic Win at Donington

Oct 18, 1998
Donington, England – Paul Edwards pulled off a stunning victory today in the opening round of the EFDA Formula Opel Winter Series at the challenging Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire, England.

Edwards, carrying the distinctive red-white-and-blue Team USA Scholarship colors on his Team Meritus car, ran fourth in the early stages before passing Irishman Richard Lyons at Goddards. On Lap 12, Edwards took over in the lead when AR Motorsport’s pole-sitting South African Tomas Scheckter and Vergani Racing’s Darren Malkin collided at Redgate Corner.

Edwards the resisted intense pressure from Lyons to take a well-judged victory – by just over one-tenth of a second!

“The race couldn’t have gone any better,” related a jubilant Edwards. “I took the lead with 15 laps to go, but those 15 laps were the longest laps I had ever done! Richard Lyons, who drives for Paul Stewart Racing, was right on my tail. My car was oversteering, but I managed to keep him behind me. It was the best victory of my career!

“It felt so good standing on the podium hearing the Star Spangled Banner being played,” continued Edwards, whose victory was not only the first for an American in the European Formula Opel Series, it was also the first win for an American in the history of the European Formula Drivers Association. EFDA was formed 20 years ago and has included European Formula Ford, Formula Ford 2000, European Formula 3 and European Formula Opel.