American Teenagers Aron, Lee Set for Formula Ford Festival

Bryce Aron (left) and Jackson Lee.

WEST KINGSDOWN, England – Thirty years after inaugural Team USA Scholarship winner Jimmy Vasser made his debut at Brands Hatch, American teenagers Bryce Aron and Jackson Lee will continue the tradition this weekend. The pair will drive identical Ray GR18/19s prepared by Low Dempsey Racing in the 49th Annual Aimshop.com BRSCC Formula Ford Festival and World Cup.

Aron, 17, from Winnetka, Ill., has been with the team all summer, competing in a variety of Formula Ford 1600 races after placing third in the 2019 F1600 Championship Series. He has notched a series of podium positions, including a win at Cadwell Park, and was the fastest qualifier for a round of the Avon Tires BRSCC National Formula Ford 1600 Championship at Brands Hatch last month.

Low Dempsey Racing at Brands Hatch.

Lee, 18, from Avon, Ind., arrived in England a few weeks ago – his very first overseas trip – after a successful season in the F1600 Championship Series which included a couple of race wins. After serving his mandatory quarantine period, Lee impressed the team with some solid performances among a very competitive field in tricky conditions during the final two national championship races on the Silverstone International Circuit.

Aron and Lee have just completed three days of testing on the short but challenging 1.2079-mile “Indy” circuit in a variety of weather conditions and are looking forward to flying the program’s patriotic livery this weekend.

Aron already has shown excellent pace at Brands Hatch   (Gary Hawkins photo)

“A great few days of testing are complete here at Brands Hatch,” said Aron (right). “We had some mixed conditions but learned a lot. It was great to revisit the circuit since I was here last for the national championship in September when I qualified on pole.

“Brands Hatch is one of my favorite circuits – a proper driver’s track making every input count; especially since a lap is only about 50 seconds. I’m looking forward to the racing tomorrow and we will give it our best shot. I believe we have top-five pace and am looking forward to proving it.”

Unofficially, Aron was thought to be among the pacesetters in testing, along with Low Dempsey Racing teammate and reigning Formula Ford Festival champion Jonathan Browne and National championship winner Neil MacLennan. Lee and fellow American teammate Max Esterson, from Water Mill, N.Y., also circulated within a few tenths of a second.

Lee has been quickly up to speed (Gary Hawkins).

“I was able to make even more great improvements on the last test day,” said Lee. “I feel very comfortable in the car and I was able to run lap times close to the leaders. Low Dempsey Racing has done a great job of helping me get up to speed so quickly and preparing me for this weekend’s racing.

“My first experience at Brands Hatch has been amazing. It’s relatively small, so you really have to earn your passes with aggressive (but smart) moves and by forcing drivers into mistakes. Hopefully I can use my short track quarter midget experience to my advantage. Overall, it has been a very fun track with lots of high speed corners. I can’t wait for the upcoming races tomorrow.”

A total of 52 entries have been split into three 15-lap Heat races, which will run tomorrow afternoon following a 15-minute qualifying session in the morning. Aron will run in Heat One and Lee in Heat Two. Live timing for the event is available at https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/204331. Live streaming will be at https://en-gb.facebook.com/BRSCCFF1600/ and the British Racing & Sports Car Club’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBRSCC.

About Team USA Scholarship:
The program has been providing opportunities for talented American race car drivers at an early stage in their careers since 1990. Supporters include AERO ™ Sustainable Paint Technology, Tom Gloy Racing, Doug Mockett & Company, the Road Racing Drivers Club and SAFEisFAST.com, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Chip Ganassi Racing, The Stellrecht Company, Robertson Racing, PitFit Training, RaceCraft1, Sparco USA, Bell Racing Helmets, Speedstar Management, Styled Aesthetic and Manifest Group.
Previous scholarship winners include Jimmy Vasser, Bryan Herta, Jerry Nadeau, Buddy Rice, Andy Lally, Phil Giebler, A.J. Allmendinger, J.R. Hildebrand, Dane Cameron, Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Connor De Phillippi, Spencer Pigot, Trent Hindman, Tristan Nunez and Oliver Askew.