Jonathan Goring Feels Awesome With First Star Mazda Win

Some people figured that Dane Cameron had another victory in the bag after he had led in the points during both practice sessions and won the pole for Sunday’s Star Mazda that was presented by Goodyear race at Burke Lakefront Airport.

But Andersen Racing driver Jonathan Goring, who qualified second, was not one of those ‘some people’.

Exuding maturity well beyond his 17 years, the driver from Norfolk, Conn., watched Cameron closely and saw a possible opportunity to pass him towards the end of Sunday’s race. He tried such opportunity and it worked. As a result, Goring achieved his first Star Mazda victory ever.

When the checkered dropped in the 45-minute race that was part of the track’s Champ Car weekend, Goring’s No. 14, which promotes the Skip Barber Racing School, Alfas Unlimited and NPA Graphics, was 1.059 seconds ahead of Cameron. Finishing third was Natacha Gachnang.

Managing the tire was very hard.

Goring related that for almost the whole race, he was in the second spot. He saw a caution in the middle and realized that Dane Cameron was not as strong as he was under braking in Turn 1. On the second restart, Goring capitalized on that and passed the practice sessions leader under braking in Turn 1. In turn, Cameron finished second giving Goring a 1-second lead at the end.

The 2006 Skip Barber National champion (Goring) continued that the track was quite slippery because of the Champ Cars going out before them, but his car handled very well.

He is thanking everybody on the Andersen Racing team and said that achieving his first Star Mazda win felt awesome.

In the provisional order of finish for the 23-driver field, the two other Andersen Racing drivers in the race, Phil Saville of Oak Brook, Ill. and Jonny Baker from Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, England, placed 12th and 14th, respectively. The New York Jewelers of Chicago; NVG Residential; Mac Marketing & Advertising Corp. and Chicago Indoor Racing sponsored Saville’s car.

Baker’s car had a consistent performance in the practice, but it did not handle the rough course well on Sunday. He said that he still have to make some more talks with his engineer, go over the results and analyze what really went wrong.

The race on Sunday, which marked the season’s midpoint, will be broadcasted on SPEED Monday, July 9 at 3 p. m. ET, with a re-broadcast on Thursday, July 12 at 4 a. m. ET.

Toronto will be the venue for the next Star Mazda event on July 6-7.

Andersen Racing is committed to offering a program that gives up-and-coming drivers the proper practice to reach open-wheel racing’s major leagues. It fields several cars in the F2000 Championship Series, the Star Mazda Championship that is being presented by Goodyear and the Indy Pro Series.

About Mazda and its Auto Racing
Mazda Motor Corporation is the sponsor of the Star Mazda event. Aside from manufacturing quality Mazda parts, the company is also known in the world of auto racing.

In the field of racing, Mazda is successful with two-rotor, three-rotor, and four-rotor cars. Private racers have also had considerable success with stock and modified Mazda cars with Wankel engines.

Mazda's competition in race started on October 20, 1968. This was when two Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S coupes entered the 84 hour ultra endurance race in Marathon de la Route at Nürburgring. One car finished as the fourth placer and the other broke an axle after 81 hours.

Now, Mazda continues its legacy in the race world. And more recent is the fifth round of Star Mazda Championship at Portland International Raceway.