CHEAP SHOT! -

Olson slammed off racetrack by Taiwan competitor

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 17, 2006

 

Long Tan Circuit, Taiwan–

 

Racing is truly a sport of no-nonsense competition, considered by many to be highly egotistic. However, despite the urge to do ‘whatever it takes to win’, true professionals are the valiant through demonstration of skill and dedication, not treachery.

 

In yesterday’s “Open Class” Rotax 125 Championship races at the Long Tan Circuit near Taipei, American racer Pete Olson set some of the fastest qualifying times of the day and took 3rd in each of the first two ‘heat’ races. Though the track was unexpectedly dry after the passing of Typhoon Bilis late Saturday night, Taiwan’s ‘Rain King’ Pete Olson proved he’s not only fast in the wet by setting lap times faster than Taiwan’s former racing Champions.

 

However, the start of the final ‘main’ race which followed the morning’s two heat races brought a catastrophic incident for Olson, through the blatant cheap shot of a local Taiwanese competitor.

 

At the start of the final race, as the drivers turned into the tight hairpin of T1 after coming down from a high-speed NASCAR-style rolling start, Olson was blatantly slammed into a tire barrier by a driver on his right. The driver had managed to briefly catch up to Olson in the melee of the tight entrance to T1, as more than a dozen drivers tried to occupy the same space at the same time. The right side pod of Olson’s vehicle was completely crushed by the impact of the other driver’s front bumper, Olson’s race being finished before it even began.

 

“It was nothing but an absolute cheap shot” said Olson. “I finished the morning’s heat races 15 to 20 seconds ahead of all the drivers behind me – so none of those drivers that started behind me in the final main race would have any chance to pass me after the first turn, and they knew it. I guess the driver that slammed me off the track figured the only way he could pass me was by taking me out. I suppose he succeeded, but he’ll always be a s^$%* driver. I win through skill, not cheap shots” said an understandably furious Olson, who refused to attend the day’s podium ceremony.

 

“We go to Kaohsiung [South Taiwan] in 6 weeks. I’ll see him there again – and I’ll have my chance for revenge” said Olson.

 

We wish the dedicated American driver the best of luck in the next races of the series.

 

 

XXX

 

For more information contact:

 

Christian Children’s Fund

Media Relations Contact Agent for Pete Olson:

Jennifer Harter

JHarter@CCFUSA.ORG

Communications Associate

Christian Children’s Fund

2821 Emerywood Parkway

Richmond, VA 23294

(804)756-8994

 

Peter Olson

Olson Motorsports, LLC

Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.

Tel: + 886 9 3567 8609

Email: Pete@PeteOlson.com

Website: http://www.peteolson.com/