OLSON “GOOD TO GO” FOR FINAL ROUND OF 2004 FORMULA
RENAULT CHAMPIONSHIP RACE SERIES
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For Immediate Release
Zhuhai, China – Race driver Pete Olson has had quite a season in
2004.
From the trials and tribulations of his debut this past March behind the
wheel of a 280kph/174mph Formula Renault race car to his podium trophies in the
exotic Chinese city of Shanghai, Olson has shown an unstoppable determination
to become the next “Top Gun” in Asian auto racing. On June 6th, 2004 he took the ‘Winner’
and ‘runner up’ trophies in the “New Driver” class for the first two opening
races at the new $300 million Shanghai F1 track, in the first races held at the
circuit and only his third and fourth races in challenging Formula Renault race
cars. The controversial racer would have
received the “Winner” trophy in the second race but passed another car in the
confusion of a yellow ‘caution flag’ at 260kph/160mph, and as a result had his
trophy seized by FIA race officials shortly after the conclusion of the
races. However, carrying one trophy
through Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport was enough to result in Olson
being stopped at customs. This was not
because of problems with his stamp-filled passport, but rather for a request of
his own account of the exciting Formula Renault races which had been watched by
millions in Shanghai the day before.
Seeking anonymity in a coffee shop near his flight’s gate, he looked up
from a magazine only to be greeted by half a dozen Pudong Airport hostesses who
wanted to speak to the handsome American racer.
After another retelling of his races in Mandarin, the flamboyant playboy
race driver tossed one of his “GT Tires” victory hats to the starry-eyed girls
and headed off to the gate for his flights to Hong Kong and Taipei,
But despite
distractions on and off the track, Olson says he is more than ready for next
month’s exciting final race weekend of the 2004 China Formula Renault
Championship, to be held at the Zhuhai International Circuit, just 40 minutes
from the bustling port city of Hong Kong.
The ZIC is Asia’s first
F1 standard circuit and hosts Formula Renault, Superbike, and Porsche Cup race
events [www.ZIC.com.cn]
“I have sacrificed a
lot to be here, but that’s what it’s all about” said Olson from his home in
Taipei, Taiwan. “I think that you should
be completely focused on your goals in order to achieve them, despite the
distractions and sometimes bad experiences that you must deal with. You must keep your faith, despite people who
will try to take you down to their level.
And I have never doubted for a moment that moving to Asia to compete in
the China Formula Renault Series with the incredible FRD Motorsports Team was
the right path for my career. Everything
before this was just moving up the ladder.
This is the place to be for
formula car racing right now, and I am sure that the 40,000 fans and 100
million viewers that watched our last races in Shanghai would back up that
statement. I moved out here from
Hollywood to race in China for one reason: the fantastic opportunities that
this racing provides, not just for a racing driver’s career but also for the
enormous promotional aspects that come with it.”
Quite a statement from
Olson. Since he was a child, he raced
everything from sailboats to dirt bikes, and spent his college days racing a
400 plus horsepower nitrous-injected Porsche 928 in street racing now
popularized by the famous Hollywood film “The Fast and the Furious”. But the Maryland native [originally from
Irvine, California] completed his first professional race in 1998 [500cc Super
Bike motorcycle at New Hampshire International Speedway] where he took a 3rd
place “podium” finish in his very first pro race.
After that he raced in
California and achieved many karting championship victories and raced in the
Formula 2000 Skip Barber race series, during which he began formally promoting
the Christian Children’s Fund [Olson has sponsored two children through CCF for
several years].
“I decided to promote
CCF as a unique way to find more sponsors for children through the incredible
popularity of auto racing” said Olson.
“Promoting those children gives me an incredible sense of satisfaction. I think the best thing you can do in your
life is to do what you truly love and believe in, and help other people while
you live your passion. But all of this
could not have been possible without the sponsorship of Gibson, Dunn and
Crutcher [www.GibsonDunn.com] and Vedenlov Development. Their support and belief in my continued
success has helped make my dreams come true and assisted my promotion of the
Christian Children’s Fund. And of
course, I wouldn’t have a single trophy on my shelf without the help of my
father, who will be making a 20 hour flight to watch me fly by the checkered
flag next month at 170mph.”
The China Formula
Renault series takes place at the Zhuhai and Shanghai circuits from March to
October each year, and is quickly becoming an incredibly popular mainstream
sport in car-crazed Mainland China.
More information about
Peter Olson’s racing can be found on his website www.peteolson.com.
We wish him the best of
luck next month in the Championship races, in what looks to be a promising
career for this dedicated racer.
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Charles Schepens
Schepens Promotions
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