Pete Olson Conducts Formula Renault Demonstration and Tire Test at Guangdong International Circuit

Oct. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Guangdong International Circuit, China -

This past Sunday at the Guangdong International Circuit [GIC], American race driver Pete Olson held a public demonstration of the Formula Renault 2.0 race car during the GIC Endurance Racing Series. The weekend featured hundreds of touring cars in various race events, thousands of spectators and China-wide television and print coverage. During the demonstration, Olson was also evaluating new Formula 3 [F3]-spec Yokohama tires on the Formula Renault 2.0.

“We had a very successful test of the new F3 spec Yokohama tires, and the Formula Renault demonstration was definitely a big hit with the crowd” said Olson, instructor and test driver for Champ Motorsport, based at Zhuhai International Circuit near Hong Kong. “The GIC is one of the newer tracks in China and its main events are all touring car racing. While they do have a lot of events here with some high level touring cars like Ferraris and Porsches, Formula Renault is a new show for the fans. A few of the more powerful and heavily modified touring cars can meet the Renault’s speed of 220kph on the straights at this mid-sized circuit, but none of them can match its lap times because of the much later braking and higher cornering speeds we get with the Renault’s downforce kit. And of course in China, with its annual Formula One race up in Shanghai, the Formula Renault gives the GIC crowd a taste of high-level formula car racing.”

During the Formula Renault display for race fans and media, Olson was conducting a test of the new Yokohama F3-spec tires for the Formula Renault. While Formula Renault in Asia normally uses a Kuhmo race spec tire, Champ Motorsport is evaluating a switch to Yokohamas for testing and practice. “I definitely felt that the Yokohamas have some more grip than the Kuhmos when I did the test- in turn 8 most of all. That’s a sweeping left hander that you take flat in the Renault, at 155-160 kilometers per hour, about 95 to 100 miles per hour, depending on how good your shot is out of turn 7. Normally on the Kuhmos, even with the Renault’s aero downforce the car will get fairly loose in the rear, and you have to do some steering corrections through the corner in order to stay on the track [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ypTT-aJjM]. But with the Yokohamas its a walk in the park- the car gets really hooked up. We will need to conduct some more testing but I think it’s safe to say we’ve found our new tire. I’m definitely impressed.”



After the combination demonstration and tire test, Olson was interviewed by International Motoring Networks about driving the Formula Renault race car at the Guangdong International Circuit [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN4_JlBA2vM], which he found “Though smaller than Zhuhai, more technical thanks to its good variety of cornering challenges [www.peteolson.com/trackmaps]. “I’m looking forward to more testing on this circuit and racing here at GIC next season in the China Formula Grand Prix F2000 Championship [http://www.CFGP.cc]” said Olson. “I’ve been working with ChildFund International again to put something really special together in terms of promotion for the 2012 season, and I am really looking forward to getting back in the fight.”

For more information on Pete Olson, visit his website at www.peteolson.com.

About ChildFund International: ChildFund, formerly the Christian Children’s Fund, works in 31 countries, assisting approximately 15.2 million children and their family members, regardless of race, creed or gender. Their distinctive approach focuses on working with children throughout their journey from birth to young adulthood, as well as with families, local organizations and communities globally to create the environments children need to thrive [www.ChildFund.org].