Leading open-wheel racing team Abel Motorsports, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is preparing to haul Northeast this week, intent on continuing one of the most dominant seasons in recent racing history. The team, led by principal Bill Abel, is six-for-six in the first two race weekends for the new F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda, and has a great chance to make it nine straight victories to open the season.
“We are expanding to a two-car team in F3”, Abel commented, “and we’re looking to continue our success. Jacob Abel will drive our second F3 car at New Jersey alongside Kyle Kirkwood, and we feel our driver lineup gives us a great chance to add to our winning streak.”
Abel Motorsports burst onto the U.S. motorsports scene in 2017, mounting a strong effort in the F4 U.S. Championship Powered by Honda. For 2018, Abel has fielded a two-car F4 squad, while adding now two F3 Americas Onroak/Honda machines, along with open wheel race cars in other series.
Abel Motorsports signed Kirkwood to pilot their first F3 Americas entry right before the first race weekend for the new series at PITT Race in August. Kirkwood, the reigning F4 US Champion, had just clinched another prestigious open wheel series title before strapping in to the Abel Motorsports F3 car. The pairing found immediate success, sweeping the three F3 Americas rounds at the Pittsburgh-area track and at Mid-Ohio soon after.
Kirkwood has continued winning since then, and comes to the New Jersey Motorsports Park triple-header riding an incredible 17-race winning streak across two series. Now, the team will add its second F3Americas entry for Jacob Abel, a veteran of the F4 U.S. Championship and other open wheel development series as well.
“I can’t wait to go racing in our new F3 car”, noted Jacob Abel. “We just got the car, and tested it last week at Putnam Park in Indiana. The test went very well. It’s a great race car, with lots more power, weight and downforce compared to what I’m used to. I’ve been working with our driver coach, Shelby Blackstock, to get ready for this next step in my career. I’ve been spending lots of sim time learning what I can about New Jersey. It’s always great to go to new tracks and learn how to be fast at those places. I can’t wait to get to New Jersey and see how we stack up.”
The F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda will stage three 35-minute races at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 15-16, rounds 7-9 on the year.
