GRAND AM CUP: Hinchcliffe set to try his hand at fenders

OAKVILLE, ON – Looking for every opportunity to be on track, 18-year-old James Hinchcliffe will compete in a Mazda RX8 in the Fontana Grand-Am Cup event in Fontana, CA. Co-driving with Billy Johnson, the duo will look to challenge for victory with the Speed Source squad.

Hinchcliffe, a former member of the FirstKart.com race team and ’04 BMW Rookie-of-the-Year, will use the off weekend from his full time effort in the Star Mazda series to contest the RX8. With a possibility of more events in the future, Hinchcliffe will look to perform at his fullest potential and provide the necessary feedback to get the Speed Source team upfront.

“I am pumped for this event and can’t wait to get in the car” stated Hinchcliffe in a recent phone interview. “I will be competing in car that I have never tested before and on a track that I have never seen but will try to adapt as quickly as possible. In the mean time, I will concentrate on the on our Star Mazda effort with AIM Autosport and complete as much research on the RX8 as possible.”

Hinchcliffe and Johnson met last season while contesting in the Formula BMW USA Championship and the two have become both very good friends and competitors. Though they are both fierce competitors on track, the duo will have to work together in the Speed Source RX8 to challenge for the win.

Hinchcliffe’s next on track activity will take place the week of March 14-18th. The talented young Canadian will compete in his first Pro Mazda race at Sebring Raceway in Sebring, FL. April 1-3rd weekend will provide Hinchcliffe with his first Grand-Am Cup experience in Fontana, CA on the Fontana road course.

For sponsorship opportunities and more information on James Hinchcliffe and the Star Mazda series, please contact James at 416-522-7470 or via e-mail at james@jameshinchcliffe.com. For up-to-date news releases, race schedules, results and photos, please visit www.jameshinchcliffe.com.