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| December 20, 2007 News |
| Champion Interview: Patrick Barrett |
 | Patrick Barrett entered the Pacific F2000 championship full-time in 2007 and promptly captured the series title
(Photo: Michael Booth) |
Patrick Barrett having visited victory lane in his Pacific F2000 Championship debut last year, continued his winning ways in 2007, capturing the series title in commanding fashion.
EFORMULACARNEWS.COM: Hi Patrick. Let's begin things by saying congratulations on your championship-winning season.
PATRICK BARRETT: Thanks.
EFCN: Okay, looking back at your season. After making your series debut via a pair of races last year, you entered the Pacific F2000 Championship full-time in 2007. What were your goals prior to the season getting underway? At what point did you realize that you could not only challenge for wins, but also potentially capture the championship title?
BARRETT: I enter every season with the determination to win, but the point of the season where I realized I could win the championship was after the first race of the season at California Speedway when I won. I started fourth and fell back to fifth, but was able to charge up to the front, taking the lead and holding off challenges from behind. That performance was all it took to make me think the championship was possible.
EFCN: It was a superb season, what with a series-high eight wins and six pole positions. Were you surprised by how well you preformed? What do you think was the key to this success?
BARRETT: I wasn’t surprised by how well we performed, because I knew I was with best team. PR1 Motorsports did an incredible job tuning the car and teaching me how to succeed both on and off the track. I learned so much this year working with the engineers, John Hayes and Andy Garvey. Team owner Bobby Oergel is a fantastic driver coach and was a key to my success in F2000. My teammates Thomas Merrill and Shaun Modisette were great guys to work with as well. We became great friends, but even better competitors. We not only kept each other on our toes trying to out perform each other, but also helped one another when going over our data.
EFCN: Being as you race in developmental/feeder type championship, what do you think learned this season and how has it made you a better driver?
BARRETT: Primarily how to communicate. I learned techniques and skills that you would expect from a developmental/feeder type series. Learning how to effectively communicate with my engineers and driver coach. I learned a lot about giving good feedback to the team and pinpointing handling issues with the car on specific parts on track. I also learned new techniques with regards to qualifying and race craft. I think I really developed as a driver this year, so the list goes on and on.
EFCN: For drivers looking at places to race in 2008, why would suggest they look at the Pacific F2000 Championship, and how would you recommend they prepare for the upcoming season, so they can make the most of the opportunity?
BARRETT: A big plus for running in the Pacific F2000 Series is the budget. It’s a very affordable series, which is important for any driver working their way up the racing ladder. The competition is great and the cars are not too overwhelming for a driver, but they teach you the necessary skills required to move up the open-wheel racing ladder. It’s the perfect training ground for young drivers, because the cars are fairly simple, but very tunable and giving drivers the an opportunity to learn how to work with a race engineer. You’ll find yourself learning new things about you, your driving, your competition, and what you’re capable of throughout the year.
 | Barrett won an impressive eight of the 12 races en route to the F2000 Pacific Series title
(Photo: Patrick Barrett Racing) |
EFCN: Before we look ahead, tell us what it means to you to win the 2007 Pacific F2000 Championship?
BARRETT: It really means a lot to me for winning the championship. Everyone on the team did an outstanding job. They did everything right, gave me a fantastic car every weekend and taught me valuable information that will surely help me throughout my career. I’m really happy to have competed in the Pacific F2000 series this year, because it was a great learning experience. I mad a lot of friends, improved on my driving, learned from my mistakes and better prepared myself for the future.
EFCN: Like most up-and-coming drivers, almost immediately upon winning your title, you began working on plans for 2008. How are things going? You have recently tested both a Star Mazda and Atlantic car as part of the Team USA scholarship program. How did that go? What are your thoughts about the two cars? Is it at all similar to the F2000 Zetec car or anything else you've driven? Finally, what's coming up and when can we expect an announcement about what and where you will be racing 2008.
BARRETT: The Team USA Scholarship was a great way for me to experience new things, meet new people and seek new opportunities. I’m very grateful for being apart of the Team USA family now. Testing the Atlantic and Star Mazda cars was a great opportunity for me. It wasn’t only a great way for me to better prepare myself for the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy, but it gave me a great idea of where I stand fitness wise and what it may be like if I compete in either series.
The Atlantic car was by far the most physically demanding car I’ve driven. The amount of down force it produces is amazing and the amount of speed you can carry through corners is something else. The Star Mazda car was a fun car to drive as well. It’s less physically demanding than the Atlantic car, but more so than the F2000. The Formula Palmer Audi car was somewhere in between the Atlantic and Star Mazda, but it features a turbo charged engine, which makes it a unique car to drive.
I am looking at series both in the US and abroad. The choice of course will depend on budget. I expect to make an announcement in the next few weeks.
EFCN: Looking ahead, what are your short term goals, next two years or so, and long term goals in racing?
BARRETT: I want to make my living as a professional race car driver. The choices I make over the next few weeks will more clearly define my path. So stay tuned.
EFCN: Well it was nice speaking with you Patrick. We look forward to hearing about what you'll be racing in 2008.
BARRETT: Thanks for having me and I look forward to speaking with you again in the future.
Past Champion Interviews can be found HERE |
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