Maybe a future F1 driver....

[K7Baixo2]

Thanks TInger - will do and very much appreciated. No worries re PM. "Ain't too proud to beg"

[K7Baixo2]

Well, this is certainly good news. The kid is coming to the US to drive in the USF2000 series and will race at various venues in the US during the 2014 season.

I'm making plans to perhaps fly to Indy and then, my wife and I will likely fly to SFO to see him race at Sonoma in August.

I'm not sure if it's official so I won't mention the team that he'll be driving for in a public forum but as soon as it's official, I'll post a note here.

If anyone wants to help sponsor him, please let me know!

[Foxy1]

Brilliant, please keep us up to date

[topgear]

All the best to Victor.
Hopefully he will progress up the ranks and end up in Formula 1 in the near future.

[DiamondJack]

Amazing..... great to see a youngster with such raw talent getting the opportunity he deserves.....

So often in racing...... it's the money that talks....... But incredibly well done to get a seat in the F2000 series!!!

My fingers are crossed for the future and I will definitely look out for him rising through the ranks......

[Cesium133]

Glad to see it's working out for your nephew. Sounds like he's on the right path to an amazing career.

[K7Baixo2]

Victor just sent us a note. He just confirmed that he'll be racing this weekend in the F3 Brazil Open at Interlagos with Hitech Racing. Pretty cool.

[Foxy1]

Great news

[K7Baixo2]

Link: http://f3brazilopen.com/versao2014/?p=1089

(Google translation - my Portuguese is limited)

"The edition 2014 of the F-3 Brazil Open marks the return of Victor Franzoni (pictured right) to Brazil after a passage of two seasons for the European Formula Renault. Participant Open 2012 with a car category Light, he admitted to have surprised the monoposto the main category - much faster cornering.

"It's good to be back in Brazil, and participate in the Open is being a great opportunity to compete at a high level while still not set my target in 2014. This has been my first experience with the F309 chassis and was amazed at the ability of this car to carry corner speed. My first run-off has been very fast, but unfortunately I had a battery problem in the second, which prevented me from closing the first session of the nearest best time. So I expect a good performance on Friday, "said the pilot."

[K7Baixo2]

I suppose these are fastest laps - the second session times were much slower. I'm guessing that it must have rained.

Yeah, I know...rain in Sao Paulo. What are the odds?

Training 01

1) Felipe Guimarães (Hitech Racing / A), 1min31s886
2) John Simonyan (Cesario Formula / A), 1min32s013
3) Lukas Moraes (R & R Weissach / Light), 1min32s846
4) Victor Franzoni (Hitech Racing / A), 1min32s908
5) Artur Fortunato (Cesario Formula / Light), 1min33s164
6) Raphael Raucci (R & R Weissach / A), 1min34s679
7) Nicholas Silva (EMB Racing / Light), 1min35s287
8) Fernando Galera (Prop Car / Light), 1min35s774
9) Victor Miranda (R & R Weissach / Light), 1min41s433
10) Leandro Florenzo (Capital Motorsports / Light) without time

Training 02
1) Felipe Guimarães (Hitech Racing / A), 1min42s378
2) Victor Franzoni (Hitech Racing / A), 1min42s601
3) John Simonyan (Cesario Formula / A), 1min43s803
4) Leandro Florenzo (Capital Motorsports / Light), 1min44s803
5) Artur Fortunato (Cesario Formula / Light), 1min44s905
6) Fernando Galera (Prop Car / Light), 1min45s009
7) Raphael Raucci (R & R Weissach / A), 1min45s971
8) Victor Miranda (R & R Weissach / Light), 1min46s836
9) Lukas Moraes (R & R Weissach / Light) without time
10) Nicholas Silva (EMB Racing / Light) without time

[K7Baixo2]

Victor is just off the pole for the qualifiers which start early this afternoon:

Link

Defending champion F3 Brazil Open, Felipe Guimarães, will keep his favoritism for the 2014 edition of the tournament - being played at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo this weekend. Fastest free practice performed on Thursday, brasiliense pilot remained in front in qualifying conducted early this Friday afternoon at the track.

With a turn 1m31s327, Guimarães guaranteed the right to drop the pole position of the first two rounds of the Open, the "qualifying" calls. The sum of these two points is evidence that will set the starting grid of the Pre-Final, which in turn determines the starting order of the decisive race, scheduled for Sunday.

"It's always good to be on pole position. It means that things are on track. Got an advantage in terms of lap time on my opponents and it makes me more confident. But that does not mean we can relax. Let's do our part, because what counts is the race on Sunday. Have to get right to the end, "said the pole position.

In F3 Brazil Open, the pilots 'lose points' in the first two races of the weekend. The winner of each race loses zero points, the second loses two, the third loses three and so on. The ranking, from those who lose less points, so that the grid is the third race of the weekend. The winner is whoever wins the fourth and final round, regardless of past performance.

This format helps drivers in the development of the cars during the weekend, and allows everyone to come in better conditions in contention for the title. Especially those that use the Open as the first contact with the Formula 3 car. This is the case of the São Paulo Victor Franzoni that although he disputed the Open in 2012 (the category Light), runs for the first time with the F-309 Dallara of the main class.

"I like this format. For those who have no experience with the car, it allows you to work through their own races and everyone gets stronger and with real title chances in the final ", said the pilot, the second fastest qualifying.

"It was a nice workout. Unable to seize the first set of tires because, in fact, was the first time I walked with new tires in Formula 3. So I did not get them on edge, especially in the middle of the curve, which is where it has more grip. With the second game has improved a lot and I was closer to Felipe (Guimarães). I think it's a natural improvement, adaptation to the car, "added Franzoni.

The first race of the F3 Brazil Open 2014 will be played later on Friday, from 16:30. Click here to see the schedule of the weekend and here to follow the live-timing evidence.

See who will be the top 10 on the grid of the first two races:

1) Felipe Guimarães (Hitech Racing / A), 1min31s327 (169.855 km / h);
2) Victor Franzoni (Hitech Racing / A), 1min31s825;
3) Lukas Moraes (R & R Weissach / B), 1min32s258;
4) Artur Fortunato ( Cesario Formula / B), 1min32s587;
5) John Simonsnyan (Cesario Formula / A), 1min32s935;
6) Fernando Galera (Prop Car Racing / B), 1min33s181;
7) Raphael Raucci (R & R Weissach / A), 1min33s396;
8) Nicolas Silva (EMB Racing / B), 1min33s844;
9) Leandro Florenzo (Capital Motorsport / B), 1min34s086;
10) Victor Miranda (Weissach R & R / B), 1min35s477.

[K7Baixo2]

If you're bored and like to watch numbers of a screen, there's live timing here:

http://live.racingcrono.com.br/2/

Should be good for about 10 more minutes. Victor is running second behind Felipe and they're about 20 seconds in front of the pack. He should have a clean track to make a move late in the race.

Edit: looks like Victor finished 2nd behind Felipe. Time was 30:00.091 for Felipe and Victor was 1.555 behind. Speeds were 157.553 and 157.946. Victor did have the fastest lap though - no trophies for that.

They were 40+ seconds ahead of 3rd-5th.

[Foxy1]

Brilliant news

[K7Baixo2]

Originally Posted by Foxy1

Brilliant news

In my mind's eye, I can see the track and the race. I've been there before for his kart races when he was probably 10 years old. With your experience, I'm sure you've had the same sensation.

[steveclocks]

he's doing very well

[Foxy1]

Yes, nothing better. I really do wish him the best of luck, one of my best friends a Brazilian who is a fantastic sports car driver where he was a class winner has just had his sponsorship dry up, it is such a hard sport to find finance.

[520Matt]

Very cool. Look forward to following

[K7Baixo2]

I believe there are two races tomorrow and one on Sunday. Today's race started in the rain.....this isn't NASCAR.....and Victor's fastest lap occurred on the last lap as conditions improved.

He and the other driver are on the same team so it'll be an interesting weekend. I hope all this works out for Victor and his parents. They've worked so hard to get him to this point....even his mom, a trained mechanic, gets in and gets her hands dirty!

[Cesium133]

Regarding the lap times, it's amazing to see how hundredths of a second can determine 2nd, 3rd, of 4th place.

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by Cesium133

Regarding the lap times, it's amazing to see how hundredths of a second can determine 2nd, 3rd, of 4th place.

It shows how close to the razor's edge these drivers are. Right at the peak of human performance.

[Foxy1]

Human and mechanical that is the attraction, to win the 2 have to be in total harmony

[K7Baixo2]

Mechanical issues today meant no success. I can't quite figure out what broke but....there's always tomorrow for the final event!

[Foxy1]

Unfortunately that is racing

[K7Baixo2]

Originally Posted by Foxy1

Unfortunately that is racing

Yep - and today was a better day. He finished second today - what they call "vice-champion" in Brazil.

Link

He fought for second the entire race also:

1) Felipe Guimarães (Hitech Racing/A), 20 laps in 30min54s450
2) Victor Franzoni (Hitech Racing/A), + 12s272
3) John Simonyan (Cesário Fórmula/A), + 12s487
4) Raphael Raucci (R&R Weissach/A), + 16s520
5) Artur Fortunato (Cesário Fórmula/B), + 25s914
6) Lukas Moraes (R&R Weissach/B), + 42s247
7) Victor Miranda (R&R Weissach/B), + 48s111
8) Nicholas Silva (EMB Racing/B), + 1min16s655
9) Leandro Florenzo (Capital Motorsport/B), + 1 lap
10) Fernando Galera (Prop Car Racing/B), RET

That put Hitech, a team that he doesn't normally drive for in the first two places. Victor had car issues on Thursday and yesterday so I'm glad he did well today.

[toph]

What a great thread and story! I wish him the very very best! The updates are great to read.

[Foxy1]

Congratulations, that is the best way to get over car troubles, lets see if that makes a few people sit up and take notice of him, I really hope so.

[K7Baixo2]

When I was Victor's age, my ride was a '72 Dodge Dart Sport.

[K7Baixo2]

Here's Victor's US schedule:

March 29-30 St. Petersburg with Indycar
April 26-27 Barber with Indycar
May 9-10 Indianapolis with Indycar
May 24 Lucas Oil Raceway with USAC
July 19-20 Toronto with Indycar
August 2-3 Mid Ohio Sports Car Course with Indycar
August 23-24 Sonoma with Indycar

I'll likely fly to Indy and then my wife and I will go to Sonoma.

[Foxy1]

Dam, I will be in the USA but no where near where he is racing I would have loved to go and see him.

[Tripp11]

I will be at Indy May 9-10th and also at Lucas Oil Raceway on May 24th. I will make it a point to take interest in Victor!