Building on its accomplishments this summer

They are testing at its home base of Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla., and gearing up for a busy season of winter karting action in Florida and abroad.

Wes Phillips, the team’s director of competition karting, has a limited number of spots available for drivers wishing to join the team for the winter competition.  He also has increased expectations for the team’s current roster of drivers based on the promise they’ve shown over the summer.

Andersen Racing’s Dylan Lupton of Sacramento, Calif. wrapped up the TaG Junior championship in the Pro Kart Challenge at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. in late summer, while two other team drivers, Matthew Powers and Andy Dunne, were victorious in local divisions.  Powers, of Danville, Calif., won a race in the NorCal Rotax series, while Dunne, of Chicago, won races in the MRP South Bend Rotax series.

“Dylan will race in the hotly contested TaG Junior division at the SKUSA!

Supernationals [at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nov. 18-22,] and looks poised for a great start in the Florida Winter Tour in Rotax Junior,” Phillips said.  “Matthew and Andy will both be a team force this winter.” 

The team will utilize its own 1-mile road course test track at its headquarters at Andersen RacePark to prepare for the 2010 season. It will conduct extensive testing of Birel’s 2010 frame line there in the coming weeks.  Andersen RacePark will also be the site of a competition karting camp Dec. 18-22.

Andersen Racing is also expected to be in action at the karting event that is held in conjunction with the Performance Racing Industry trade show at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. on Thursday night, Dec. 10.

That event will be a tune-up for the team’s first major point event of the winter, Daytona Kartweek, Dec. 28-30 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The team will then pursue the complete Florida Winter Tour (FWT) in multiple Rotax and TaG classes. The FWT is one of the longest-running and largest sprint kart racing series in the Americas, and the largest official Rotax Max Challenge Series in the world. 

This year’s FWT averaged 578 entries per month, including drivers from 28 different countries, 28 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces, and featured cash purses and awards exceeding $140,000.

The 12th annual FWT will begin Jan. 8-10 (Formula Kart) and Jan. 15-16 (Rotax Max Challenge) at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Fla.  The action then moves to Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Fla. on Feb. 12-14 (Formula Kart) and Feb. 19-21 (Rotax Max Challenge). 

The final stop is the Ocala Grand Prix in Ocala, Fla. on March 19-21 (Rotax Max Challenge) and March 26-28 (Formula Kart).

Phillips also hinted that some international dates are being contemplated. 

“In an effort to raise the bar for our staff and drivers, we’re looking to construct a small international karting division,” he said.  “More information will be released on that when it becomes available.”

Drivers seeking information on the team’s open seats and other karting matters can send an e-mail to info@andersenkarting.com. 

Information on the team’s karting camp Dec. 18-22 at Andersen RacePark can also be obtained through those avenues.

Andersen Racing offers programs in karting, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights in an effort to provide the most comprehensive training program available in open-wheel racing.

More information on the team’s open-wheel racing cars can be found at andersenracingteam.com. 

In addition, a Web site outlining the new USF2000 series being organized by Andersen Promotions can be found at www.usf2000.com.

source: Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications