With a brand-new, unique approach to driver development, Global Racing Group proved the efficiency and impact in its 2017 Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda campaigns, placing all drivers on the podium during the season, as well as taking second in the driver and team championships. Its program continues to expand into 2018, entering four F4 U.S. Championship drivers with plans of two F3 Americas Championship season entries.
The development of the team’s open-wheel drivers will be overseen by a 12 person strong management, business and sporting advisory board that features Haas Formula 1 Team driver Romain Grosjean.
“We’re hugely excited for 2018” team founder, Christian Pedersen, said, as the team revealed their 2018 livery for the F4 U.S. Championship. “Global Racing Group’s aim is to develop motorsport’s future stars and our driver lineup for 2018 now features rookies and experienced drivers side by side. We’ve developed our program around true teamwork where our rookies can benefit from the experience and knowledge of experienced drivers. Most drivers don’t automatically realize the benefit of teamwork between drivers, but it simply means that driver development accelerates.”
As well as racing in the six-event F4 U.S. series and the five-event F3 Americas series, 
Global Racing Group’s drivers will be coached in some of the key disciplines that are associated with motorsport – marketing, sponsorship, business and financial literacy – to ensure they become well-rounded athletes and fully understand the commercial possibilities and their obligations within the sport.
“There’s much more to success in motorsport than simply driving a racing car fast,” Pedersen explained. “Our drivers will work closely with our experienced management and advisory board to understand all of the other skills that are required. This is a unique approach to driver development and we’re expecting to see some great results from it in 2018.”
Global Racing Group’s partnership with DirtFish Rally School will continue in 2018 and all drivers will be fine-tuning their circuit racing skills by learning driving techniques that are required in other disciplines such as rally and rallycross. For instance, learning car control techniques on a muddy rally stage has been proven to aid car control on a wet, asphalt race track.
DirtFish Rally School general manager, Malli Sheaffer, said: “We’re thrilled to continue the partnership with Global Racing Group and we’re looking forward to playing our part in helping to develop the team’s drivers in 2018. A cross-discipline approach to driver training is extremely beneficial to youngsters that are taking their first steps in open wheel racing and we’re hoping to see the Global Racing Group drivers flourish in 2018.”
As the F4 U.S. Championship kicks off, four drivers will pilot the bright orange Global Racing Group machines*:
No. 8 Angela Durazo
No. 19 Blake Upton
No. 24 Benjamin Pedersen
No. 66 Parker Locke
For the F3 Americas Championship, two cars are already on order. One of the cars will be piloted by Benjamin Pedersen, and several drivers are currently under consideration for the 2nd seat in the F3 Americas Championship.
About Global Racing Group
Global Racing Group masterminds the best race, rally and rallycross driver development programs in motorsport and applies a unique cross-discipline approach to its driver training.Its racing and commercial activities in F3 and F4 are strongly supported by three distinct advisory boards that specialize in the fields of business, motorsport competition and sports management. The personalities on these boards have years of experience in motorsport and can call on motorsport executive and Fortune 2000 company contacts around the world when there is a commercial requirement. With this in mind, Global Racing Group offers high-level sponsor and brand development services to businesses and brands that are interested in launching dynamic and bold engagement programs in motorsport.
*Over the coming days and weeks Global Racing Group will release more detailed information on each of its drivers.
Photos provided by GRG staff photographer
