SCC: Millville: Freedom Autosport preview

Freedom Autosport Prepared for New Jersey After 2-day Test

MILLEVILLE, N.J.--Freedom Autosport driver Andrew Carbonell will be aiming for his third consecutive New Jersey Motorsports Park pole when the team heads there this weekend for round eight of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. After a successful test at the New Jersey track, Freedom Autosport is ready for a Street Tuner class win, too.

Carbonell has the unique honor of being the only driver to ever hold the ST pole at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series began racing at the track in 2008, and Carbonell has snagged the pole for the past two years.

When Carbonell started on the pole in 2008, it marked only his second race with Freedom Autosport. Needless to say, he's fond of the track but knows it takes more than a pole to win a race.

"It's going to take all the pieces coming together," says Carbonell, who finished fourth at New Jersey last year. "We've had our share of bad luck there. The team is doing great pit stops, so now we have to keep the car clean during the race. New Jersey is a fast, technical track with a lot of speed, and the Mazda MX-5 is so good at that."

Carbonell is co-driving with Freedom Autosport co-owner Rhett O'Doski. The driving duo will pilot the No. 26 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5.

O'Doski recently joined Derek Whitis and Tom Long, who co-drive the No. 25 Mazda MX-5, for a two-day test at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

"New Jersey has some great high-speed corners that really suit the Mazda MX-5," says Freedom Autosport co-owner Whitis. "There also isn't a lot of need for high amounts of torque, which also suits the Mazda MX-5."

Fourth is the best finish that Freedom Autosport has earned at New Jersey, and they hope to change that this weekend. "Traditionally, New Jersey has been a really strong track for us, but various factors have kept us from a good finish there the past two years. We're looking for some redemption," says Long.

After the success of the test, Long is optimistic about Saturday's race. "We were able to really dial in a good setup. When we return this weekend, the car should be ready to race and we can focus on the finer details," he says.

-source: freedom autosport