NA-F2000: Pacific: Team G.FRO signs Jeff Westphal

Team G.FRO Inks Jeff Westphal for 2007 Pacific F2000 Series

January 5, 2007 - San Clemente, California-based Team G.FRO is proud to announce their signing of talented young driver Jeff Westphal, 20, to campaign the entire Pacific F2000 Series in 2007.

Westphal, who hails from San Carlos, California, made his F2000 debut with Team G.FRO in last season's season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after completing a full and very impressive first season of racing in the Jim Russell Racing Series. Westphal qualified in the top-five and scored a sixth place finish at Las Vegas.

"I am so excited to be able to drive for Team G.FRO in Pacific F2000," commented Westphal, who will pilot the #39 Team G.FRO/MCGC Van Diemen RF05 Zetec. "The team and I get along great and we look forward to giving it 110%."

Coming from an unconventional racing background, Westphal entered the 2006 Russell Pro Series with little professional racing experience. scoring seven podiums, two wins, three poles and 14 top 5 finishes.led to an astounding third place finish in the Russell Championship.

"What Jeff was able to do given his experience-level was super impressive," said Geoff Fickling, Team G.FRO owner. "He's one of those kids that just knows how to drive and it's been really rewarding working with that type of talent. Jeff can achieve great things in this sport if he stays motivated and focused-two attributes that he definitely does not lack in.

Westphal will pilot a British-built Van Diemen RF05 chassis, which has been a stalwart in the FF2000 class for many years. Team G.FRO has won 9 races, 9 pole positions, and scored 25 podium finishes over the past three seasons of FF2000 competition while running a fleet of Van Diemens in both the Pacific F2000 and Cooper Tires F2000 Series.

In addition to continuing their status in Pacific F2000, new for 2007 will be Team G.FRO's recently announced Star Mazda Championship effort, in order to continue and develop young drivers up the open-wheel racing ladder within their team.

"The Pacific F2000 Series is still the most economical option for an entry-level team-oriented racing series in North America," explained Fickling. "What (series founder) Les Phillips has done and continues to exemplify is truly what is in demand for on the West Coast and the entire United States. I completely believe in the F2000 formula and think it's the best training ground for young drivers in the country-which is why I want our Mazda drivers of the future to have had a schooling in F2000."

More announcements will soon be made regarding Team G.FRO's driver line-ups.

-credit: Team G.FRO