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Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

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Page 1: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class
Page 2: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’Comments About the 7th Annual Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Kart Race

2018 brings great growth to our 7th annual event. There’s so many new concepts and additions, but at the heart of it as always, is the children. We are well on the way towards breaking our previous annual record for funds raised, and in the end that’s what its all about: helping the families who need it.

There are so many people who donate their time to this event, and it really has become a close-knit bunch. I’m very thankful for the staff and continued support of our returning sponsors as well as new additions. Moving the event to the St. Pete GP weekend for 2017 was a great evolution, and now taking it to the actual venue and circuit of the GP is one more massive step in awareness and enthusiasm for 2018. The best part? It’s right down the street from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and a chance to try and get as many staff and patients out to join the festivities!

Racers will be racers - raising the bar on the event production side, contributions and donations and ultimately awareness for such a special hospital and group of children is what was expected. The amount and rate of speed of that evolution is happening is unreal! Now comes the fun. May the best team win! Let’s get after it.

“Last year was my first year really being part of the organization of Kart for Kids, and I got to meet amazing people in the St Pete community who spend a lot of time and effort making it a success. I also got to visit Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and to see the incredible work they do everyday to care for the kids only encouraged me to make it even better this year and always raise more funds.

I’m very happy we managed to bring the race to the Grand Prix track here in downtown St Pete and I thank all the parties involved for making it happen. I’m also super excited about all the new sponsors that came onboard this year both from the local community and the IndyCar community! Not only are they doing a good deed, but they’re also in for a treat! I also know I can count on a good number of my fellow drivers from IndyCar and other Series to put on a good show during the race.

Thanks to them and many other donors, the auction should be a great success as well, and allow us to reach our goal of $100k, so get ready to bid and have some fun!”

Page 3: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

Dear Friends,

Each year, it is a joy to see your enthusiasm grow as you support the children and families of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital through the annual Patrick Long Pro-Am Kart Race. Once again, you’ve rallied time, energy, talent and treasure to benefit our community’s most vulnerable children. The impact of your support reaches throughout our community to help children in need across Florida and beyond.

You are a part of a family of more than 8,000 individuals, 1,250 employees, 500 volunteers, 450 companies, 60 charitable foundations and 20 pet-therapy teams who are dedicated to ensuring all children have access to the best care. Thanks to you, we are now shaping the future of pediatric medicine through research discoveries, educating the next generation of pediatric leaders, advocacy and cutting-edge treatment – all while transforming into a top-ranked academic health center.

On behalf of our grateful patients and families, thank you to the drivers, spectators, and, of course, the planning committee, for the role you play in making strides to create healthier tomorrows for all children.

Warmly,

Jenine Rabin Executive Vice President Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation

All Children’s Hospital FoundationP.O. Box 3142St. Petersburg, FL 33731-3142727-767-4199 T727-767-4107 Fgivetoallkids.org

Dear Friends,

Each year, it is a joy to see your enthusiasm grow as you support the children and families of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital through the annual Patrick Long Pro-Am Kart Race. Once again, you’ve rallied time, energy, talent and treasure to benefit our community’s most vulnerable children. The impact of your support reaches throughout our community to help children in need across Florida and beyond.

You are a part of a family of more than 8,000 individuals, 1,250 employees, 500 volunteers, 450 companies, 60 charitable foundations and 20 pet-therapy teams who are dedicated to ensuring all children have access to the best care. Thanks to you, we are now shaping the future of pediatric medicine through research discoveries, educating the next generation of pediatric leaders, advocacy and cutting-edge treatment – all while transforming into a top-ranked academic health center.

On behalf of our grateful patients and families, thank you to the drivers, spectators, and, of course, the planning committee, for the role you play in making strides to create healthier tomorrows for all children.

Warmly,

Jenine Rabin Executive Vice President Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation

All Children’s Hospital FoundationP.O. Box 3142St. Petersburg, FL 33731-3142727-767-4199 T727-767-4107 Fgivetoallkids.org

“Creating healthy tomorrows... for one child, for All Children.”

Dear Friends,

The 7th Annual Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Kart Race is a wonderful testament to the dedication of our community. We are so grateful for the support of the drivers, spectators and planning committee who make the race one of the top grossing fundraising events to benefit Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. This year we are thrilled to welcome Kart 4 Kids to downtown St. Petersburg—so close to the children and families whose lives are transformed by your philanthropy. We are proud to be a pediatric academic health care system entrusted with the health and well-being of thousands of children across 17 counties in Florida and beyond. With institutes focused on babies, hearts, brains and cancer, we treat the toughest pediatric cases knowing that generosity like yours will elevate our care and help us meet the needs of our unique patient population.

Each year we look forward to this amazing sporting event and all you do, all for kids. Thank you for your unwavering enthusiasm and passion year after year.

Page 4: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

O U R H A R D W O R K I N G 2 0 1 8 R A C E C O M M I T T E E

Event Chairmen – Sebastien Bourdais and Patrick Long Dave Bassett, Co-Chair; President Kart4Kids, Inc.

Page Obenshain, Co-chair; Vice President Kart4kids, Inc. Al Thomas, Bob Dikman, Charlie Neilson, Chris Russick, Christal Smithyman,

David White, Denise Remus, Eddie Kish, Erica Barnes, Howard Jacobs, Jan Heylen, Jeff Holcombe, John Vita, Josh Breckeen, Larry Mendez,

Lee Obenshain, Neil van Niekerk, Pamela Richard, Terry Richard, Will Reilly

A very special thanks to Melissa Schneider

Last year’s Kart 4 Kids celebration raised $81,000 for John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

A Kart 4 Kids fund-raising record!

Page 5: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

Kart 4 KidsProgress Chart

A very special thank you to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Page 6: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

2018 Pro Driver InformationS e b a s t i e n B o u rd a i s SBourdais.comSebastien joins us for his 5th consecutive year and as Co-Event Chairman is an invaluable asset to our success. Sebastien has competed in virtually every major sports and open wheel racing series in the world. His extensive resume includes 4 consecutive Champ Car titles ’04-’07 with 31 wins, and the record for most wins in a season. He did a stint in Formula 1 in 2007-08 with Toro Rosso. He had 11 starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with 3-2nd place finishes and a 1st in LM GTE Pro class in the Chip Ganassi Ford GT in 2016. He has 11 starts at the 12 Hours of Sebring with a 1st and two 2nd overalls and a 1st and 2nd in class. Sebastien has 10 starts in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona with wins in 2014 and 2017 and a 2nd in class in 2018. In 2017, after a very successful start to the season with a 1st in class at the 24 Hours at Daytona and a win at the IndyCar season opener at St. Petersburg, Sebastien experienced a horrific crash while qualifying for the Indy 500. Sebastien miraculously recovered over the summer in time to come back to the IndyCar series for the last 3 races of the season. In 2018 Sebastian continues to compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing Technology and continues to drive the Chip Ganassi Ford GT car in the 24 Hours at Le Mans, Rolex 24, 12 Hours at Sebring and Petit Le Mans distance races.

S c o t t D i x o n ScottDixon.com Scott joins us again for the second consecutive year to help the kids at All Children’s Hospital. Scott also started in Karts as a kid and was very successful like most of our Pro-drivers. This year Scott starts his 17th consecutive season with Chip Ganassi Racing, a team record, in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Scott has the distinction of having the most wins of any active IndyCar driver with 41 wins. Scott is a 4 time Verizon IndyCar Series Champion in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2015, as well as winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2008. Scott won the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in 2006 and 2015 with a second place overall in 2011. In 2016, Scott and team drove the Chip Ganassi Ford Gt to a 3rd place finish in the 24 Hours at Le Mans. Scott is off to a great start this year with a 1st in the GTLM class finish at this year’s 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

R C E n e r s o n RCEnerson.com RC is an up and coming young driver making his second appearance withKart4Kids again this year. After competing in Karts and Skip Barber regionalracing, RC made his Professional debut in the 2012 US F2000 NationalChampionship and placed 3rd with 4 class wins. RC won the F2000Winterfest Championship and placed 2nd in the US F2000 NationalChampionship in 2014. RC raced the 2015 season in the Indy Lightspresented by Cooper Tires series. And then to the Verizon IndyCar Series forthe last 3 races of the 2016 season with Dale Coyne Racing. In 2017 RCstarted in his first 24 Hours at Daytona in the Mathiasen Motorsports P1 carand also competed in the 2017 Michelin Le Mans Cup in Europe. RCcontinues in 2018 to pursue his career goals in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

Page 7: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

2018 Pro Driver InformationJ a m e s F re n c h James is joining us again for his second year helping us help the kids at All Children’s Hospital. James started racing Karts when he was 5 and graduated to racing SCCA club racing in several series from 2008 through 2011. James got his first Professional drive in an LMPC Oreca in the American Le Mans Series in 2012 and again in 2013. James joined Performance Tech Motorsports in 2014 driving 5 races in P2 cars in the USCC and 9 races in 2015 including 5 podiums. In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class finish at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, competing in 8 races scoring 7 wins and 8 podiums. James continues the 2018 season with Performance Tech Motorsports moving up to the Prototype class in the Weather Tech SportsCar Championship series.

J a n H e y l e n JanHeylen.com Jan returns for his 6th consecutive year to support the kids at All Children’s hospital. Jan’s impressive racing resume includes Champ Car, ALMS, Rolex Grand-Am, Tudor United Sportscar Series, FIA GT3 European Championship, Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge and many European series. In 2014 and 2015 Jan paired up with Madison Snow in the Wright Motorsports #58 Porsche in the highly competitive GTD Class of the USCC series. Jan helped the team take two consecutive 3rd place finishes at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona as well as two other podium finishes. In 2017 Jan competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the TRG Porsche GT3 R. Jan also drove in the Pirelli World Challenge SprintX GT Pro-Am series for Wright Motorsports finishing in 2nd place overall with 4 wins and 7 podiums. Jan continues to race with the Wright Motorsports team in 2018.

T re n t H i n d m a n TrentHindman.com Trent is back for his 5th consecutive year helping the kids at All Children’s Hospital. By the time Trent was 18 he had competed in the USF2000 Road to Indy Series, won a Team USA Scholarship, placed 2nd in the GT-2 SCCA Na-tionals, scored 8 wins in the SCCA US Majors Tour and competed in 5 races in the CTSCC, with Fall Line Motorsports. In 2014, continuing with Fall Line and still 18, Trent placed 2nd in GS class at both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Sebring, on his way to winning both the Driver and Team GS Class Champion-ships in CTSCC with wins at Mazda Raceway and COTA. In 2015 Trent placed third in the GS Team Championship with a win at Road Atlanta. In 2016 Trent won the Blancpain Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Pro-Am Class Championship and the SCCA National Runoff Championship in GT-2. In 2017, Trent drove the Body Motion Racing #12 Porsche Cayman GT4 GS to a 3rd place in the CTSCC and was the Pirelli World Challenge SprintX GTS Pro/Am Driver’s Champion, with Case-It Racing. In 2018 Trent finished 3rd in GTD class at the Rolex 24 with Paul Miller Racing and is racing in the CTSCC GS class with Volt Racing.

Page 8: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

2018 Pro Driver InformationTo n y K a n a a n TonyKanaan.comThis is Tony’s second year in our Pro-driver lineup, but he is no stranger to those who follow IndyCar and SportsCar racing. Tony returns for his 21st IndyCar season this year driving the A.J. Foyt Enterprises #10 IndyCar. Tony is the all-time IndyCar leader in most consecutive starts at 283, going back to 2001 and has 132 top-five finishes and 17 IndyCar wins. Tony became the first driver to com-pete in every possible lap in a season on his way to winning the 2004 Verizon IndyCar Series Championship. Tony won the Indianapolis 500 in 2013. Tony won the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in 2015, competed in 2016 and 2017 all for Chip Ganassi’s Ford Race team. Tony’s first race of the 2018 season will be the Fires-tone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg IndyCar Series.

P a t r i c k L o n g PatrickLong.com Patrick Long, is our Event Co-Chairman and has been an ardent supporter for all seven years of this event. In 2016 Patrick signed a multi-year contract to continue as Porsche’s only American factory driver, having originally signed with Porsche in 2003. Patrick is a three-time ALMS GT driver’s champion (05,09,10), Pirelli World Challenge GT Drivers Champion (2011), two time class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2004, 07), Rolex 24 At Daytona win(2009), two 12 Hours of Sebring wins(2005,2014), three wins at the Petit Le Mans, and a class winner at the 2013 SCORE Baja 1000. Patrick teamed up with Patrick Dempsey in 2013, 2014 and 2015 at Le Mans culminating in a GTE 2nd place finish in 2015. In 2015, Patrick drove in both the WEC series GTE class with Dempsey-Proton Racing, scoring a first place finish at Fuji, and in IMSA with the #17 Falken Tire Porsche team. In 2016 Patrick placed 2nd in GTD class at the 24 Hours at Daytona with Black Swan Racing and took 2nd place in the Pirelli World Challenge GT Series Championship driving the Porsche GT3 R with 3 wins. He also drove in the FIA-WEC series in GTE-AM with Abu Dhabi Proton Racing. In 2017, driving the Porsche GT3 R for Wright Motorsports in the Pirelli World Challenge GT series, Patrick won the GT Sprint Championship, the Overall GT Drivers Championship, the GT Manufacturers Championship for Porsche and the GT Team Championship for Wright Mo-torsports. Patrick continues to race with Wright Motorsports in 2018 as they move to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the GTD class.

Kart 4 Kids is a tribute to Dan Wheldon, an amazing race car driver with a huge space in his heart for kids, who tragically lost his life in

October 2011 in a racing accident. PCA members came together to raise money in his name for a cause in which he believed – John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

K4K: A very memorable tribute

Page 9: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

2018 Pro Driver InformationTa k u m a S a t o TakumaSato.comTakuma Sato makes his first appearance at the Kart4Kids Pro-Am Kart Race this year to help the kids at All Children’s Hospital. Takuma started his racing career in Japan racing in Formula 3, and between 1998 and 2001 he raced in various British and European open wheel series before winning a seat in For-mula 1. During Takuma’s 8 year F1 career he drove for several teams including Lucky Strike BAR Honda(2001-2005), scoring a podium finish in 2004 at the US Grand Prix. From 2006-2008 Takuma drove with the Super Aguri F1 Team and then Scuderia Toro Rosso. Takuma moved to the IndyCar Series in 2010 when he drove his first season with KV Racing Technology. He moved to Rahal Let-terman Lanigan Racing in 2012. Takuma drove for the AJ Foyt Enterprises team 2013-2016, scoring his first IndyCar win at Long Beach in the 3rd race of the 2013 season. Takuma joined Andretti Autosport for the 2017 season and won his first Indy 500, making Sato the first Japanese driver to win the race. Sato moved back to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2018 season.

L a w s o n A s c h e n b a c h LawsonAschenbach.com Lawson is making his debut appearance at Kart4Kids this year to help the kids at All Children’s Hospital. Lawson like so many of our Pro-drivers started racing in Karts at the age of 8 and went on to win State, National, North American and four Grand Na-tional Championships. In 2005, he finished on the podium in his first Professional GT race. In 2006 Lawson was named the SPEED World Challenge (later PWC) Rookie of the Year and became the first person to win the SPEED GT Championship in his rook-ie season. In 2010 he won the IMSA CTSCC ST Championship with team Compass 360. Lawson won the 2011 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Championship as well as the PWC TC Manufacturers Championship again with team Compass 360. After joining the Black Dog Speed Shop Lawson won the 2013 Pirelli World Challenge GTS Championship with 6 wins that season. Lawson repeated as PWC GTS Champion in 2014 in his second season driving for Blackdog Speed Shop. The same year he won the 2014 Lamborghini Super Trofeo ProAm World Championship at the Sepang Circuit. In 2017 he won the PWC GTS Championship. In 2018 Lawson is driving the Black Dog Speed Shop #10 GT4 Camaro in PWC GTS class and the Michal Shenk Racing #93 Acura NSX GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

S p e n c e r P i g o t SpencerPigot.com Spencer is back for his second year with us in the Pro-driver ranks and like so many of the Pro-drivers who support our event he too started in Karts. After a successful youth karting career Spencer joined the Mazda Road to Indy series. As the Series winningest driver, Pigot won four championships and 24 races in USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights in five years, culminating in the 2014 Pro Mazda and 2015 Indy Lights Championships. Spencer competed in the Indy 500 in 2015 and 2016. 2016 was Spencer’s rookie year in the Verizon IndyCar Series with Ed Carpenter Racing, and continued through the 2017 season driv-ing the #20 IndyCar on the road and street courses. Spencer drove the 2017 Indy 500 for Juncos Racing and will compete full time in the Ed Carpenter Rac-ing #21 car for the 2018 IndyCar season. In sportscars, Spencer competed in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the #55 Mazda Prototype for the four endurance races in both 2016 and 2017 and is signed to drive that series for the Mazda Team Joest in 2018.

Page 10: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

2018 Pro Driver InformationS h e a H o l b ro o k SheaRacing.com Shea will make her debut as one of our Pro-drivers this year. Shea caught the racing bug at 16 after attending the Richard Petty Experience. She gained valu-able experience with SCCA Club Racing, entering the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. In 2011 she won the Long Beach Grand Prix becoming the first female to win a Touring Car race at the prestigious venue. In 2012 Shea joined Compass 360 driving in the PWC Touring Car championship. 2013 through 2017 she raced under her own Shea Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge in various classes TCB, TCA and TC, finishing in 2nd Place in the 2014 season in TCA Class with 5 wins and 10 podiums. Shea also drove in the 2017 Lambo-rghini Super Trofeo North America AM class racing series. Shea continues to expand her racing career in 2018 in the Pirelli World Challenge series.

S p e n c e r P u m p e l l y SpencerPumpelly.com Spencer makes his 3rd appearance with us this year. Regarded as a Porsche specialist, Spencer has amassed multiple victories in the American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, including two GT class wins at The Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. 2006 to 2012 Spencer drove for TRG in the GRAND-AM Rolex GT series, GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Chal-lenge and American Le Mans Series GTC category. In 2014, Spencer raced the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche in the Tudor United Sportscar Championship GTD class and at Le Mans. In 2015 he raced with Parkplace Motorsports in the #73 GTD entry with 2 wins at Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta. Also, in the CTSCC ST class with 4 wins and the Pirelli World Challenge with 1 win. In 2016 Spen-cer is back in the Rennsport One Porsche Cayman in CTSSC ST class where they finished 2nd in the BMW 200 at Daytona. And, in a new #16 GTD Lambo-rghini Huracan in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the Drive For Change Racing team.

P a r k e r C h a s e ParkerChase.com Parker will join us for his first year helping the kids at All Children’s Hospital. As so many of our Pro-drivers, Parker started racing in Karts at the age of 10. Park-er won numerous regional and national Kart championships during the 2012, 13 and 2014 seasons. Parker raced in the F1600 Formula F Championship in 2015. Parker, in 2016, moved to the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class driving a Ginetta G55 GT4 for the Performance Motorsports Group. Parker won Rookie of the Year after posting 10 top 5 finishes, 8 of which were on the podium while finishing 1st in class and 2nd overall. He ran in the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup se-ries in 2016 as well. In 2017 he ran in the Ginetta Driver Development Program in Europe and returned to the U.S. to compete in the final rounds of the PWC, scoring 3 podium results in the last 4 races. In 2018 Parker has joined TruSpeed AutoSport driving an Audi R8 GT3 for the full Pirelli World Challenge season.

“This year’s move of the event to the actual racetrack of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the heart of Downtown is amazing news,” said IndyCar driver and St. Petersburg

resident Sebastien Bourdais. “It would have never been possible without the Andersen organization and the Grand Prix, and I can’t wait to see the response of the community.”

Page 11: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

2018 Pro Driver InformationK y l e M a s s o n KyleMasson.com This will be Kyle’s first year participating as a Pro Driver with Karts for Kids. He’s entering into his fourth year of professionally racing, with a passion in Prototype motorsports, and certainly a promising career ahead of him. So far in 2017 he has competed in and won the Dubai Hankook 3x3hr races in a Ginette G57 prototype as well as The Rolex 24hrs of Daytona, the Rolex 12hrs of Sebring and the Sahlen’s 6hrs of the Glen in the IMSA Prototype Challenge class, win-ning 9 of his 11 races, and standing on the podium all 11 times. With the man-tra of “the best I can do is better,” Kyle has pushed himself to improve every race this year regardless of the competition or points gap he has earned with efficiency, determination and willpower.

J o rd a n K i n g JordanKing42.com British racing’s rising star Jordan King began karting in 2005, competing in national, European and World Championships, joining our Pro Racers team for the first time this year. After numerous race wins, pole positions and podium finishes, he moved up to acknowledged F1 proving ground GP2, determined to fulfil his ambition of becoming a grand prix racer. Performing at a high level, Jordan caught the eye of the Manor Marussia F1 team, which put their faith in his ability by signing him as a development driver. Joining Ed Carpenter Racing, Jordan will be contesting the street and road courses of the season. King is part of the FIA Institute and MSA (Motor Sports Association) Team UK driver-training programs – two organizations that actively promote and encourage the talent of tomorrow. He was named winner of the 2015 FIA Institute Driver of The Year within the governing body’s Young Driver Excellence Academy.

Z a c h Ve a c h ZachVeach.com Zach also joins our team for the first time this year, another determined driver who continues climbing the ranks rather quickly, which all stemmed from his love of karting in 2007 at the age of 12. From there, he transitioned to USF2000 when he was signed by Andretti Auto Sport as a developmental driver in 2010. Over the next four seasons Zach climbed the Mazda Road to Indy Ladder with Andretti Autosport competing in USF2000, ProMazda and IndyLights. In his six-year Mazda Road to Indy Career, Zach has recorded 13 Wins, 14 Poles, 39 Podiums and 56 Top Five Finishes. When not in the car, Zach is an avid rock climber and environmental activist.

G a b b y C h a v e s HardingRacing.com/Gabby-Chaves Gabby Chaves is a Colombian-American pro racer who left the karting world for cars in 2007 and hasn’t looked back since. This is his first year participating in the Kart 4 Kids tournament, and is a force to be reckoned with. In 2008 he made his pro debut in Formula BMW Americas and finished 4th in Formula BMW Pacific. In 2009 he competed in a full season of Formula BMW Americas for Euro-Interna-tional and won the title, capturing 5 wins and 3 poles. He signed on with Belardi Auto Racing for the 2014 Indy Lights season and won the championship, captur-ing four wins (including the Freedom 100) and 11 podiums in 14 races. Gabby will race for his third year in the Verizon IndyCar series for Harding Racing.

Page 12: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

2018 Pro Driver InformationR y a n H u n t e r- R e a y RyanRacing.com Ryan is joining the Kart4Kids Pro-Am Kart Race for the first time this year tohelp the kids at All Children’s Hospital. Ryan started in Karting winingmultiple National WKA Championships which led him to the Barber DodgePro series. In 2003 he competed in various Champ Car World Series untilRyan joined the Rahal Letterman Racing team in the Verizon IndyCar Seriesin 2007. In 2010 Ryan joined the Andretti Autosport team and is still withthem for the 2018 season. While racing the Verizon IndyCar Series Ryanhas scored 14 wins and 35 podiums. Ryan was Rookie of the Year in 2007.In 2012 he won the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship with 4 wins and 7top 5 finishes. And, in 2014 Ryan won the Indianapolis 500. Over the yearsRyan has competed in various SportsCar series including wins in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series.

H e l i o C a s t ro n e v e s HelioCastroneves.com Helio makes his debut this year at the Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Kart Race to helpthe kids at All Children’s Hospital. Starting his racing career in Karts, asmost of our Pro-drivers, Helio moved to the U.S. to compete in the IndyLights Series in the 1996 and 1997 seasons. After a 2nd place finish in the1997 Championship Series, Helio moved to the CART Series eventuallysigning with Roger Penske’s Team for the 2000 season. And the rest asthey say is history. Helio has raced 21 seasons (1999-2017) in CART andIndyCar Series, and was the CART, Rookie of the Year in 2001. Helio hasscored 30 race wins, 47 Pole positions and won the Indy 500 three times,in 2001, 2002 and 2009. He has finished the IndyCar Championship Seriesin 2nd Place four times, 3rd Place three times and 4th Place 5 times during his IndyCar career. In SportsCar Racing Helio has competed in the Grand-Am Rolex SportsCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship among others. In 2018, Helio will compete again in the Indy 500.

Thank you to the crew at Andersen Racepark for your hospitality and dedication to ensuring this be the best karting event yet.

Visit Kart4Kids.orgfor photos, race results and to find

out how you can contribute to the cause

Page 13: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

For the last 25 years, Rob has dedicated his life to the coverage of kart racing and open wheel formula car racing in North America as the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of past publications such as Shifter Kart Illustrated and FormulaCar Magazine, and most currently, the industry-leading website eKartingNews.com.

From this editorial position, he expanded into trackside play-by-play on the PA for the primary karting series and events across the continent, and is considered the leading announcer in the karting community, handling the race calls for series such as the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour, the Texas ProKart Challenge, the Can-Am Karting Challenge and the Challenge of the Americas.

Eventually, this led him to his position with Andersen Promotions as the ‘Voice of the Mazda Road to Indy’, which he has held for the last eight years. In 2014, Rob joined the IndyCar Radio Network broadcast team as a pit reporter for the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires and the Verizon IndyCar Series, complet-ing this connection from kart racing through the ladder system to the top level of the sport.

It is Rob’s continual contact with the sport’s young drivers as they climb from karting that has provided him with immense background knowledge and a rap-port with the competitors, many of whom have been interviewed by him since their earliest days in karting. Rob will call 26 different racing events this year, including tonight’s Kart4Kids charity event, which will take him to all four corners of the country.

Meet Rob Howden“The Voice of the Mazda Road to Indy”

Additionally, a very special thanks to the Verizon IndyCar series for their team’s donation of amateur seats to our local soldiers in the United States Special

Operations Command, based in Tampa. Thank you for your service!

A very special thanks to: United Rentals Sara Monaco of Apparel World The Crew at Andersen Racepark Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg USF St. Petersburg Campus

Page 14: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

ReichertBrothersSausage

Lex Goldenberg

The Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am charity kart race moving to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg circuit is a fantastic development.

It’s going to generate even more momentum for Kart 4 Kids’ fund-raising efforts, and it’s another tremendous way this race weekend is having a major impact on children in our local community. I’m excited to see all these competitors kick off the

race weekend and battle on this special circuit in Turn 1.

Co-owner, chairman and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Page 15: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class
Page 16: Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ · In 2016 James continued in Prototype Challenge cars with PTM competing in 11 races with 6 podiums. 2017 started off with a 1st in class

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