Donegan wins Road To Indy Shootout
FORMULA FORD 1600 RACER KEITH
Donegan has won the 2017 Mazda Road to
Indy Shootout and a $200,000 scholarship to compete in the USF2000 series next year.
The 20-year-old beat 16 other drivers from nine countries to the prize at the Bondurant Racing School last weekend. A two-day assessment was held using Formula Mazda cars on the 1.6-mile Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park track, with the competitors whittled down to five finalists who then competed in a 30-minute race.
“It really hasn’t hit me yet,” said Irishman Donegan, whose second place at the Formula
Ford Festival secured his place in the contest. “Throughout the weekend we were consistent and I kept the small things in check. I didn’t make any stupid mistakes and kept my head cool and that really paid off in the end.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for any young driver. It just gives that bit of motivation that you need because the US is where you need to go to become a professional these days. It’s such a boost to my career.”
Donegan was chosen by a judging panel that included Indycar race winner Scott Goodyear and last year’s Road to Indy winner and
USF2000 champion Oliver Askew.
UK drivers to make it to the Shootout included Scottish FF1600 champion Ross Martin, Northern Irish FF1600 champ Niall Murray, Superseries driver Jamie Thorburn, FF1600 frontrunner
Oliver White and USF1600 victor Matt Cowley.
BRSCC National FF1600 champion Luke Williams missed the Arizona Shootout due to hotel and insurance costs, and felt that at 26 years old “the odds of me winning were slim”. James Raven was told he would earn a place for finishing third in the Walter Hayes Trophy, but it was never confirmed by Mazda, and White was given the ‘wildcard’ entry from the Hayes event.