The Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge is now underway. The season-long Challenge offers the grand prize of a race seat in the GRAND-AM 200 race (supporting the Rolex 24 At Daytona) and currently has 130 drivers registered across the seven eligible series: GT Cup, F3 Cup, Radical Clubman's Cup, MINI Challenge, Dutch Supercar Challenge, Britcar Production Sportscars races and the Britcar Production Cup.
With all racers now having raced in their first rounds, the Challenge is gearing up to be one of the most competitive so far. The first round of the F3 Cup took place over Easter at Oulton Park. Former GP3 racer Alice Powell stormed the competition in her Mark Bailey Racing run Dallara F305, taking points for a pair of poles, fastest laps and race wins - sending her to the top of the Challenge standings.
20-year-old Powell is the only female racer to be registered in the Challenge and has lead it since the start. The current F3 Cup star has a plethora of podium finishes under her belt, as well as the Formula Renault BARC championship title after taking two wins, seven podiums and two pole positions. She was also the first female to ever score points in the GP3 Championship, with an eighth place finish in 2012.
"I am really excited to be leading the Sunoco GRAND-AM 200 Challenge. However, I am not 'counting my chickens' because it is early in the season, a lot could happen, and there are a lot of excellent drivers competing for the prestigious prize. The thought of the possibility of competing in the USA, in such a show case event, is never out of my mind and it would be an honour for me to participate," commented Powell.
"Females have an extremely tough time in the UK getting recognition, and hopefully this is not the case in the USA. When I won the BARC Formula Renault UK Championship I was told that, as a female, sponsorship would come flooding in but I never got recognition - this is largely due to the fact that no women have raced in F1 for nearly 40 years. I am trying to change all that and, if I win the Challenge, this will be a great public platform to help young girls get into motorsport. Although Danica Patrick is not leading the NASCAR series, TV viewing in the series increased by 15% - I am still only 20 years old and I have a lot left in me yet," she added.
Despite leading the Challenge from the very start Powell has some top competitors to contend with for the prize drive. Hot on her heels and sat in second place is Steve Burgess, who currently races in the Radical Clubman's Cup. In his first round at Snetterton Burgess won his first two races, however missed out on gaining the vital extra points for pole position. With over 120 races registered in the Challenge, the race to Daytona is very much wide open!
