SBRS: Barber Alumni make Driver Search final

Maiman and Speed Advance in Red Bull Competition.

Following nearly a week of assessment at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France, Formula Dodge standouts Grant Maiman and Scott Speed were among the final four selected by the Red Bull F1 Driver Search panel. Maiman and Speed have secured an opportunity to be the next young American racers to represent Red Bull—and the USA—in European racing series next year and a possible entry into Formula 1.

"We had 13 tremendously talented American racers here," said judge and program manager Danny Sullivan. "All the boys were so good that it made our decision very, very difficult. Beside being among the fastest during the lapping sessions, we had to consider not only each driver's individual experience, but also the variety of the cars they've driven and the variety of the cars we utilized here at the run-off. To do this right, to find the drivers most likely to succeed in the extremely competitive European racing universe, the judges had to factor all of it in."

Maiman, 24, from New London, Wis., has been racing cars only since 1999, but was the winner of this year’s National Championship in his second season in the ultra-competitive formula. Speed, 19, from Manteca, Calif., has raced karts since age 10 and formula cars since 2001. The 2001 USAC Formula Russell champion was a standout in the 2002 ational Championship, earning third place honors.

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