Jacob Douglas takes first USF2000 win as Simon Sikes crowned champion
Kiwi Jacob Douglas followed his first pole position with a maiden USF2000 victory in Portland as Simon Sikes sealed the title with a third-place finish.
Kiwi Jacob Douglas celebrates his maiden USF2000 victory in Portland. (Gavin Baker / USF Pro Championships)
Douglas had a green-to-chequered victory in the first of three races at the Grand Prix of Portland but was challenged in the final stages by Evagoras Papasavvas, who chased down the leaders through caution periods to the end of the race, finishing just over half a second behind in second place.
“It was a great race here at Portland for Race 1,” said the #23 JDM Properties Pabst Racing driver.
“I led every lap and Pabst gave me an amazing car – a massive thanks to them and congrats to Simon on the championship.”
Champion Simon Sikes celebrates with team boss Augie Pabst. (Gavin Baker / USF Pro Championships)
Sikes completed the podium to secure the USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires championship, bringing with it a scholarship for a graduate position in next year’s USF Pro 2000 series.
“I am at a loss for words,” said Sikes, “I don’t even know what I am feeling.”
“It has been a rollercoaster throughout the year. It has been tough and it had its ups and downs. I mean St. Petersburg couldn’t have started off worse, and it was a mountain to climb just to get here.”
“To finally get this for Augie and the whole Pabst team – the first driver’s championship for Pabst Racing – I am so happy to do it for the whole team including Burke Harrison, by engineer, and Bob Perona, my awesome driver coach, and everyone that made this possible.
“It means the world to me and I can’t thank everyone enough. The team has been phenomenal, the car is the fastest it has been all year and I just can’t thank Doug Mockett and everyone who supports me enough.”
Douglas led away well at the start, with an incident in the midfield through the Festival Curves leading to the first full-course caution.
After another short caution period to clear debris off the track it was Papasavvas who bested Sikes for third and set his sights on the lead, chasing down Douglas to the chequered flag.
Sikes eased of in third, knowing it was enough to seal the championship from Australian Lochie Hughes.
Hughes, involved in an incident at the restart, made his way back to fifth at the flag but was beaten by Sikes’ insurmountable points lead on the final weekend of the championship.
The Jay Howard Driver Development driver will now have to focus on securing runner-up status, just eight points ahead of Nikita Johnson with two races remaining this weekend.
