Rising Aussie star set for USF2000 shootout

Rising star Will Brown will head to America next week to take part in the USF2000 Scholarship Shootout event.

The Toowoomba driver has earned the prize drive at California’s Laguna Seca circuit as a reward for his performances in the Australian Formula Ford Series.

The honour is bestowed to the winner of the Formula Ford series as part of the categories’ alliance with the Mazda Road to Indy ladder program.

However, this year Brown finished runner-up in the series behind Leanne Tander, who was deemed illegible for the opportunity due to her age and experience by USF2000 organisers.

Having won the CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship this year, Brown will now take part in a shootout event in the new USF2000 car with the winner offered a $200,000 USD ($270,000 AUD) scholarship to compete in the American junior single seater series.

The 18-year-old has already earmarked a potential move to Carrera Cup Australia next season, but admits a successful run in America could change his outlook.

“It is s big deal,” Brown told Speedcafe.com.

“America has never been a path that we have looked at but it is a great opportunity.

“The new car looks great and it will be good to have run in that.

“If things go well over there then it would make it a very hard decision to make about next year.

“I would like to continue to race in Australia but America would be a very hard opportunity to turn down.

“I’m just going to play it by ear and if we were to win it we will make a decision.

“When I found out I would be driving at Laguna Seca it made the event very appealing.

“It will be really cool to have a run around there.”

Brown is due to contest three practice sessions on Tuesday followed by qualifying and a one-off race on Wednesday.

The Queenslander is gunning for his second national title in 2016 in the Toyota 86 Racing Series this weekend.

He holds a 68-point lead in the standings ahead of the final three races at the Coates Hire Sydney 500.