Kiwi teenager Jacob Douglas made a statement of intent in the USF Pro Championships Fall Combine over the weekend, featuring near the top of the time sheets in each of his five sessions.
Douglas joined Pabst Racing for the USF Pro 2000 test and completed 94 laps of the 3.925km, 14-turn circuit.
His best lap, 1:22.1905, came in the first of six sessions and positioned him as the third fastest of 24 USF Pro 2000 drivers across the entire weekend.
Douglas then maintained a consistent and competitive pace for the remainder of the test, finishing within seven-tenths of his benchmark in each of the following sessions.
“It was great to be back with Pabst Racing at the USF Pro Fall Combine,” said Douglas.
“We had a really positive test, coming away with top five results in every session, including multiple top twos.
“I’m super grateful for the opportunity, and thanks to everyone who helped me return to America.
“I can’t wait to get back on track, so we will be working hard to ensure we are ready for the next on-track outing.”
The performance also drew the praise of Pabst Racing founder Augie Pabst, who made note of the Kiwi’s ability to get back behind the wheel and immediately make an impact.
“We were most impressed with Jacob’s ability to jump back in the car after a full year away and get right back to business,” Pabst said,
“After proving he’s a winner in 2023 USF2000, combined with his track knowledge, there’s no question he’ll be a top contender in 2025.”
Douglas’s Pabst Racing teammate, Max Garcia, topped the time sheets as the only driver to break the 1:22 barrier.
The successful test at IMS comes almost a year since Douglas last featured in a USF Pro 2000 car, having joined Pabst Racing at last year’s Fall Combine.
That test came after a successful 2023 campaign in USF2000, during which he won the pre-season YACademy Winter Series and finished the season with a record of seven victories, eleven podiums, and five pole positions.
In 2024, Douglas made two appearances in the GB3 Championship in Europe and was selected as one of eight drivers for the Elite Motorsport Academy Class of 2024, where he won the prestigious Bruce McLaren Trophy by topping the Camp Week points table.
An announcement regarding Douglas’s 2025 plans will be made in the near future.
ABOUT USF PRO 2000
USF Pro 2000 is the third of five tiers on the Road to Indy pathway, preceded only by Indy NXT and IndyCar. Previous USF Pro 2000 champions include current IndyCar drivers Louis Foster, Sting Ray Robb, Christian Rasmussen, Kyle Kirkwood, and Rinus VeeKay.
Great to see