2014 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship competitor Ben Gersekowski will travel to the USA next year looking to further his driving career. Kevin Farmer
TOOWOOMBA driver Ben Gersekowski will chase his career dream in the new year when he travels to the USA hoping to break into Indycar racing.
After two years mixing it with Australia's best Formula 3 drivers, Gersekowski, 22, plans to test himself on the international stage in a Pro Mazda car.
The Pro Mazda Championship is an open-wheel driver development series in North America
It is the equivalent of Formula 3 racing and is a feeder system to Indycar racing.
Gersekowski's decision to pursue a professional driving career coincides with his second placing in this year's Formula 3 championship and the completion of his Toowoomba apprenticeship with Pacific Hydraulics in February.
"It's still a dream of mine to become a professional racing driver," Gersekowski said as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Toowoomba's Will Power who also helped cut his driving teeth in Australian Formula 3 racing.
Power embarked on an international driving career in 2003 and this year won his first Indycar championship.
"I've had an opportunity to talk to Will about racing in America and he's given me some helpful pointers about what to expect over there," Gersekowski said.
Gersekowski performed strongly for the McDonalds Gilmore Racing team in this year's Formula 3 championship where he finished second to Simon Hodge from the powerful BRM team.
"This year was my second in Formula 3 Championship class after two years in the National Class," Gersewkowski said.
"This has definitely been my best result in the tightest racing I've ever experienced.
"What I've learnt this year is extraordinary, just in race craft and learning the car set-ups.
"We tried our best with a new chassis and I definitely learnt every round.
"To put pressure on Simon all series was a pleasing effort.
"My boss has been very good in allowing me the time to devote to racing."
Gersekowski's next driving stint will be at Bathurst in February.
"I'm planning to drive in next year's Bathurst 12-hour race," Gersekowski said.
"The cars are V8 Supercars built for endurance in a Ford Focus shell.
"From there I plan to travel to the US to test a Pro Mazda car.
"I'd like to keep doing a few F3 events but everything will depend on what happens in America.
"I finish my apprentice in February so the timing is right to test myself on the international stage and see how I measure up."
Fast facts
Australians Will Power, Ryan Briscoe and James Davison raced in the IndyCar Series in 2014.
The IndyCar Series is one of the biggest open-wheel classes in the world.
Ex-Formula 1 drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Sebastian Bourdais and Jacques Villeneuve raced in IndyCar this year.
The 2015 IndyCar Series is scheduled to start on March 8 in Brazil.
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