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Aug 8th 2010
Eric Filgueiras, marked his return to the South Atlantic
Road Racing Championships(SARRC) by finishing first in his
class at the “Sebring Long
Course Double” at Sebring International Raceway on August 7
and 8. The young driver drove his #12 car to victory on the
very technical and bumpy Sebring course.
“Driving on the very historic Sebring Long Course for me is
pretty indescribable, and a huge honor to compete on,” said
Filgueiras. “But I was mostly trying to just run my race and
progress with lap times.”
Filgueiras started second in his class for the feature race,
and finished out with the class win. The feature combined
multiple classes for a total of over 32 cars.
“The first session out, the car was pulling to the right and
I had to adjust the brake bias throughout the session to get
the right balance,” said Filgueiras. “The track is
hands-down the roughest track you could ever compete on, but
that's what makes the competition even better. The best
part was making passes and being able to go down Sebring's
very long back stretch. It was very cool.”
Filgueiras would like to thank all of his sponsors and
supporters including: Bill Simpson of IMPACT Racing, Joanna
Spina of Ocean Potion, Christopher Zdrahl of NGK Spark
Plugs, Tom Baker of Team Full Throttle, Craig Stanton of
Magnus Racing, Michael Prelec Jr. of Battery Tender, Luis
Ruibal of WR Motorsports, Todd Ballard of EPIC Action
Camera, Mike McKnight of AIM, John Hoffman of Pepsi, Junior
Furino of Maaco, Bob Harris of K&N Air Filters, Al Garcia of
Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jay, Derrick and Allan of The
Motorsports-Group, Paul Booth of Performance Drink, Patrick
Keane, and most importantly Eric’s devoted parents, Manny &
Kathy Filgueiras.
June 11, 2010
Eric Filgueiras Finishes First in his Class in SCCA at the
“June Bug Dash” at Sebring
(TFT) driver, Eric Filgueiras, marked his first run in the
Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Formula 500 by landing a
First in his class at the “June Bug Dash” at Sebring
International Raceway on June 5 and 6. After 10 years of
karting, the young driver pulled in his first big win of the
season by wheeling his No. 12 to finish first in his class.
“It
was my first race in SCCA, and we had a little trouble with
the car,” said Filgueiras. “But it was mostly just getting
all the bugs out. Other than that, the car felt good. I was
able to get my novice permit for the race checked off and
all was well.”
Filgueiras started second in his class for the feature race,
and finished out with the class win. The feature combined
multiple classes for a total of 22 Formula cars.
“The car was handling well,” said Filgueiras. “I’m still in
the period of finding speed. But, the track felt great and
there was a good amount of grip. What was most fun was to
drive on such a well-known and historic race track after ten
years of karting.”
Filgueiras would like to thank all of his sponsors and
supporters including Bill Simpson of IMPACT Racing, Joanna
Spina of Ocean Potion, Christopher Zdrahl of NGK Spark
Plugs, Tom Baker of Team Full Throttle, Craig Stanton of
Magnus Racing, Michael Prelec Jr. of Battery Tender, Luis
Ruibal of WR Motorsports, Todd Ballard of EPIC Action
Camera, Mike McKnight of AIM, John Hoffman of Pepsi, Junior
of Maaco, Bob Harris of K&N Air Filters Al Garcia of
Homestead-Miami Speedway, Robert Cao of Factory 1 Racing,
Patrick Keene, and most importantly Eric’s devoted parents,
Manny & Kathy Filgueiras.
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The EF Racing Setup |
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Eric Getting Ready For Sunday's
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Eric Waiting On The Grid |
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Eric Driving In Sunday's Feature Race |
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Eric Winning In His Class |
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Eric With his 1st Place at
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April 24th 2010
Driver News
Eric Filgueiras, who has 10
years of karting underneath his belt, has won many regional
and national races and championships. But this past weekend
marked a new chapter in Eric’s racing career: car racing.
This weekend Eric made his debut into not only car racing,
but more importantly into SCCA (Sports Car Club of America).
Eric attended the SCCA School at Daytona International
Speedway. The school consisted of a three-hour classroom
session on Friday night, where there was a test at the end
of the session, and Eric passed with flying colors. Saturday
and Sunday were driver’s meetings and on-track sessions on
the 1.2-mile infield course. Saturday started out with the
morning driver’s meeting, but the day was far from smooth.
Fighting clutch problems all day, the car wouldn't make it
past turn one, and the weekend looked dim. With a spare
clutch in the trailer, the team decided to give it one last
shot and swap out clutches on the car. This decision proved
to be the change of luck that Eric needed. As he started
turning laps on the last session of Saturday, Eric was
called in for a routine black-flag stop, and while speaking
momentarily with a steward, the engine overheated and a
water hose shot off, forcing him to retire for what was left
of the day. With having a bad first day, the EF Racing team
vowed that Sunday Eric would make and fully complete every
session. And they did! Three practice starts and a five-lap
race was scheduled where the stewards would judge the
ability Technique, Reactions, Flag Recognition and more. At
the end of Sunday, all school students met up at the media
center to get their novice permit book filled out, and when
it was Eric’s turn up, despite the lack of track time on
Saturday, he presented himself courteously and
professionally, and was able to get his second school waved
off. “After the experience this weekend I am very excited to
not only be able to start racing in SCCA events, but to also
just be a part of SCCA. The events are run to the fullest of
professionalism and can teach a driver a lot” said
Filgueiras.
For these
accomplishments, Eric would like to thank: Bill Simpson of
IMPACT Racing, Joanna Spina of Ocean Potion, Christopher
Zdrahl of NGK Spark Plugs, Tom Baker of Team Full Throttle,
Craig Stanton of Magnus Racing, Michael of Battery Tender,
Luis Ruibal of WR Motorsports, Buddy Long from WKA, Bill
Wright from FWT, Todd Ballard of EPIC Action Camera, Mike
McKnight of AIM, Al Garcia of Homestead-Miami Speedway,
Robert Cao of Factory 1 Racing, David Bowles from the SCCA
Florida region, and most importantly Eric’s loving parents,
Manny & Kathy Filgueiras.
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Eric on the grid |
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Saturday out on the track |
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Rear of the car |
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Saturday in the garage |
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Dec 3rd 2009 Driver News
2009 was a
great year for Eric Filgueiras. Competing in Florida Winter
tour, winning two titles in the Florida Karting Championship
Series, and managing a very solid finish in the very
Prestigious 8th annual Easykart World Finals in
Siena, Italy. The year seemed to be pretty successful, and
half of the year was used to make preparations on the newest
addition to EF Racing; a Formula 500 that was obtained
during this summer.
For 2010, the
plan for Eric is to compete for the first time in the FARA
series located at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and he will run
on the road course. The other series that Eric is planning
to run for the 2010 schedule for the first time as well is
SCCA. He will compete in the F-500 class at SCCA Florida
regionals, and select SARRC races. Eric will not be
competing in Karting next year, as the racing Budget will
only be able to withstand car racing.
For a great
2009, and for an even better 2010 season, Eric would like to
thank his parents Manny and Kathy, Bill Simpson of IMPACT
Racing, Paul Booth of Performance Drink, Joanna Spina of
Ocean Potion, Jim Hodgkins of NGK Spark Plugs, Robby Mott of
Ribtect, Michael Jr. of Battery Tender, SCC East, Easykart
America, Junior Furino of Maaco of Cocoa Fl, Robert Cao ,
Patrick Keane and Luis, Tico Almeida from FARA and Wagner of
MG Tires.
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The F-500 |
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Car,Eric,Trailer and Golf Car |
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Eric side view in the F-500 |
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Oct 27th 2009
World Final in Sienna Italy
We just got back from the Easykart world championship in
Siena Italy.
Below are some photos of Eric’s Kart and racing pictures.
Eric finished
2nd in B main race and started 30th at the back of the pack
for the A main
event and was able to finish a very respectful 17th out of
61 drivers. Just
in case you don't know how competitive this event is, here
are some facts:
1) Only the top Easykart drivers from around the world are
invited to race
at this event.
2) The Italians and the Europeans have the home court
advantage since they
know that track inside and out.
3) The Italians and the Europeans also had their own karts
and engineers
etc. Eric was in a rental kart given to him by Birel
Easykart for being the
USA Champion.
4) By the end of the race Eric was 11th quickest overall out
of 61 other
drivers.
This year’s Easykart World Finals was not an event to be
missed, so when
Eric Filgueiras won the FKCS Easykart 100cc championship, it
was all he
would be looking forward to for the months to come. And
since his last trip
to Italy ended in the gravel pit of turn 1, lap 1, he was
looking forward to
redemption. The format of the event would be 2 groups, with
an A and B final
with the object to make it to the A final. And with Thursday
and Friday
practice, Saturday the qualifying heats, leading up to
Sunday’s final
events.
Thursday was all about getting the kart prepared, learning
the format, and
learning the track. Eric was able to get the last 3 sessions
in for
Thursday. Friday was a good day, with Eric staying around
mid-way on the
time sheets the whole day, and with qualifying being the
last session of the
day, all thought and focus was put on trying to get the
right setup. With
trying as hard as he could, Eric would end up starting 19th
in both
qualifying heats.
Saturday would come with one warm-up, and then the two 12
lap qualifying
heats to decide where drivers would start in the A or B
final. The first
heat consisted of Eric going back a few spots, but being
able to take them
back during the course of the race, ultimately finishing
18th out of the 30
in the heat. The second heat went a lot better as Eric would
fight
throughout the first few laps, and catching and passing and
ultimately
finishing 14th.
The two combined finishes would start Eric in 3rd for the B
Final. The B
Final would go as Eric retaining the 3rd place spot, then
overtaking second
on lap 3, with Eric taking the fight to first, swapping for
first and second
up until the last lap, with settling for second in the end.
All eyes were
set on the A Final. With the 2nd in the B Final, it set Eric
up to start
30th in the A final.
For the Final race, the start was a bit
like madness,
as the whole field immediately broke into a scatter. Turn 3
held a pile-up
that was right in front of Eric, that slowed him down enough
to have the
pack get away by a little. Within the next few turns Eric
was able to make
up the time, and started picking off the opposition within
the 24-lap race.The race competition was so fierce that the fight for Eric’s
last position
that he picked up came down to the last stretch of straight
on the last lap.
But throughout the long and hard race, Eric was able to
finish a very
respectable 17th out of the 61 in his class (and also he was
the 2nd
highest placing American in entire USA Team).
For this great feat, Eric would like to thank; His parents
Manny and Kathy, Bill Simpson of IMPACT Racing, Paul Booth of Performance
Drink, Joanna of
Ocean Potion, Jim of NGK Spark Plugs, Robby of Ribtect,
Robert Cao of F1R,
Michael Jr. of Battery Tender, and Luis and Wagner of MG
Tires.
Also check the web site about
Easykart News on Eric in
Ekarting News
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Dad Cleaning the Kart in Italy |
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Eric 3rd at the start on the
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Eric in 2nd |
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Oct 2009
With the prize of going to the Easykart World Finals eluding
Eric Filgueiras for a couple of years, and only gone one
time in the past, you can understand that he is very excited
to be going back. He won this year’s Florida Karting
Championship Series Easykart 100cc class, and that’s what
clinched the prize for him. We also mentioned earlier that
Eric competed in a previous Easykart World Finals event on
60cc. That was in 2006, in which was taken place in Jeselo.
It was a great experience for Eric, which unfortunately
ended on turn 1, starting 6th in the B-Main. But
Eric is very excited and focused on the task at hand which
is bringing home the trophy on the top step. “I’m so excited
to be going back. It’ll be really nice to see old friends
that I know from my previous trip and the great even and
racing that is the Easykart World Finals.” Eric would like
to thank all of his sponsors especially Toto Lassaly of
Speedcom Communication, Mg Tires, Ocean Potion, NGK plugs,
Battery Tender, F1R Robert Cao, Bill from Impact Racing,
Paul Booth with Performance Drink, Robby from Ribtect,
Robertos Restaurant in Cocoa Beach, Easykart Florida and his
dad Manny & Mom for this opportunity to go back to Italy for
the World Finals in Sienna Oct 16-18.
Sept 14th, 2009
Going into this year’s Easykart Grand National, Eric
Filgueiras had already
locked up the Florida Karting Championship Series Easykart
100 championship.
And by doing so, it meant that Filgueiras was already headed
toward the
Easykart World Finals (to be held in Siena, Italy on October
16,17,18). Friday practice was a bit of a struggle until the
last session, but by that time the kart was a lot closer on
pace than before. Since the weekend was on a one-day
everything-format, the festivities got under way Saturday.
Morning practice felt good and qualifying was even better.
There where two qualifying sessions, but Eric decided not to
run the second session, and this decision did not move him
down the time sheets, as he would start fourth in the
Pre-Final. The Pre-Final would start out good but the kart
setup would wear out, and Eric would finish fifth. The Final
though, would not be as good. When going down the
backstretch of the warm up lap the kart would suffer a
mechanical failure, and would not to end up the way I planned it to be, getting to know
the nature of these new VEGA tires is going to be very
helpful for the world finals.”
His Parents-Manny & Kathy, Toto Lassally of SPEEDCOM
Communications, Bill
Simpson- IMPACT Racing, Luis & Wagner-MG Tires, Joanna Spina
of Ocean
Potion, Wagner- Alfano, Paul- Performance Drink, Jim
Hodgkins from NGK,
Michael Jr.Prelec from Battery Tender, Junior Furino from
Maaco of Cocoa and
Dave Davies/ RJ Valentine- SSC East/CRG & F1 Boston.
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Champion 2009 FKCS |
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Check to Italy |
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Eric holding
the check |
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Rotax Jr
Champion |
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Eric Looking On |
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July 31, 2009
The Season finale of the FKCS got under way
this weekend July 25-26, with 15 year old Eric Filgueiras
came in with a 150 and 135 points gap in both Rotax Jr &
Easykart 100. Coming into this race he had already won
5 races between the two classes, and was eager to add more
coming into race 5 of 5.
The weekend kicked off on Saturday with Rotax Jr. Qualifying
was not excellent, but very acceptable coming in with a
second place to start the race off with. The Pre-final went
smooth, with only losing one position, but very
strategically finishing third to be in a third position for
the start
of the Final. As the Final set off, going into the first
turn contact was made between Eric and the second place
driver, which didn't cause an accident, but enough to allow
the leader to put a gap between himself and the rest of the
field. Eric was able to hold off third place until turn five
of the last lap, in which Eric was able to re-pass in the
same exact turn,
after the driver had over-shot the corner, and left himself
open to be
over-taken. In the end Eric finished 2nd in the race, but
won the Rotax Jr.
State of Florida Championship FKCS.
Sunday would wrap up the weekend and the series, with
qualifying to start
the day’s festivities. Eric would qualify with a 3rd place
over all & a 1st
in the IAME category to start the Pre-final. Going into the
first turn Eric
would only lose 1 position (in class). But it would show to
be a short lived
position, due to an incident involving several karts in turn
eight, which
would cause Eric to drop back to nearly last. Working his
way up the field
he soon found himself fighting for the lead. Finally,
passing for 1st place
in turn 5, the driver being over taken dove to the inside of
the turn while
Eric was still to the inside, thus knocking off and breaking
his chain, and
he was forced to retire from the race. Eric would have to
start from the
back of the field 12 place out 15 drivers in the Final, but
stayed very
positive, cool & composed. Slowly picking off positions,
Eric would end up
in the 3rd position by the end of the race. Even though Eric
hadn’t won the
race, there was no taking away the fact that he had won the
FKCS
Championship, and with it a step closer to going to the
Easykart World
Finals, to be held in Siena, Italy in October.
After the weekend, Eric had this to say: “With this being my
last serious
year of full schedule kart racing, I’m very pleased with the
fact that I was
able to come back this year and win myself two more
championships. Looking
back on my Ten years that I’ve been karting, I’m very proud
that I can say
that I’ve won many races and Championships with hard work
and with very
little money also it always just being my dad and I. Never
any high-paid
mechanic or tuner.”
Eric would like to thank: Toto Lasally of SPEEDCOM
Communications, RJ
Valentine & Dave Davies of SSC East & CRG/ F1 Boston, Bill
Simpson of IMPACT
Racing, Joanne of Ocean Potion, Luis & Wagner of MG tires &
Alfano, Paul
Booth of Performance Drink, Jim of NGK Spark Plugs, Robby of
Ribtect, Junior
Furino of Maaco, Michael Jr. from Battery Tender, and of
course his Parents
Manny & Kathy and his sister Rachael.
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On the pole |
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Going for Second |
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3rd place but the FKCS 2009
Champion |
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2nd Place but the FKCS 2009
Champion |
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June
29th, 2009
Ocala race 4
Round 4 of 5 got under way at Ocala Gran Prix
as Eric Filgueiras came into the race with a points lead in
both Rotax Jr and Easykart 100. Rotax Jr was the first class
of the weekend on Saturday. Rotax Jr. Qualifying would be a
close one, with Eric ending up in third, but only with .1 of
a second margin between himself and the leader. The
Pre-Final would not be very exciting as Eric would fall back
one position and finish fourth. The Pre-final would be
almost the same, with Eric moving up one spot on the first
lap, and staying in third for the rest of the race. Sunday
100cc Easykart would be different, as Eric would grab the
pole, Pre-Final & Final position with a 12 second lead over
second place, for Parilla Easykart 100 making it a clean
sweep. Eric would like to thank all of his sponsors, friends
and family.
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Going For Second |
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Eric Looking on |
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3rd Place
FKCS Ocala race#4 |
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Eric Winning 100cc last lap |
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Eric took the Win at Ocala FKCS
race #4 |
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June 10th, 2009
In the News:
FloridaToday.com
Filgueiras poised for
next step to cars
Port St. John teen has dominated circuit in go-karts
Read article here:
floridatoday.com
May 26th, 2009
News release
Eric Filgueiras, who has been a karter for 10 years and won
numerous Championships, is now turning the page and starting
a new chapter in his
career: Car racing. This year Eric will be testing his
Formula 500, and
competing in SCCA races during the 2010 season. Eric
will still always
be connected to his karting roots and drive for SSC East,
but will be more
focused on making a career out of racing cars. Eric would
like to thank his
parents, All of his Sponsors, and a special thank you going
out to Toto
Lassally, Manny Filgueiras, Tico Almeda, Robert Cao, Patrick
Keehn, and to
all of those who have helped him. For more information,
visits websites like
www.ericracing.com, www.speedcomracing.com, www.farausa.com,
and
www.teamfactory1.com.
EF Racing #21
www.ericracing.com
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F 500 Black |
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SCCA Golf Car |
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Driver News on Eric
Filgueiras, with two more races two go in Florida Regionals
FKCS Eric now leads the point in two classes in Rotax Jr and
Easykart 100, news report:
May 19th, 2009
Round three of the
Florida Kart Championship Series got under way this weekend
at 103rd Jacksonville complex. Eric Filgueiras Came into the
Rotax JR points standings 1st, and the Easykart 100 points
3rd. With no Friday practice for Eric because he was
attending school, Saturday would kick off the weekend with
race 3 of 5 for Rotax JR. With not having the all new 2009
Rotax Cylinder that everyone but Eric had, he knew he would
be behind the game on this one. With a frustrating
day, Eric would Qualify 8th, finish 6th in the Pre-Final,
and Also Finishing 6th in the Final. Although the day would
not go towards Eric’s favor, He would end the Rotax portion
still leading the point’s standings. Sunday would prove to
be a much better day though, as race 3 of 5 the Easykart
class would show to be more about the driver’s capability
behind the steering wheel, and not about the engine mounted
to the chassis (Spec Class). Eric would qualify behind a
young driver hailing all the way from Italy by the name of
Riccardo Geltrude who is the current point winner in
Easykart 100cc. The Pre-Final would have a heated battle
between Eric, Riccardo & Jesus Rios Jr. for the lead. The
Pre-Final would finish with Filgueiras finishing 3rd. The
Final would also be a heated battle, but this time the win
coming down between Rios Jr. & Filgueiras. With a last lap
move on the outside of Rios, Eric would take the victory and
also the Championship lead with two more races to go and a
certain Easykart Grand National in September, with the
winner receiving a completely paid trip to Italy For the
World Finals. A race that 15- year old Eric Filgueiras will
be competing in.
For these accomplishments Eric would like to thank: His Dad,
Mom and Sister, Toto Lassally of SPEEDCOM COMMUNICATIONS,
Bill Simpson of IMPACT! Racing, Dave Davies and R.J.
Valentine of SSC East and F1 Boston, Joanna of Ocean Potion,
Paul Booth of Performance Drink, Luis & Wagner of MG Tires
and ALFANO, Robby Mott of Ribtect, Robert Cao of Factory One
Racing, Michael Jr of Battery Tender, Curtis and Al from
Homestead-Miami Speedway and Jim Hodgkins with NGK.
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Final 100cc |
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Winning the race |
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#1 Takes the Win in 100
Easykart |
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Eric takes the Checkered #1
Wining the race |
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#1 in 100cc Easykart at
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May 12th 2009
Listen to Eric's
Interview On
Real Racin' USA
http://www.realracinusa.com/
Eric talks about
his history and experience
in racing, his sponsors, and his crew.
Link to Full Radio Podcast:
HERE (Eric starts at 1:03)
Or Listen to Edited
version Eric Only:
HERE (Be patient while it downloads)
May 11th 2009
InsideFloridaRacing - Eric Filgueiras
FKCS driver Eric Filgueiras will be interviewed, Monday, May
11th during the
radio show's karting segment on
www.InsideFloridaRacing.com.
Click here to listen live
We will send an update on
Saturday if show changes.
The karting segment runs for about 20 minutes starting at
8PM EST time. Tune
in regularly for great updates / interviews on racing in
Florida. Shows are
recorded and saved to the site so if you miss it, you can
always listen in
at a later date.
After FKCS races they usually provide an update on selected
class finishes
as well. So please support the site and their sponsors as
they help promote
our series!
Watch for interviews in the future with other
FKCS drivers!
April 2009
Driver News on Eric
Filgueiras
Round 2 of the Florida Kart Championship Series(FKCS) rolled
around this weekend, With Eric Filgueiras Coming in with two
1st place podium and a 4th for Rotax Jr. and Easykart 100.
And this particular weekend, he would be ‘testing the
waters’ in the TaG Jr. class running on his SSC East CRG/Rotax
package. Saturday would be a good day, as Eric would sweep
the Rotax class
with ease, taking the qualifying, Pre-Final & Final. TaG Jr
would show to be more of a challenge for the CRG driver,
With not having the time or enough financial backing for new
tires would show a bad qualifying and would be forced to
start 11th. With starting in the back, Eric would finish in
6th. in the pre final and would finish a strong 4th place in
the final. Sunday would be very good as well, with some fun
morning sessions in the rain Eric would prove his dominance
in the rain by posting 3 quickest out the entire FKCS
driver field. But as qualifying came around, the track dried
up with Eric starting in 2nd on pole for the race. This was
caused by having no brakes on the kart. In the pre- Final, though the brand new
brake pads would stick to the disc, and a tire going down
Eric would have to settle to for 4th. With one of the
problems being fixed, however Filgueiras would demonstrate
his adaptability by overcoming his starting deficiency in
the final and making it a 3-way battle for first with both
Rhea’s. Even with John Rhea able to best Filgueiras’ fastest
lap he could not hold the position and gave up with 3 laps
to in the race to Filgueiras. Rounding out
the podium were both John and Dorothy Rhea in 2nd and 3rd
respectively. Eric is on a mission to get his 3rd
consecutive Title in Easykart 100cc. in 2009.
Eric would like to thank
all of his sponsors and parents for everything over the weekend.
SSC East, F1 Boston, Speedcom, Mg tires, Ocean potion,
Impact Racing,
Ribtect, Alfano, NGK, Battery Tender, Easykart of Florida,
Performance
Drink, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Mike Savage and F1 Factory
One.
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Rotax Jr Ocalawka 2 |
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Rotax Podium |
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Win in EasyKart 100 |
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Winning final after tech |
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March 2, 2009
Driver news and progression of Eric Filgueiras
As the annual Florida Kart Championship Series rolled around, already 3-time
in a row FKCS Champion Eric Filgueiras was feeling very optimistic for the
2009 season. Saturday would show to be a good one, as Eric would do a clean
sweep in the Rotax Jr. category with no battle from any of the opposition,
winning the pole award and fast time, Pre-final & Final. Sunday would look
to be a different story, though. As moving the seat backwards on the kart
would show for less grip in the front end, Eric would start 2nd on the grid
only behind by .059 tenths of a second. The Pre-final would start out
terribly for the young driver, as he would be put back a row due to an
incompetent pole-sitter. Rain would go on and off during the Pre-final,
finally ending it, and not able to run a final heat race, where the times
showed that on the pre-final Eric was faster than the 1st place driver Eric
finishing in an upsetting fourth.
Eric’s next month and a half has a variety of races including:
-Florida Winter Tour round 3 races 5 & 6 at Ocala Grand Prix.
-Florida Kart Championship Series round 2 at Ocala Grand Prix.
-F.A.R.A. racing series round 1 at Homestead Miami Speedway.
He would like to thank all of his sponsors for making this possible
Mg Tires, Impact Racing, NGK, Speedcom & Shock Doctor, Ocean Potion, Alfano,
Ribtect, SSC East, F1 Boston, Performance Drink, F1R Factory One Racing and
Battery Tender
Remember if you run hard you’ll always stay cool!!!!!!!!!!
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Pole on Qualifying Sat |
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Qualifying profile |
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WKA Rotax Jr. 1st Place |
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Jan 2009
Driver
news
Eric Filgueiras, who is a multi-time Champion and 2007 Mini Max
Winter Tour Champion, will be teaming up with SSC East/ CRG
to run the Florida Winter Tour, and the Rotax Max Grand
National, in both series’ running in the Rotax Jr. category.
“I spoke
to Dave Davies, R.J Valentine and Marshall Martin, at the
PRI Show on Thursday, gave Dave Davies my card and packet,
and he seemed impressed. So, we talked again on Saturday,
and Dave sounded very interested in having me on the team.”
Said the young driver “I look forward to running with such a
famous, well-organized, and most importantly a team that
knows how to Win!!!"
The
young driver will be with SSC East for a long while, as
Davies said (if you come on board it would be for a marriage
not a date the young driver quoting Dave’s wording) Eric
would like to give special thanks to Marshall for speaking
in his behalf and believing in him.
Eric had
a great season on 2008, and couldn’t have done it without
all of his family, and the support from friends and sponsors
like Bill Simpson from IMPACT, Joanne Spina from Ocean
Potion, Toto Lassally from SPEEDCOM & Shock Doctor, Luis &
Wagner From MG Tires & Alfano, Robby From Ribtect, Paul
Booth from Performance Energy Drink, Oswaldo Negri, Max
Papis, Craig Stanton, Dave Davies, R.J. Valentine, Robert
Cao And Eric’s Parents Manny & Kathy.
October 6th, 2008
Recapping 2008
and Driver progression
Eric Filgueiras,
an already multi-time champion added
one more championship under
his belt
happily when he attended the Florida
Kart Championship Series (F.K.C.S)
Banquet/ Charity Race this weekend.
It started Saturday morning through
afternoon with Concession-Kart
racing were Eric finished second in
the “kids race”. And then the
Banquet started around 6:00 P.M
where Eric received his Championship
Eagle, and an unexpected ‘junior
driver of the year’. “ It was really
the best banquet that I’ve ever been
to.” Said Filgueiras “F.K.C.S.
really did a great job at choosing a
good location, the food was
delicious, and the evening was very
pleasant.” On Sunday, Eric learned
how to drive a shifter kart, and
that also went well. Eric is looking
forward to racing in the Florida
Series next year, He is also going
back to WKA Nationals in Road Racing
Series by Mazda and racing in the
F.A.R.A series, and also looking
forward to learning with racecar
drivers like Craig Stanton, Oswaldo
Negri, Mark Patterson, Max Papis,
Toto Lassally and Robert Cao to
become a Koni Driver in 2010
Eric would like
to thank Toto and Derick at SPEEDCOM,
Bill Simpson at IMPACT! Racing,
Joanne at Ocean Potion, Paul Booth
at Performance Drink, Luis & Wagner
at MG Tires, Luis at Alfano, Jim
Booth at McDonalds, Robby at Ribtect,
Mario & Oswaldo at Kart Mini, and
Andre & Daniel at RDD Motorsports.
For more, visit:
www.flwkasprintseries.com,
www.speedcom.com,
www.kartmini.com,
www.rddmotorsports.com, and
www.farausa.com .
July 29, 2008
Racing News on Eric Filgueiras
Coming off of a first place in the fourth race of the season, and the
champion lead comfortably By Eric Filgueiras, the young driver was sitting
confidently coming into the last race. Friday Practice was a good day, Eric
practicing on the Easykart 100cc only a few times, focusing most of his
energy on his Rotax Jr, at which he was using his SPEEDCOM Radio system.
Morning Practice was not too exciting, Eric laying down one of the fastest
times, and deciding not to do the second morning practice. In qualifying, he
set a 31.57, a time good enough for P2.
The Pre-Final started off with Eric getting a better jump off the line, but
the first place driver would end up pushing Eric out into the marbles. But
the 14 year-old was not done there. He stayed right on first places bumper
making a move at first place only once, to have it taken away the same lap.
So the plan was to pass the first place driver on the last lap, on the last
turn. And that’s what he did.
The Final was simpler, Eric starting off great, and leading until the end.
Eric had a great season, Wining his third consecutive Easykart WKA State
Title in 3 years 60cc in 2006, 100cc in 2007 and in 2008 Eric would like to
thank all of his sponsors for making this dream possible; Bill Simpson and
John of Impact Racing, Joanna & Gary of Ocean Potion, Toto, Derrick from Speedcom and Shock Doctor, Luis & Wagner from MG Tires & Alfano, Jim Booth,
Robby from Ribtect, Rudy from Rysa Racing & Easykart of America, Oswaldo
Negri of Kart Mini, Craig Stanton, Max Papis, Andre from RDD Motorsports,
Curtis and Al from Homestead-Miami Speedway, (Dad Manny & Mom Kathy
Filgueiras.)
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eric Wins Final Race |
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front Easykart 100cc |
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July, 2008
SPEEDCOM's Young Go-Kart Champ
Eric Filgueiras Ready to Wrap up
another Title This Weekend in
Florida Karting Championship
Series Finale at the Ocala Grand
Prix
14-Year-Old Port Saint John
Racer Set To Seal Seventh
Go-Kart Championship
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 17,
2008)
– Already an accomplished
Go-Kart Champion at the age of
14, SPEEDCOM
Communications-sponsored racer
Eric Filgueiras, of Port Saint
John, Fla., is all but certain
to wrap up a seventh karting
title this weekend when the 2008
Florida Karting Championship
Series (FKCS) concludes its
season at the Ocala Grand Prix,
July 18 – 20.
Filgueiras, who drives the No.
21 EF Racing Easykart/100cc Jr.
Rotax, has built an almost
insurmountable lead in the FKCS
and only needs to run a quiet
and clean race to clinch his
seventh go-kart title in nine
seasons of competition. He has
won three of this season's four
events to date – the
season-opener in Jacksonville,
Homestead-Miami Speedway and the
first FKCS visit to Ocala one
race ago – but has raced long
enough to know that nothing in
racing is over until the final
checkered flag of the season
waves.
"I always try to win,"
Filgueiras said. "But there is
always a sense in the back of my
head that I have to think about
points. If I have to settle for
a position and not take myself
out when it comes down to
thinking about points, I won't
force the issue."
The FKCS title will
automatically qualify Filgueiras
for September's Grand National
back at Homestead-Miami, which
is basically the major
season-ending run-off for top
go-kart competitors from around
the country. The various class
winners in the Grand National
will in turn be invited to
travel to Italy for the
international finals, as
Filgueiras did two years ago.
Racing in Jesolo, Italy, in 2006
against some of the top go-kart
racers in the world, Filgueiras
placed 36th out of 73
competitors and was ranked sixth
in the world. A trip back to
Italy this year begins with the
upcoming Grand National.
"I think we are going to rebuild
the engine after this race to
try to get an edge over the
competition as much as we can
before the Grand National,"
Filgueiras said. "If we win our
class, we will go back to
Italy."
Filgueiras started racing at
five years old in a Kid Kart and
the championships started coming
a few years later. His list of
titles includes the 2000/2001
Kid Kart National Championship
and the 2006 Easykart 60cc
Regional, National and Grand
National Championships. In
2007, Filgueiras won the Florida
Winter Tour series in the Mini
Max Championship and finished
second in that year's Easykart
Grand National.
SPEEDCOM recently signed on to
support Filgueiras and provides
a radio system and Shock Doctor
equipment, such as a neck brace,
for the EF Racing team to use.
Although radios are not
permitted in races, Filgueiras
and his father Manny Filgueiras
frequently use the SPEEDCOM
system to maximize feedback
during practices.
"I get approached by many
up-and-coming drivers for
sponsorship support," said
SPEEDCOM Chief Executive Officer
Toto Lassally. "Being that our
clientele is the racing
community, it is not part of
SPEEDCOM's business model to
sponsor our clients. However,
one has to recognize potential,
and when Eric approached me I
immediately noticed the fire in
his eyes, along with the
determination and the passion
that that he emits. He is not
only a talented driver, but also
extremely professional. He is
now and will continue to be a
great role model to others. SPEEDCOM is proud to be a part
of Eric's pursuit in
professional racing. This kid
has success written all over
him."
In addition to SPEEDCOM, other
sponsors of Filgueiras and EF
Racing include Bill Simpson's
Impact Racing, Ocean Potion Skin
and Sun Care Products, Jim Booth
of McDonald's, MG Tires, Alfano,
Ribtect, Rysa Racing, RDD
Motorsports and Oswaldo Negri
from KART MINI.
Negri, a Grand-Am Rolex Sports
Car Series Daytona Prototype
race winner, is a current mentor
of Filgueiras as is Grand-Am
Rolex Sports Car Series GT and
KONI Challenge Series GS
Champion Craig Stanton.
Filgueiras has also received
support and guidance in the past
from Jimmy Vasser and Juan Pablo
Montoya.
Established in 1996, SPEEDCOM is
the world leader in motorsports
radio and communications systems
and also offers a related line
of high-performance products and
accessories for companies and
competitors in all facets of the
motorsports industry. Created
and owned by racers for racers,
only SPEEDCOM has first-hand
experience in understanding the
needs of competitors – behind
the wheel and in the pits – and
the incredible demands required
of equipment and communications
in endurance racing. With
headquarters in heart of the
"World Center of Racing" in
Daytona Beach, Florida, and in
the European gateway city of
Barcelona, Spain, SPEEDCOM
products and technology are
distributed globally throughout
the United States, Canada,
Mexico, The Caribbean, Spain,
Portugal, Holland, Belgium,
Scandinavia, Italy, Germany,
France and New Zealand. Future
expansion calls for operations
and distribution in Dubai and
Australia
June, 2008
Coming into the fourth round of the FKCS, (Florida Karting Championship series) Eric Filgueiras was first in points, with 2 wins, (Jacksonville and Homestead) and a third place (in Monticello). He arrived at the track Thursday morning to setup everything. The next day was Friday practice, where he was at the top of the charts for most of the day.
Morning practice was really good for Eric. He felt that the kart was really good, but wasn’t good enough for first. He started out on the Pre-Final by being pushed out by first place, but still being able to hold his position. He traded position with first place many times before the person slammed the door and they almost collided, which forced Eric to finish second.
Due to already scheduled activities,
everyone had to start the Finals at
nighttime, which served to Eric’s
liking. Once again, the first place
driver pushed Eric out on the first
turn, but he still held his
position. And again the two drivers
switched the top spot for a few laps
before Filgueiras sped to a 1.5
second lead, and held on to it for
the rest of the race, winning his
third race of the season, and most
likely the title already.
Eric would like to thank Impact
Racing, Ocean Potion, Speedcom,
Shock Doctor, MG Tires, Jim Booth,
Rysa Racing, Alfano, Kart Mini, RDD
Motorsports, and his mom and dad.
Stay tune for the Finally race #5
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Dad and Eric talking strategy |
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Getting ready for the prefinal |
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Eric Win at WKAO cala race |
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Cookies and milk after the win |
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Eric's Archive of Past Races
Jan-April 08
Jan-Dec 07
Sept-Dec 06
July-Aug 06
May-June 06
April 06
Jan-March 06
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