A Month Of May To Remember For Kiwi Teenager Jacob Douglas
May proved to be a milestone month for Kiwi talent Jacob Douglas, who emerged from the busiest stretch of the USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tires firmly in contention for the title.
The action-packed month began with a triple-header on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, followed by a mid-season test at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The action concluded with the championship's sole oval race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
In total, Douglas completed more than 1000km of official timed running, covering 430 laps across three circuits. Highlights included his maiden USF Pro 2000 victory at the famed Brickyard and a top ten finish in just his second-ever oval race.
'It was a really busy month with a lot of proud achievements,' said Douglas. 'Standing on the top step of the podium at the Racing Capital of the World is something I'll cherish forever.
'Our pace has been strong all year, and we're consistently running at the front. We were unlucky in two races at Indy where we lost valuable points through no fault of our own, but we've shown we can win and fight for podiums. With the season only at the halfway mark, there's still a lot to play for.'
Douglas's maiden win came in Race 2 of the IMS triple-header, less than 24 hours after a mechanical issue denied him a potential victory while he was leading the opening race. Misfortune struck again in Race 3 when he was caught in a Turn 1 incident while fighting for the lead.
The team then made a quick turnaround to Mid-Ohio, where Douglas impressed with top-seven finishes in the four sessions he took to the track.
At Indianapolis Raceway Park, Douglas delivered another strong performance, starting and finishing inside the top ten in just his second career oval outing.
'In 2022, we ran our first oval race at IRP, starting 17th and finishing 16th in USF2000,' he reflected. 'Three years later, we're battling in the top ten—it's clear we're making real progress.'
Off the track, Douglas was also honoured with the prestigious Ian Snellgrove Trophy, awarded to the top graduate of the Elite Motorsport Academy Class of 2024. Academy
Trustee David Turner was in Indianapolis to record Douglas's acceptance speech, which was played during the Motorsport New Zealand Awards evening.
Douglas, who previously received the Bruce McLaren Trophy for topping camp week, was also invited to announce the Academy's Class of 2025.
'It's a humbling privilege to win the Ian Snellgrove Trophy,' said Douglas. 'The Elite Motorsport Academy has been an incredible experience, helping immensely with both on-track and off-track performance. I've become mentally and physically stronger and a more well-rounded driver because of it.
'Best of luck to the Class of 2025—you're in for the experience of a lifetime.'
Douglas returns to the track June 11-12 for a two-day test at Road America, followed by a triple-header at the same venue the following weekend.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Adventures to unfold on big screen
Some of the best adventure films from across the globe will be shown in Queenstown next week. The annual NZ Mountain Film Festival, now in its 23rd year, this year received a record 294 entries — the final lineup features 64 award-winning and finalist films, including 18 by Kiwi film-makers. Being held at the Queenstown Memorial Centre next Thursday and Friday, the films will also be available to watch online from July 1 to 31. The Thursday session here, from 7pm, starts with a 'social session' before a conversation with Beth Rodden, regarded as one of the greatest rock climbers of all time, who's recently published a memoir, A Light Through the Cracks, from 7.30pm. Four films will then be shown including Trango, directed by Leo Hoorn (US), the grand prize winner this year. The film follows a team of ski mountaineers, including previous NZ Mountain Film Fest guest speaker Christina Lustenberg, of the US, who skied the first descent of the Great Trango Glacier in Pakistan, after a two-year attempt. Navigating risk, grappling with grief and facing physical danger, the team pushes the limits of human experiences, facing the unimaginable together. Other films on Thursday night are Body of a Line (Henna Taylor, US), solo award winner Far Enough (Julien Carot, France), and Alone Across Gola (Jude Kriwald, UK), the best film on adventurous sports and lifestyle. Another seven films will screen during Friday's 'Pure NZ' session, between 3pm and 6pm. They include the community spirit award-winner, Spirit of the West (Pedro Pimentel), which is set against New Zealand's West Coast and captures the spirit of the Old Ghost Ultra, All In or Nothing, directed by Gordon Duff, which won the best documentary award, and follows young athlete Matthew Fairbrother who's up against 120 riders with full support crews as he attempts to win the overall title at the NZ MTB Rally, on his own, and Waiatoto (Josh Morgan and Jasper Gibson), winner of the Hiddleston/MacQueen Award for best NZ-made film. It tells the story of a traverse across the Southern Alps through packraft, skis and tramping. Starting at the Matukituki, Gibson, Nick Pascoe and Charlie Murray travelled via Tititea, the Volta Glacier and the Waiatoto to the Tasman Sea. "We didn't set out to make a film," Pascoe says, "the focus was on a creative adventure through an incredible corner of the country, simply for the sake of it." Rounding out this year's festival is Friday night's 'Snow Show', from 7pm, which includes best snow sports film Painting the Mountains (Pierre Cadot, France), set in El Chalten, a remote Patagonian village beneath Fitz Roy, where three French skiers arrive to pioneer new lines. Tickets to Thursday's session cost $30 ($5 youth discount) and $25 for each of Friday's sessions, with youth discounts. For more info, or to buy tickets, see
NZ Herald
20 hours ago
- NZ Herald
America's Cup: Peter Burling joins Luna Rossa for 38th edition
Peter Burling's next move in the America's Cup arena has been confirmed. The three-time winning Kiwi helmsman will join Italian syndicate Luna Rossa for the 38th edition of the Cup in an unspecified role, expected to be an off-water position. It comes after Burling, 34, parted ways with
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Jacob Douglas Targets Big Results At Road America After Dominant Test Pace
New Zealand's Jacob Douglas heads to Road America this weekend for what could be a pivotal round in the USF Pro 2000 Championship presented by Continental Tires, coming oƯ a dominant performance in pre-event testing. Driving for Pabst Racing, Douglas topped three of the six sessions and finished second in the others, becoming one of only two drivers to break the 2:01 barrier around the iconic 4.01-mile (6.45km), 14-turn circuit. Currently sitting fifth in the championship standings, Douglas has been one of the standout performers of 2025, with a maiden series victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a podium finish in St. Petersburg, and a string of top-five and top-ten finishes that have kept him within striking distance of the title contenders. With teammate Max Garcia leading the standings on 231 points, Douglas trails by 90 — but with 98 points on oƯer this weekend alone, the New Zealander is focused on closing the gap. 'We've made big gains all season in pace, consistency, and execution,' said Douglas. 'Now it's about putting that together. We know Road America suits us, and if we qualify well, we'll be right in the mix for the podium.' Douglas describes Road America as one of the best tracks in North America. 'It's fast, flowing, and super technical. It rewards confidence and commitment, and after how strong we were in testing, I'm coming into the weekend with a really positive mindset. 'This is one of those tracks where if you're in the zone, you can make big things happen.' The Wisconsin circuit holds special significance for Douglas, who scored his first-ever USF 2000 top-ten at the track in 2022 and returned in 2023 to take his maiden podium while debuting with Pabst Racing. 'I've always enjoyed racing here,' he added. 'There's just something about this place that clicks with me. The atmosphere, the challenge — it brings out the best in drivers. I've had some great memories here already, and now I want to add to them.' With just four race weekends remaining — all running on the support bill of the NTT IndyCar Series — Douglas and his team are pushing hard on all fronts, both on the track and oƯ it. While much of the season's backing is already in place, a final push is now critical to ensure the campaign can be completed in full. 'We've had amazing support so far, and I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who's been part of the journey,' said Douglas. 'But to be completely transparent, we still need to secure one or two key partners to see out the rest of the season.' 'These last events are high-profile, high-stakes rounds — perfect for brands wanting to make an impact with a fast-rising driver and a championship-winning team. The opportunity is right here, right now, and we need to make it happen.' This weekend's action at Road America begins with a pair of test sessions on Thursday local time, before two qualifying sessions on Friday at 11.20 am and 1.35 pm CST (Saturday 4.20 am & 6.35 am NZST). Saturday sees the first two races at 8.00 am and 4.25 pm CST (Sunday 1.00 am & 9.25 am NZST) before Sunday's finale at 7.55 am (Monday 12.55 am NZST). Fans can watch all the action live on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel, while Douglas shares real-time updates and behind-the-scenes content across his social media platforms. About Jacob Douglas: Jacob Douglas is a 19-year-old racecar driver from New Zealand. He is a multiple-time national champion in karting and was the 2023 USF YACademy Champion. He took 11 podiums, including seven wins, in USF 2000 machinery in the United States in 2023, before making two GB3 cameos in 2024. He is a member of New Zealand's prestigious Elite Motorsport Academy, winning the renowned Bruce McLaren and Ian Snellgrove trophies among the Class of 2024 In 2025, he returns to North America to compete his rookie season in the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires. Where to watch: The USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires can be viewed live on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel.
