Star Mazda
Objects in the Mirror are Losing:
Richard Kent of Anderson Racing
By Kate
Shaw
Photos © Jamie Longmuir
2009
TROIS-RIVIÈRES,
Quebec (August 15, 2009) — Richard Kent, who drives for the Anderson Racing
Star Mazda team, began his Star Mazda career last season in the final race of
the season. In the normal course of events this might be a risky move, as it
gives the racing brotherhood the entire off season to forget about him. Kent
made sure this would not happen by capturing pole position, leading every lap,
and winning the race – and he did it at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the
most challenging road courses in North America.
This was not, he will also point out, a simple matter of good luck; he proved
that by resuming in 2009 where he left off, with three poles and three podiums –
and he won from the pole at Thunderbolt in New Jersey, a feat which is even more
impressive considering his ankle was in an air cast at the time after a
non-racing injury (think Johnny Herbert). Kent has been on a storming pace this
season and currently stands seventh in the Star Mazda championship in a very
competitive field. He will start tomorrow’s race in ninth position due to an
unfortunate electrical glitch during qualifying today.
“Ninth is not a good place to start at this track,” he said candidly. “It’s
difficult to pass here, and with 25 cars on the track, it will be difficult to
move up. This is a challenging track in many ways and an exciting place to run;
the history and the fan interest in everything we do makes it a great venue.”
From the tight and twisty street course of Trois-Rivières, Kent moves next to
the wide-open natural road course at Mosport International Raceway in Ontario,
Canada. He has never raced on this track before, but had a test there last year
and agrees that it will be a completely different challenge, especially if it
rains (as it usually does). “I find the most challenging corner at Mosport is
2,” he admitted. “If you get that corner absolutely right, you can fly out of
it; if not, you’re in the gravel at the bottom of the hill. I don’t find
simulators help too much unless you have a really good one; there’s nothing to
compare with a circuit of the track in a car, although walking the track can
also give you helpful insights about elevation changes and camber.”
As
far as future plans are concerned, Kent is focused on open wheel racing. As he
explained his thinking, “Once you go down the sports car track, it can be hard
to come back to consideration by the open wheel community. I believe there is
plenty of opportunity to be had in open wheel and I mean to concentrate on
making the most of it.” Anderson Racing has fielded Indy Lights drivers, and
Kent has a scheduled test at the end of the year with a view to moving onto that
ladder in the season to come.
Meanwhile, Richard Kent is enjoying the competition and the confraternity of
Star Mazda and, ninth place start notwithstanding, fully intends to maximize his
chances in tomorrows race. The green flag flies at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, and Kent
will be there with the hammer down. If you can’t see it in person, meet us back
here to see how that turns out. And keep a sharp eye out for Richard Kent in an
open wheel race near you.
