Alexander M. Rossi

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• Alan Wong M.D.
• G. Russell Enterprises, LTD.
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Career Highlights

For 2008 Alexander competed in Formula BMW Americas Championship. He drove for (3) time Formula BMW Championship winning team Eurointernational. Alexander won the overall championship in 2008, becoming the first American Formula BMW Champion with 10 wins and 10 poles in the Americas Championship. Alexander leads the series record books with most wins totaling 14 and most poles with 11. Alexander is also the 2008 Formula BMW World Champion after a decisive victory at 'Autodromo Hermanos Rodriiquez' circuit in Mexico City, December 7, 2008. Alexander was awarded a Formula One Test in 2009 for this victory with BMW / Sauber F1 Team.

In 2007 Alexander Rossi has become recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most respected up and coming formula car pilots with a solid future in professional motorsports. At age 16 his resume has become quite vast along with becoming the youngest open wheel champion in US History. In 2007 Rossi finished third overall in rookie campaign of Formula BMW USA with 3 wins and 5 podiums. For 2008 Alexander will pilot again an FB02 Formula BMW for two time Formula BMW championship winning team Euro International. Alexander grabbed the attention of Euro International owner, Antonio Ferrari in 2007 with stellars results as a freshman in the series. For enters his veteran season in Formula BMW Americas with the Euro squad with 62 career formula car starts, 20 wins, 22 poles and 34 podiums.

In 2006 Alexander made history, being the youngest to win the prestigious 2006 Skip Barber Karting Scholarship in its nine year history. He competed against 59 of the top karters in North America, displaying his skill and talent over three days in Sebring, Florida driving Formula Dodge R/T 2000 cars. Rossi was awarded the top level scholarship, of a fully funded national season competing in the 2006 Skip Barber National Championship. If that was not enough to grab the racing industry attention, young Alexander Rossi also became the youngest open wheel champion in US History winning the Skip Barber Western Regional Championship along with Rookie of Year honors. Rossi completed 2006 winning 3 of the 14 Skip Barber National Series races with a total of six podiums and third overall in the championship. Rossi also competed in 11 Formula Renault 1600 races with Odyssey Motorsports from Muliteo, Washington also went on to capture four wins in eleven starts. Rossi finished his first Formula Car Racing Season with a combined 17 wins in 40 starts, 26 total podiums, 21 poles and 5 track records. Not bad for his first year in Formula Car Racing.

In 2005 Alexander became a Karting National Champion winning the IKF Grand National Championship in the 100cc Yamaha class. Other 05 Karting and Formula Car accomplishments include; IKF Region #11 Champion in Jr. Super KT-100 Yamaha class; semi-finalist in the Red Bull F1 American Drivers Search with a top 5 finish overall out of over 2,000 nationwide; at 13 years old finishing 3rd at Portland in 1st Pro Formula Renault race; overall points leader in Skip Barber Western Series and course record holder at Laguna Seca in Barber Dodge R/T 2000 Formula.

Alexander Rossis love of the sport began around the time his father pushed his stroller through the hills Laguna Seca Raceway to watch annual race events that included Champ Car. In fact one of the most cherished family racing photos is of Alexander at 5 years old sitting in and pretending to drive a Skip Barber School Car at Laguna Seca in 1996. This year also holds special memory as young Alexander remembers watching Alex Zanardi make The Pass in the famous corkscrew overtaking Bryan Herta for the Champ Car win.

At 10 years old despite Alexanders eagerness and desire to drive, his parents entered into the racing with their eyes wide open. Knowing of the kind of commitment this sport demands along with sacrifice and possible danger, many family priorities needed to be re-arranged.

It was not long before Alexander showed his parents they were in this for the long haul, taking 2nd overall in 2002 Jim Russell Arrive and Drive Karting Championship including in 100cc Yamaha class. He went to capture the 2003 Jim Russell International Karting Championship for 100cc Yamaha class. In 2004 at age 13, Alexander became the second youngest driver (to John Michael Edwards) ever race a Formula Car finishing 5th in his first race at Laguna Seca in the Skip Barber Western Series Championship Group. In 2004 he was also the youngest at 12 years old to be selected to participate in the Red Bull F1 American Drivers Search, where he finished 8th overall in the West Coast Run-offs out of 108 participants.

2005 became a transition year for Alexander from sprint race karts to race cars, becoming a National Karting Champion along with grabbing the attention of corporate racing giant Red Bull. After finishing 3rd over halfway through the season in his first Pro-Formula Renault race at Portland International Raceway, he went on to capture 3 more podiums before the season ended. With this display of focus and skill at his age, principal of Odyssey Motorsports, Joel Skerlong found Alexander a perfect fit for another Odyssey Motorsports championship in the Formula TR Pro-Series for 2006.

When not behind the wheel of his #16 Odyssey Motorsports Formula Renault Race Car sponsored by; Skip Barber Racing, LLC, G. Russell Enterprises Ltd., BP Landscapes, Inc, Sparco USA, Jim Keil Chevrolet, D and D Fabrication, California Completes Auto Body, Signcrafters and Emagine Designs, Alexander is studying as a 9th grader he continues to maintain his Honor Status in school. Alexander also enjoys staying in top shape and works with a physical trainer several days a week. This includes running, strength training, core and vibration training, cardiovascular, hand and eye coordination and reflexology.

For more information on Alexander Rossi or Team Rossi Motorsports, LLC, write to:

Formula Car Experiences PRIOR TO 2005

January 2005 - Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shoot-Out
The event was fantastic. Alexander made a huge showing being the youngest of 47 drivers. It rained most of the three event days (Fri, Sat. and Sun.) with never a dry track session. This was good for Alexander to hone in his rain line skills. He has go-karted in the rain ,but until this past weekend he lacked seat time driving a race car in the rain. Nevertheless he showed lots of speed from session to session on track. Friday's 1st event was a timed autocross on a wet skid pad driving a Dodge Neon R/T 2000 with a 5 speed manual transmission. The object was to get the car through the narrow, winding course that was defined by orange cones the fastest. Alexander won this event out of 47 drivers in the pouring (did I say pouring)rain. His time was 27.65 seconds. After this event they went on track activities in the Formula Dodge Race Cars for the remainder of the weekend.

Throughout the weekend he was consistently in the top 15 drivers of 47 and finished in the top 10 at event end. He showed a lot speed Sunday morning in the rain which boosted his chances for an award. The 4 scholarship awards given were to much older with the youngest being 16 and oldest being 23. The 23 year old Jordy Vorrath from B.C. Canada won the event and was well deserving. Alexander was very happy with the event and his result even though he did not earn a scholarship. He was more poised, smooth, consistent and faster than most drivers, giving many older drivers with many more years experience fits. His area of improvement coming into the event was learning to drive a race car a the limit in the wet. After 3 days he was doing so showing lap times within a 1 second of the scholarship leaders. He learned it took him one too many extra days to get up to this speed in the rain. The judges would have liked to have seen this on track speed on Saturday when he was still honing the cars limits. At 13 it was quite an accomplishment for such an advanced competition, not to mention the company he was driving against. The impression left was huge on the Skip Barber Organization. They know with his youth and talent he has great future in motor sports. Alexander will be competing in 3 go-karts classes in 2005 along with Regional Formula Car races squeezed in.

December 2004 - Skip Barber Regional Series Race Weekend #3 / Laguna Seca
Being the 3rd youngest driver in the USA to ever race a formula car. On December 11th my finish was 7th in the Championship Group my first weekend racing cars. On December 12th I placed 5th in the Championship Group. Competing against drivers not only older than myself but with more driving experience. Some of my competitors had Fran Am, Formula BMW and Formula Mazda Experience. My performance was also a personal best in lap times. Going into the weekend I thought the instructors would probably place me in the less advanced Sportsman group. I am so happy they did not because it allowed me to raise my game making me a better driver.

December 2004 - Skip Barber Formula R/T Lapping, Practice and Computer Car / Laguna Seca
December 8th I lapped in the rain 4 sessions at Laguna in Formula R/T cars. December 9th I lapped in partial dry track 4 sessions. December 10th I lapped on the dry at speed 3 sessions. Also on December 10th I lapped in Computer Car. This data acquisition not showed me where I could faster but I was able to implement the data and shave 3 seconds off my lap times by Sunday.

November 2004 - Skip Barber Formula School Car - Techniques of Racing
The 28th and 29th I attended the Skip Barber Racing 3 day school called techniques of racing at Laguna Seca Raceway. Because I had completed the 2 day advanced school earlier, I only attended the final 2 days. I did this course to only improve the basic fundamentals skills. I also wanted to be school graduate of Skip Barber Racing in order to qualify for the Karting Scholarship Shootout in January 2005. I was told during the course I was the quickest of the drivers in my class.

November 2004 - Skip Barber Formula R/T Car - Advanced School
The 5th and 6th I attended the Skip Barber Racing advanced 2 day school. This was to develop the necessary transition skills from karts to cars needed for racing the SBRR at Laguna Seca. Over the two days my performance impressed a number of the instructors whose encouragement led to my entry into the Scholarship Shootout.

October 2004 - ESPN Russell Racing - Techniques of Racing
The 18th, 19th and 20th I attended the 3 day techniques of racing course at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma. This was the 2nd time I had attended this course and did so wanting to further the fundamental skills of heel and toe and getting used to the weight transition under braking from karts to cars. The 1st day and ½ of the second day were wet conditions. I am a consistent and smooth driver and enjoy driving in the rain. My performance in rain and the dry over the 3 days earned me the quickest in my class.

August 2004 - ESPN Russell Racing - Techniques of Racing
The 16th, 17th and 18th I attended my first 3 driving school the techniques of racing course at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma. I had won this 3 day school after winning the 2003' 100cc karting championship in Jim Russell Championship Series. I was also preparing for the Red Bull West Coast Run-Offs which I was the youngest qualifier in the United States.

Other Car Experiences

November 2004 - Skip Barber Car Control Clinic
November 18th attended ½ day car control clinic at Laguna Seca Raceway. I was behind the wheel of 4 different vehicles on skid pad in the wet and dry. I drove a formula race car, Dodge pick-up truck, Dodge Viper GTS and Dodge R/T Neon. It taught me the fundamental skills of slip angles, oversteer, understeer, threshold braking along with limited and increased traction due to surface conditions. This was great stuff. I want to do this again.

Karting Experience

2004 ESPN Russell Karting Championship Series - 2nd in Championship KT-100cc Yamaha
EMMICK CHASSIS

This championship was at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma. It was a six race championship series. Finishing 2nd was tough this go around after being last years defending champion. I might have won the championship if it had not been for contact in the first race taking me from 2nd to 5th place finish. Increased competition was no excuse as ESPN Russell Karting is promoting and increasing entrants. My father says this is how gifted and talented individuals build good character. He would quote " the heart of any true champion is not always reflected in the hardware but the heart." My Finishes were; 1 win, 2 second, 2 thirds and 1 fifth. The highlight of the season was in July's race when I qualified pole but un-fortunately had contact in the 1st turn of the heat race causing my valve stem on my wheel to snap off. After not finishing the heat race I had to start 19th on the grid. Knowing the championship was in jeopardy if I did not win I drove the best race of my life finishing 2nd and setting fast lap.

2004 Red Bull American Drivers Search / West Coast Run offs
August 24th - 26th:This was a 3 day event that also took place at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma. We competed in a restricted RM1 Rotax Kart. Being the youngest at age 12 of 108 drivers to qualify I had to prove myself. I was allowed to compete by Maxim Management, Inc. even though the age requirement was 13-17 years. I was very happy with my performance making the final cut of 25 drivers on day three. I qualified 12th for the final race and had to finish 6th or better to move on to Sebring, Fl. for the Semi-Final event in Skip Barber Formula RT/2000 cars. The top 15 out of 25 in this final race qualified within 5/10th of a second from each other. By the end of the 3rd lap of a 25 lap final I was in fourth place and working on third. On lap 4 the 5th place driver and I were dicing and made contact causing us both to spin off track. By the time I re-entered the race I was in 17th position. I drove the wheels off the kart from that point forward finishing 8th. After the event I was disappointed in the fact that I was in a good position to move on to Sebring, but again un-fortunate situations arose. I was again reminded that this was the year of character building. I also set the 3rd fastest lap time for the entire event and showed that a 12 year can compete with the older more experienced. I feel the overall showing and good exposure I received for out weighed any misfortune.

2004 Race Place Motorsports / Indoor Karting
April 1st 2004 in preparation for Red Bull Run-Offs I needed to qualify at an Indoor karting facility. Race Place Motorsports (RPM) is where I qualified and hold track record for Old No Fear Track configuration by 3/10ths of a second. I was the first of 24 drivers between the age of 13- 17 (I was 12) to qualify for the final qualifying elimination round. June 8th was the final elimination round at RPM with the top 4 moving on to Red Bull West Coast Run-Offs to compete against all qualified indoor karters from the Western U.S. I finished second overall that ensuring the run-offs.

2004 X-Karts Karting Series Races - 125cc Jr. Rotax and Kt-100cc Yamaha
EMMICK CHASSIS

August 1st Reno, NV - Qualified Pole for 125cc Jr. Rotax and 100cc Yamaha. Finished 1st Place in both main events.

September 25th Las Vegas, NV - Qualified Pole for 125cc Jr. Rotax and 100cc Yamaha. Finished 1st place in both main events.

2004 IKF Region 11 and 7 Karting Series Races - KT-100cc Yamaha
EMMICK CHASSIS

Tracks: Region 11- Stockton, Reno, Medford, Atwater, Redding and Davis / Region 7 - Las Vegas
These races were run from February 2004 through October of 2004. It was a heart breaking year in post tech. Team Rossi along with Emmick Race Karts and myself did not have a problem winning races on the track but struggled in post tech with a series un-fortunate disappointments. I was constantly reminded that these were not a reflection of my ability and speed but they were rather just racing incidents that taught me how a to be a great loser. My dad also kept reminded me that anyone can be a great winner, but true winners learn how to lose graciously. Being as competitive as I am this was my greatest challenge of 2004 along with one of my greatest learning experiences about life.

The following is how it shook down:

Finishes: Region 11 Nor-Cal
Atwater - February 28th - 5th place finish
Stockton - March 20th - 2nd place finish (Penalty Post Race due to contact- given last place points)
Redding - April 24th - 4th place finish
Medford - May 29th - 1st place finish (DQ in post tech -left front tire too soft) - no points given
Davis - June 12th - 2nd place finish
Reno - July 24th - 1st place finish (DQ in post tech - after
Checkered flag 2nd place driver made contact with My kart causing exhaust can to come loose before Entering tech inspection. After discussions it was not Allowed race official even though it was a post race Incident)
Atwater - August 21st - DNS - Testing for Red Bull Run offs

Finishes: Region 7 / Southern California
Las Vegas - October 2nd - 2nd place finish
This was an important win considering it was my 1st IKF region #7 race that had different tire compounds and chassis tuning that I would normally run in region #11.

2004 Nor-Cal Series Karting Club Races - KT-100cc Yamaha
EMMICK CHASSIS

Tracks: Stockton CA, Prairie City CA, Medford OR and Davis, CA
These races were various club races used for testing data and gathering more seat time for myself. It also allowed my father and driver coach Erik Bartelero to get the karts and me more race ready. Out the 7 club races entered and raced the following were my finishes in main events; 5 wins, 1 third and 1 sixth.

2003 - 2004 Jim Russell Winter Series - 1st in Championship - KT 100cc Yamaha
EMMICK CHASSIS

This winter event took place at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma. It was a 3 race series that I won overall championship. 2 Wins and 1 DQ (weight fell of kart - did not make post tech weight)

2003 Jim Russell Karting Championship Series - 1st in Championship Series KT-100cc Yamaha
ALPHA CHASSIS

This championship was at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma. It was a six race championship series. I won the championship with 4 wins and 2 second place finishes. I also earned a $3,000 scholarship for a three day racing school in a formula car with Jim Russell Racing.

2003 IKF Region Nor-Cal / 11 Karting Series Races - KT-100cc Yamaha
ALPHA CHASSIS

Tracks: Dixon, Stockton, Reno, Medford, Atwater, Redding and Davis
This was my first full race series with my own race craft equipment and tools. It was a 7 race series. We had some factory support from Alpha Karts along with my driver coach Wes Phillips and my father. My father worked tirelessly to learn the in and outs of how to be fast on new tracks, chassis and motor packages. I finished all races with an overall 10th in the championship. The Highlight of my 1st year in IKF Nor-Cal was a 6th place finish in Medford, Oregon.

2003 Nor-Cal Series Karting Club Races - KT-100cc Yamaha
ALPHA CHASSIS AND EMMICK CHASSIS

Tracks: Dixon, Stockton, Prairie City, Reno, Medford, Atwater, Redding and Davis
These were testing race for my first full season with my own ride and equipment. I learned so much this year. Not only how to drive different tracks but rather how to deliver feedback and execute driver development critique. Out the 12 club races entered and raced the following were my finishes in main events; 1 win, 1 second, 1 third, 1 fourth, 1 fifth, 3 sixth, 1 eighth, 1 ninth, 1 fourteenth and 1 twenty-second. This was definitely a grass roots building year for my father and myself. We would not trade 2003 and the knowledge we gained for anything. We were at the track every weekend paving the way for my future.

2002 Jim Russell Karting Arrive and Drive Championship Series - 2nd overall in Championship Series / Cadet Karts
This took place at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma.This was my rookie year and my first experience racing anything. It was a 6 race championship series. I attended the final 5 races as my racing career started with 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds and 1 fourth place finish. I feel if I had made the first race I could have won this championship as well. Oh well!! Cannot be bothered with the "if's". We all know that is F1 spelled backwards.