Altzman: Ford Junior Team Opening Doors in Australia Debut

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

Jenson Altzman believes that being part of the Ford Performance Junior Team is “opening doors” to new opportunities, ahead of his debut in this weekend’s Monochrome GT4 Australia round at The Bend Motorsports Park.

The 23-year-old American rising star will team up with Jack Wallis at the wheel of their family-run team’s Ford Mustang GT4. The opportunity came through by the Australian importers of the Mustang GT4 and series competitor, Andrew and George Miedecke of Miedecke Motorsport.

“What it really came down to was the relationship that I’ve built through Ford Performance with the Miedecke’s,” Altzman told Sportscar365. “Andrew [Miedecke] knew that the Wallis’ wanted to put someone in with Jack to get him some more experience, not only help with some on-track stuff but also help him understand the landscape a little bit.”

“I’m excited to demonstrate what the Junior program prepares its drivers for and what one of us looks like when we’re boots on the grid,” Altzman continued. “Ford Performance has advanced my career with the best year I’ve ever had.

“I’ve been able to return that by helping with car development for global customers. The impact on both sides has made this experience super fulfilling, and it’s been an incredible journey.”

Michelin Pilot Challenge GS title contender Altzman, who became the first driver to race all three of Ford’s GT-based Mustangs when he took part in the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational in a Mustang Dark Horse R, believes there are positives of knowing all three cars, which are based on the same platform.

Altzman is also coming off a five-race IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sprint race campaign in Gradient Racing’s GTD class Mustang GT3.

“It’s pretty substantial that Ford can offer the same platform – the center section of the car is wholly the exact same – that comes off the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Dearborn [Michigan],” he said. “You can sense the similarities and to have the same car in all three steps is confidence inspiring for a driver.

“They all share the same Mustang DNA. It’s so reassuring that we can hit the ground running wherever we compete, no matter what caliber of driver you are.

“It will be a new tire for me [in Australia], but I already know the car so well. I had a similar experience at the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational. We raced on Michelins, like I do in the States, so I was able to jump into a brand-new car with a new tire, and we were right at the front.

“That’s a great case study for the car being the same platform across the board, because it’s easier to jump from one to another, no matter which direction you go.”

This weekend’s event will not only mark Altzman’s racing debut in Australia but his first time ‘Down Under’ altogether.

“I’ve been very fortunate in my 23 years of life to already experience a lot of cool places,” he said. “The fact that I get to hop off that plane, in Australia, with my helmet bag is a huge ‘pinch me’ moment. I never thought I’d have this opportunity in my career, let alone this early.

“The Ford Performance Junior team program has opened doors to a pretty big stage. I’m fortunate to be going over there and representing the Ford and Mustang brand.

“I want to not only make my Ford Performance team proud as far as the engineers and everyone else that’s involved with the program, but I also want to go represent the other Ford Performance Junior drivers as best as I possibly can.’

GT4 Australia Cameo to Potentially Help Bid for Pilot Challenge Title

While currently locked in a fight for the GS drivers’ championship in Pilot Challenge with McCumbee McAleer Racing, Altzman said his upcoming experience in Australia may actually help him in his title quest Stateside.

“It’s a thought I’ve already had and certainly something I’m open to,” he said. “Like Le Mans, I’m interested to see what we can do on a different tire and realize the attack-ability that we can have with the car from the get-go.

“I’m not the one to do the calculations but I’ve taken their setups to Ford Performance and MMR engineers to forecast how similar, on paper, the Mustang GT4 will be compared to what I’m used to.

“The feedback from the engineers has been so valuable in preparation for this race weekend at The Bend. I feel that I can go to anyone in this global program for feedback and support. [Wallis] is trying to obtain the same goals, with just a little bit of a different approach.

“I’m also excited to learn the Pirelli tire, and relay what I’ve learned to help Ford build the tire model at the sim. Being a part of the Ford family means keeping everyone in mind, and I want to make sure it’s promising for any teams that take on that challenge later.”

Source: Sports Car 365