Photo: Gavin Baker Photography
USF Pro 2000 title contender Joel Granfors has revealed he will skip the final two rounds of the season at Circuit of the Americas and Portland.
The 18-year-old Swede won the Formula Renault 1.6-spec Formula Nordic championship in 2020, came fourth in British Formula 4 in 2021 and was GB3 runner-up last year.
He moved his career over to America at the start of 2023, joining Exclusive Autosport in the third tier USFP2000 series. It took two races to notch up a fastest lap, three to make the podium and six to earn his first win – achieved in remarkable circumstances from 18th on the grid on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.
Granfors followed that up by finishing second in his first ever race on an oval, but has not visited the podium in the six races since and has slipped from second to fifth in the standings. With five races still to go he sits 12 points from the championship runner-up spot, but a massive 93 behind points leader Myles Rowe. By missing the last two rounds, the first of which is this weekend, he could fall outside of the top 10 in the standings.
“Of course it would have been nice to close out the season, but all things considered, this is the right decision for the longer term,” said Granfors. “We have thought it through carefully together with the team and everybody else who needed to be involved in this decision, and we all share the common view that this is for the greater good. I wish the team all the best for these final races.”
“I’m here to race, but more than anything I’m here to win. This will put me in the best possible position to try and do that in 2024 and beyond.”
Exclusive’s team owner Michael Duncalfe added: “It’s been an honour having Joel pilot the #92 Exclusive Autosport with Corpay car this year in the USFP2000 championship. We collectively feel that it’s in everyone’s best interest at this time to re-focus efforts and resource towards the 2024 season. Consequently, Joel will unfortunately not be at COTA or Portland, but we’re all looking forward to seeing him back in the car in the off-season.”