Eric Hedstrom's first-ever drive of an open wheel car!

My friend Jason invited me to a member day at Jeff's track house at Motorsport Ranch in Cresson, Texas (MSR-C) - 1.7 mile clockwise (CW) configuration. 

After improving my personal best (PB) lap time in my Lotus by a few tenths, Jason offered me a go in his 2024 Formula Mazda FMzR ! This car has 208hp and is 1100lbs. How lucky is that?! What a blast! 

The seat and pedals were not set up for me, so the drive was actually pretty painful - I had to pull my legs in to keep them off the brake and gas so my abs and quads were always being used I was all over the place trying to keep  myself from moving (you can hear when my shifting body weight made me push the gas in weird places), most the time I couldn’t see even the tops of the front tires, and the seat dug into my sides pretty hard, too, but who cares!!

It was so awesome to get this opportunity! After my best lap, it started to rain. The rain on my visor completed my quasi F1 car experience. ;)  

After the FMzR lap is my new PB in my Lotus (from earlier that day) to compare!

Driver: Eric Hedstrom

Car: 2008 Lotus Exige-S 240, Lap time: 01.21.552, 82deg F
Less than 2300lbs with driver
Car Modifications:
Wheels - F:16x7 R:17x8
Tires - Hoosier R7 - F: 205/45-16 R:225/45-17 (2 heat cycles)
Additional ~ -1deg camber in front
Ohlin coil overs with Lotus Cup car valving and springs
BWR Sway bar
Homemade front splitter (simply got tired of replacing factory one)
Traction control off. No stability control. ABS = Yes.

Car: 2024 Formula Mazda FMzR, Lap time: 01.16.64, 91deg F, cloudy. (then rain) 
Less than 1300lbs with driver, 208 HP .
Car Modifications: None.
Does not have traction control, stability control, or ABS.
  Jason told me tires were at end of life. 
(You can hear when my shifting body weight made me push the gas in weird places) 

https://www.motorsportranch.com
9012 Performance Court, Cresson, TX 76035

00:00 Intro
00:18 FMzR Lap
03:05 Nice comments (thx!)
03:50 Lotus Exige Lap