Karting standout Kyle Kirkwood has regularly stepped up and performed in some of the world’s most competitive races.  This weekend will be an entirely new challenge as the native Floridian makes his car racing debut at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR).

Kirkwood, who got his first ever taste of speed in a visit to PBIR (then known as Moroso) when he was all of five years old, will return to the site of his first exposure to the sport as he is set to make his debut in the F1600 Formula F Championship Series this weekend.

The F1600 Series is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing and is modeled after the legendary Formula Ford Series. It serves as a launching pad into the top-level of motorsports and features a 21-race season that visits some of the all-time great American tracks, including historic Watkins Glen International, Road Atlanta and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Not only does this weekend mark a coming home for Kirkwood as he returns to the 2.034-mile, 11-turn road course at PBIR, but it is also close to home as the young phenom lives just down the road in Jupiter.

“I’m very excited about the weekend and it is very convenient for it to be so close to home!” said Kirkwood, who is hoping to make a big impression as he and his family are working to develop the budget needed to run the full season. “I want to learn as much as I can about these F1600 cars and make a good start to the season. I have raced on the kart track here hundreds of times, but this will be my first time driving the car track so I’m excited to finally get to race on it! This is a big weekend for me and having friends and family here at the race will hopefully help me have a really good event.”While the budget might not yet be in place, the talent and background certainly is. Kirkwood began racing karts at just five years old—shortly after that first visit to PBIR— and has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments in the karting ranks. The move to car racing is a natural progression for Kirkwood, who looks to work his way up the racing ladder.
Kirkwood has already made a name for himself in the karting world having been recognized for his talent behind the wheel when he was 13 years old by NASCAR’s AJ Allmendinger and received the prestigious Walldinger Racing/ Shell-Pennzoil Karting Scholarship. He has won several Florida Winter Tour championships and became a member of Team USA in 2013. That year, he became the first American to qualify on the pole and start a pre-final event from the pole in the Rotax Grand Finals held in New Orleans. He also closed out the year by winning the SKUSA Super Nationals in Las Vegas as a rookie S5 driver and was then named to the MAXSpeed Group Driver Advancement Program.

Kirkwood will take his first laps in the Chastain Motorsports Mygale/Honda machine at his home track of Palm Beach International Raceway as the F1600 Formula F Championship kicks off with the Winter Exhibition (non points) event this weekend.

“I’m extremely honored and excited to have the opportunity to race in F1600 with Chastain Motorsports this year,” said Kirkwood. “Everyone on the team is very professional and I look forward to a competitive and successful 2015 season.”

Kirkwood will look to get acclimated to the new machinery through 10 rounds of practice on Thursday and Friday. Qualifying will take place Saturday morning ahead of a 30-minute feature race which is set to go green at 12:45 PM ET.

In addition to his F1600 schedule, Kirkwood will remain busy as he also continues in karting as a sponsored driver with Ocala Gran Prix.

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