MATHIASEN'S MISSION ACCOMPLISHED IN 2008 SEASON

In 2005, Ray and Leslie Mathiasen decided to take their passion for motorsports to the next level and formed their own race team. From modest beginnings with a single car in the C-2 Formula Atlantic category, Ray envisioned a step by step climb to the top by methodically adding key championship caliber personnel and channeling the resources necessary into building one of the finest race teams in the series. While the goal was formidable, the fledgling team won the Atlantic C2 championship in its first year, and earned 54 Championship points in its first full season with the new Swift 016 chassis in 2006. The focus was clear; to determine what Mathiasen Motorsports had as a team, and to do whatever it took to realize the mission of consistently running at the front of the field while retaining their team's family-oriented team chemistry.

In 2007, championship winning race engineer Alain Clarinval joined the team with a mandate to improve every aspect of its performance. He made an immediate impact by adding key engineering and support personnel, and by moving the team's headquarters from Southern California to a new racing facility in Brownsburg, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis. The team worked hard to achieve the primary objectives of placing a reliable and consistent performing car on track at every race, and consistently earning top ten results. The team responded with six top 10 finishes, 112 championship points, and the Sherwin-Williams "It's All in the Finish" award for the best presented car in the series. Mathiasen Motorsports was clearly on track and building for the future.

Prior to the start of the 2008 season, the Mathiasen mission kicked into high gear with the focus shifting to consistently achieving competitive results, podium finishes and outright race wins as the next step in the team's development. While the team tested several outstanding drivers prior to the start of the season, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place with the signing of Jonathan Bomarito, the former F2000 Zetec Champion and no stranger to winning in the Atlantic series.

Bomarito's pairing with Alain Clarinval and the rest of the Mathiasen team produced immediate excitement in pre-season testing at MSR Houston, and that momentum carried straight into the season opener at Long Beach where the team qualified on pole and built a dominant lead in the race until a gearbox problem at the halfway point dropped Jonathan back to a 5th place finish. After a disappointing engine failure at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Round Two and weather-related issues during qualifying during Round Three at Mont Tremblant, Jonathan turned things around and charged from 13th on the grid to a 6th place race finish on a notoriously difficult track for passing.

These early season struggles underlined the fact that taking the step to podium finishes would not be an easy one, and only made the team's focus clearer. As the series moved to the first doubleheader weekend in Edmonton, Canada, the Mathiasen team hoped that their misfortunes were behind them and that their racing luck would change, enabling the team to demonstrate the true pace that their hard work deserved.

Left: Team principal Ray Mathiasen sends Jonathan Bomarito off to victory in Edmonton.

The fast Edmonton airport circuit proved to be the turning point, as Mathiasen Motorsports scored the team's first Formula Atlantic victory (other than in the C-2 category) for Ray and Leslie in the first race, followed by a strong 4th place finish in race two of the doubleheader. The team began its climb towards the top of the standings as the series moved on to Road America for the second doubleheader weekend on the storied 4 mile road course. Mathiasen clearly had come into its own, again winning the first race and earning a hard fought 2nd place in race two to challenge for the championship points lead.

Next up was the street race at Trois Rivieres, Canada, where Atlantic series had not run for many years. Jonathan and Mathiasen Motorsports were now in full stride, decisively taking the pole, leading the race wire to wire for the team's third victory in five races, and moving into the points lead for the Atlantic Championship after seven races.

By mid season, Mathiasen Motorsports had clearly emerged as the team to beat, and carried its momentum to two new venues in New Jersey and Utah focused upon continuing to lead the championship. While struggles during qualifying in New Jersey were overcome by another solid performance during the race, the competition in Formula Atlantic is among the toughest of any open wheel racing series on the planet and the team left for Utah with their points lead narrowed. The early sessions at the beautiful Miller Motorsports Park facility outside Salt Lake City saw the Mathiasen entry back at the top of the time charts, however the team struggled in qualifying. Bomarito made an excellent start at the beginning of the race, moving from 9th place on the grid to 6th place at the finish - earning an additional championship point for improving the most positions - and headed into the final event of the season with the points lead and looking to close out the championship.

The final round of the 2008 season was decided on the Road Atlanta road course during the Petit Le Mans weekend. Big crowds, lots of excitement and a three way battle for the championship made for high drama. Again, the early sessions found championship point leader Mathiasen right where they needed to be to fight for the title but as the event unfolded, it was not to be. After qualifying 5th, Bomarito settled into a strong 4th at the start and looked to be set for a run to the championship when engine issues forced the Mathiasen entry into the pits and out of the event after only a handful of laps. Although this second engine issue of the season left Mathiasen Motorsports a mere 17 points shy of the title, the team enjoyed its best season to date with a strong 2nd place finish in the championship and a sterling record of the most victories, pole positions and laps led in comparison to all other competitors. Team driver Jonathan Bomarito enjoyed his best season in the Atlantic series earning 228 points. In addition, Ray and Leslie Mathiasen were honored by the series with the prestigious Team Owners of the Year Award. Mission Accomplished in 2008.

Photo: Augie Hermenegildo, Mathiasen Motorsports