Connor De Phillippi
Encyclopedia
Connor De Phillippi is an American
racing driver from San Clemente, California
.
De Phillippi began karting at the age of 5 years old and by the time he was 14 years old, he had won 21 national titles, including the only person to ever win 4 SKUSA SuperNational titles. Additionally, at the age of 14, De Phillippi was selected to participate in the Brazilian Granja Viana 500 endurance kart race for Team USA.
In 2008, he made the move from karting to open wheel racing, winning the Skip Barber West Coast Series championship and Rookie of the Year honors. De Phillippi also participated in the Skip Barber National Series Racing Shoot-out, beating out 50 other competitors and earning him a full ride in the Skip Barber National Championship
for 2008 as part of the MAZDASPEED Driver Development Program. Connor finished sixth in his first national open wheel series and was awarded the Rising Star Award by eFormulaCarNews.com and their viewers.
In 2009, he won the Skip Barber National Championship, winning a record seven of the fourteen races. He also participated in the Formula Ford Festival
at Silverstone Circuit
after winning the Team USA Scholarship, where he became the youngest and only second American to ever win the event. De Phillippi also won the 2009 Silver State Championship in the U.S. Legends Series.
In 2010, De Phillippi moved up to the Star Mazda Championship for JDC Motorsports, finishing third in points and capturing his first victory in the final race of the season at Road America
and Rookie of the Year honors.
In 2011
, Connor returned to the Star Mazda Championship, driving this time for former IndyCar Series
owner Dale Pelfey and his revitalized Team Pelfrey. He started off the 2011 season opener just as he finished the 2010 season, with a win at St. Petersburg and also won the highly coveted Night Before the 500 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. De Phillippi also set the track record (19.999 seconds), started from pole and led all 85 laps. He was the runner up in the championship to Tristan Vautier
by twenty-five points, capturing four wins on the season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
racing driver from San Clemente, California
San Clemente, California
San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
.
De Phillippi began karting at the age of 5 years old and by the time he was 14 years old, he had won 21 national titles, including the only person to ever win 4 SKUSA SuperNational titles. Additionally, at the age of 14, De Phillippi was selected to participate in the Brazilian Granja Viana 500 endurance kart race for Team USA.
In 2008, he made the move from karting to open wheel racing, winning the Skip Barber West Coast Series championship and Rookie of the Year honors. De Phillippi also participated in the Skip Barber National Series Racing Shoot-out, beating out 50 other competitors and earning him a full ride in the Skip Barber National Championship
Skip Barber National Championship
The BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda is an entry-level professional race series run by Skip Barber Racing School. Initially formed as the Formula Dodge National Championship, Since 2006 the Skip Barber National has been the initial open-wheel race series in the MAZDASPEED...
for 2008 as part of the MAZDASPEED Driver Development Program. Connor finished sixth in his first national open wheel series and was awarded the Rising Star Award by eFormulaCarNews.com and their viewers.
In 2009, he won the Skip Barber National Championship, winning a record seven of the fourteen races. He also participated in the Formula Ford Festival
Formula Ford Festival
The Formula Ford Festival is an annual meeting of Ford powered single seat racing cars which is held at the end of the British racing season, at the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in the county of Kent, in Southern England...
at Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
after winning the Team USA Scholarship, where he became the youngest and only second American to ever win the event. De Phillippi also won the 2009 Silver State Championship in the U.S. Legends Series.
In 2010, De Phillippi moved up to the Star Mazda Championship for JDC Motorsports, finishing third in points and capturing his first victory in the final race of the season at Road America
Road America
Road America is a road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series , American Le Mans , SCCA Speed World Challenge Series, ASRA, and AMA Superbike series.- Current track and...
and Rookie of the Year honors.
In 2011
2011 Star Mazda Championship season
The 2011 Star Mazda Championship season was the 13th Star Mazda Championship season and the second under the Mazda Road to Indy program. As part of the program's expansion, the series champion will be provided a scholarship to advance into Firestone Indy Lights for the 2012 season...
, Connor returned to the Star Mazda Championship, driving this time for former IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
owner Dale Pelfey and his revitalized Team Pelfrey. He started off the 2011 season opener just as he finished the 2010 season, with a win at St. Petersburg and also won the highly coveted Night Before the 500 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. De Phillippi also set the track record (19.999 seconds), started from pole and led all 85 laps. He was the runner up in the championship to Tristan Vautier
Tristan Vautier
Tristan Vautier is a French racing driver.-Formula Renault:Vautier began his career in the French Formula Renault Campus series in 2006, where he finished runner-up. He moved up to the main Championnat de France Formula Renault 2.0 series in 2007, finishing fourth, also competing in some events in...
by twenty-five points, capturing four wins on the season.