ROTAX karting competitor takes a step towards climbing the development ladder to Champ Car source: champcar.ws Every racing dream starts with a Go-Kart and builds from that first step. It doesn't matter if you are Paul Tracy, Sebastien Bourdais or Graham Rahal, virtually every driver hones their skills at a young age by competing in go-karting. The same is true for up and coming driver Michel Self of Park City, Utah who will have a chance to step out of his race kart and up to the next level, as he was awarded the 2007 Champ Car ROTAX Career Enhancement Scholarship which will provide him with a complete season of racing in one of the Skip Barber Regional Racing Series. "I would like to thank Champ Car, Skip Barber and ROTAX for giving me this opportunity," Self stated as he accepted the scholarship. "It's an honor and a great privilege to have received this award and I look forward to competing in the Skip Barber series and performing at my best." Michael Self, a sixteen year old racing prodigy, is a junior at Park City High School. He started racing at age eleven in cadet karts at a local level and was successful from the start, finishing 3rd overall in a local track championship and taking home their Rookie-of-the-Year award. By age 12, he started racing in the Junior ROTAX class, showing his talent by finishing second in the championship while competing against kids who had over 5 years of experience. The following year, Self won the 2004 Utah State Championship in the Junior ROTAX class and started adding to his trophy case as he continued to excel in the series. In 2006, he finished 3rd at the ROTAX Champ Car Grand Nationals at Road America, which allowed him to compete in the 2006 ROTAX World Finals in Portugal. Most recently, Self turned heads at the 2007 Champ Car ROTAX Grand Nationals in Centennial, Colorado, where he overcame a 31st qualifying spot to finish in 6th position. Self was chosen by a panel of judges, including Champ Car driver Justin Wilson who witnessed his amazing display of driving at the 2007 Champ Car ROTAX Grand Nationals. While, the panel of judges were impressed with Self's driving throughout the Grand National competition, it was his desire, tenacity and commitment, both on the track and off, that distinguished him from more than 60 other competitors in his class. The scholarship allows Self to compete in six double race weekends including Friday practice in one of four different Skip Barber Regional Championships -- East, Midwest, South or West.
Michael Self awarded Champ Car ROTAX Career Enhancement Scholarship