Track Knowledge, Home Cooking Combine to Boost James French at Road America

If any driver has a home track advantage next weekend at Road America, it’s Performance Tech Motorsports’ James French. The 24-year-old native of nearby Sheboygan, Wisconsin began attending races at the circuit at an early age – and quickly became a participant.

“I went to my first race there when I was a baby,” French said. “My dad was racing back then, and I watched him. My dad first raced AMA bikes and then switched to cars. He was running Formula Atlantic when I was seven or eight. By that time, I was karting out there, so there were weekends when we got to share the track – he was on the big track, I was on the karting track. That was pretty cool.”

Brian French, James’ father, was the 1999 SCCA National Champion in Formula Atlantic. He remains active in the sport, competing in vintage events, where father and son battle it out in classic Formula One machinery. James drives a 1997 Jordan 197, while his dad competes in a 1997 Benetton. Father and son also drive C Sports Racers (CSR) in SCCA Majors competition.

But James French’s main ride is the No. 38 Ric-Man Construction / Children's Miracle Network / NeuroSpine Institute / Fer-Pal Infrastructure ORECA FLM09 he co-drives with Kyle Marcelli. The pair are currently fifth in the Prototype Challenge (PC) standings, having placed second at Watkins Glen among three total podium finishes. A year ago, French captured his class-leading third TOTAL Pole Award at Road America before joining Conor Daly in a second-place finish, matching his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship career best set at VIRginia International Raceway in 2014.

French has been a frequent competitor at the scenic circuit in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine since then. Over the course of just one month, he prepared for the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase by driving in Indy Lights, vintage Formula One and SCCA Majors competition – all at Road America.

“It certainly helps having so many race weekends only 20 minutes from home,” French said. “The weekend before Lime Rock we raced in the vintage cars – the Formula One car is awesome – and weekend after Lime Rock we will be running the CSR in an SCCA Major. Getting lots of track time there helps, driving in different cars, that keeps me really familiar with everything.”

In late June, French tried a different form of competition, Indy Lights, where he finished eighth in both races driving for Belardi Auto Racing.

“It was very challenging,” said French, who qualified 12th for both races. “The level of racing was very intense. A lot of close racing which was cut-throat, every lap. Definitely a good learning experience, spending a lot of time outside my comfort zone.”

French made his pro debut at Road America in 2011, finishing seventh in the PC class in an ALMS race. The following year, he made it to the podium, driving for MBRP Performance.

“It was actually co-driving with Kyle – and he didn’t even remember it when I brought it up,” said French. “At one point, it looked like we were going to win, but a wheel bearing was failing. Kyle still was able to bring it home in third.”

With all of his experience growing up spectating and competing at Road America, what are the keys to success at the 4.048-mile circuit?

“That place is all about momentum and flowing speed, because there are so many long straightaways,” French said. “Honestly, Road America is a mix of everything. There’s braking, high-speed corners, and relatively low-speed corners. It’s a really hard track to get the car set up for, because there’s everything. It’s finding that right compromise in the setup. It’s important to find speed through the high-speed corners: (Turn) 7, the Carrousel, (Turn) 13, try to flow as much speed through there.”

French also has advice for first-time spectators at Road America:

“Basically, the braking zone for Turn 5 is always my favorite,” he said. “That’s where the most passing goes down, usually the most crashes – that’s not the reason to watch – but that’s usually where stuff happens. They’ve also just added a new section on the inside of Turn 12, Canada Corner. They took out some of the trees there and added a nice path, that’s a nice paved area to watch. There’s also the section between the Kink and Turn 12 is really cool as well. It’s high speed and really close to the track.

“Then head down to Siebkens in downtown Elkhart Lake - that’s a fun place to hang out and enjoy a cool beverage. My favorite place to get food out there is Off the Rail for lunch, a delicious little place, or Lake Street Café. But honestly, I usually just go home for my mom’s dinner – I live only 20 minutes away!”