The success of any professional sporting team relies heavily upon harmonisation and dedication. Team Founds Racing acknowledge this and the success already achieved proves they have grasped this winning combination. The team has established itself through experience and ability and are recognised as one of the most exciting and up and coming prospects for the future.
The Team has been built on a family tradition of Sidecar racing, which has stemmed from when the current Team Manager, Des Founds and father of Chris and Pete, started racing in the late 60's. With over 30 years of successful racing experience, including top three finishes at the Isle of Man TT Races, Des is now guiding this talented young pairing towards World class success of their own.
Chris and Pete started their racing careers by passengering for other drivers, at British and World Championship levels. This provided a good grounding to establish their-own team. So, in 1995 the existing Formula 2 sidecar that Des was racing was passed onto the boys, to compete at Club and National level. The boys went on to finish in the top three of the Cheshire Club Championship and then won the Ace of Aintree Championship in 1997. Following a year out for Chris to secure a professional BEng (Hons) Degree, in Civil Engineering and for Pete to gain a HND in Mechanical Engineering, the boys went on to finish 8th in the British Championship in 1998.
The same year also saw them compete for the first time at the Isle of Man TT, with a creditable 14th place and a +101 mph lap. At the end of 1999, the Team secured enough funds to purchase a F1 Grand Prix Sidecar, whilst also campaigning the existing F2 machine. After a 9th at the Isle of Man TT, on the F2 machine and a lap record and 3rd at Gedinne in Belgium, on the F1 bike, the boys took the decision to focus efforts on a single bike. So, the F2 machine was sold to a French team and hence "Team Founds Racing - France" was born, with Pierre and Maryse Duval.
The 2000 season saw the Team compete
in the European Championships, winning the British Round, at Croft, and finishing
4th overall.
This then gave the Team an opportunity to be a "wild card" entry into the remaining three rounds of the World Championship. Finishing 12th in each round and 20th in the World, the Team decided to enter the full World Championship in 2001. And so the story continues………………
