The hotter the fire, the stronger the steel. Norwegian driver Henrik Furuseth is beginning to understand the meaning of that old cliché.
As a 16-year-old, Furuseth won the USF2000 National Class Championship in 2012. In 2013, he moved to the USF2000 Championship class and finished 4thoverall. Furuseth couldn’t wait for the 2014 season to get underway
Unfortunately, 2014 has turned out to be more challenging than he ever expected.
“It has been a really tough season for me so far, the toughest one in my career I would say,” said the 18-year-old Furuseth. “I signed with Jay Motorsports and we went into the season with confidence that we could fight for the championship title. Unfortunately, it has not been how we wanted it to be. We have had a lot of problems and I have been taken out in a few races. The team has done a great job giving me a good car. We have shown that we are able to compete for race wins. It hasn’t been easy staying on top of my mental game when the season has been like this. All I can do is focus on the things I can control and stay motivated to do my very best every time I’m in the car. I still have the same confidence in the team and myself and we will push hard for a good end to the season.”
Adversity has always been a part of racing. How a driver deals with it could be the difference between a championship contender and an also-ran. Furuseth, who joined CoForce as a 15-year-old in 2011, understands that his strong relationship with Anders Krohn and Jonny Baker has helped keep him motivated despite the disappointments of a difficult season.
“Back in 2010-11, when I still was racing at home in Norway, I always looked up to Anders and his racing career in the US,” said Furuseth.” I looked at the Mazda Road to Indy and wanted to find out what the options were in America. I got in touch with Anders through the Norwegian Autosport Federation and we arranged for me to fly over to the US and attend one of the CoForce driver camps. That’s where it all started. I have learned so much from the CoForce crew over the years. I have learned about everything from on-track performance and off-track behavior to how to work with media and sponsorship partners. I really would not have been where I am today without all the great help from Anders and Jonny.”
Despite this season’s results, Furuseth has proven that he still has what it takes to succeed in the United States on the Mazda Road to Indy.
“The Mazda Road to Indy really is the best place to be in racing at the moment. With scholarships for the winners on each step, it can make the road to IndyCar a lot easier. I feel like the racing in America is unique in its own way. The atmosphere during the race weekends, the fans - it all makes you feel like a star even when you are racing in USF2000. I am very happy to be where I am right now. Looking down the road, my ultimate goal is to be in IndyCar and race in the Indy 500. Five years from now, I would like to be in IndyCar or really close to it.”
While Furuseth looks to continue his climb up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder in the future, his only goal right now is finding success this weekend when he and the Jay Motorsports team race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car course.
About CoForce:
CoForce International, owned and operated by Anders Krohn and Jonny Baker, is a sports consulting agency that works with drivers and teams to help aid them on the path to the top. With a keen focus on coaching, marketing, branding and communications, physical fitness and more, CoForce is always striving to be the leader in driver & team development and creative business solutions in order to create and maintain growth in all facets of the business.
Racing is a thrilling, but intricate sport where teamwork is an absolutely essential ingredient. That is why we believe a Collective Force Is Always More Powerful Than That Of An Individual.