Toronto, Ontario (01 April, 2009) - Canada's James Hinchcliffe will make his race debut in the Firestone Indy Lights Championship this weekend as the 2009 title-fight gets underway with a double-header opening round on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th April.
The 22-year-old Ontario native, competing for three-time title winning outfit Sam Schmidt Motorsports, is no stranger to victory circle and the podium but now leading laps this season in Indy Lights will have an extra meaning for the Canadian.
Hinchcliffe announced today his alignment with the Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation of Canada (WMFC) and pledges to donate five dollars for every lap the #7 Hinchtown.Com entry leads throughout his entire 2009 campaign. The selection of the WMFC was an easy one for Hinchcliffe as it holds special meaning for him.
"Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a very rare blood cancer that my grandfather passed away from over ten years ago. Being such a rare condition it doesn't get a ton of attention and I have always wanted to do something to help the foundation raise money to find new treatments," Hinchcliffe commented.
He will carry the WMFC logo on his Indy Lights car this season while including a link to a WMFC donation page on his website - www.hinchtown.com.
When asked if the partnership will lead to fans' donation, James said; "I certainly hope so! For me it was only ever the last lap that was important but now every other lap out front will mean something for everyone with WM. I wanted to do this, to give something to the Foundation and if anyone else ends up making a donation as a result, no matter how big or how small, that would just be an incredible bonus." To join the race to find a cure, click here to download a donation form that you can mail to the WMFC.
Further information on WM can be found on the Foundation's website - www.wmfc.ca and at www.iwmf.com
Founded by Sam Schmidt in 2001, Sam Schmidt Motorsports has won more races in Firestone Indy Lights Championship history than anyone else, recording 26 victories and three driver championships.
The 2009 Indy Lights Championship will be broadcast on VERSUS. For a full broadcast schedule go to www.indycar.com/indylights.
Postscript: The WM cause is important to many in the Hinchcliffe family - James' mother, Arlene Hinchcliffe, previously served as a Trustee for the IWMF and currently serves as the President of the WMFC.
