Douglas Bacon
Douglas Bacon
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Douglas Bacon is a retired American virtual racing driver who last competed in Formula Virtual at the 2017 Chinese V-Prix for FIRST.
He is the only American to ever score a pole position in Formula Virtual, something that he did at the 2013 German V-Prix while driving for Westwood. That pole position was also Westwood's maiden pole position in Formula Virtual. He has also scored the best finish for any American at a V-Prix, with a 4th in the same race and he had also amassed the most career points and starts of any American until Brock Kidd beat his record.
Personal life
Douglas is living with his wife Susan in Odenton. Together they have one child, a girl named Madison (born 2015).
After his active racing career, he began working as a personal trainer for professional athletes in various sports. He is also employed by the FVA.
Career
Early career
Before Formula Virtual was founded, Douglas raced in VNASCAR, where he became champion in 2010. With his switch to formula racing, he wanted to give himself a new challenge.
Formula Virtual (2013-2014, 2016-2017)
Westwood (2013-2014)
2013
Douglas started 2013 at Westwood alongside Italian Romano Agostino and fellow American Keith Boston. In his first year he was able to score 36 points and a highest finish of 4th place in Germany, where he started on pole position too, the first American to do so. He finished the season in 12th place in the standings.
2014
In 2014, Douglas was replaced by Tumo Kinnumen and was demoted to a test driver role. He filled in for three races were he scored 4 points, all of them in France. From Belgium onward he returned to his role as a test driver.
Later that season, Will Hoskins signed for Westwood meaning Douglas was forced out of his role and started 2015 without a seat.
FIRST (2016-2017)
2016
After one year without a seat, Douglas came back to Formula Virtual with the American team FIRST. In 18 races he, like the other drivers for the 2016 new teams, never scored a single point with a best finish of 13th place in Belgium and 4 retirements. Despite the poor performance, Douglas kept his seat at FIRST for 2017. He finished the season placed 23rd in the standings.
2017
2017 started poorly for Douglas, in the first four races he retired twice and scored 0 points while his teammate Arden Hutchinson scored 22 points including a podium in China. After the Chinese V-Prix, Douglas was replaced with Oleksandr Zozulya, who was FIRST's reserve driver. Douglas was demoted to the reserve driver role where he remained for the season. Later that season, he announced that he will return to VNASCAR before retiring after the 2019 season.
Racing record
Career summary
Season | Series | Team Name | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Formula Virtual | Westwood Racing | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 12th |
2014 | Formula Virtual | Westwood Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 24th |
2016 | Formula Virtual | FIRST Motorsport | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23rd |
2017 | Formula Virtual | FIRST Motorsport | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24th |
* Season in progress.
Complete Formula Virtual results
(results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | WDC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Westwood Racing | Westwood WR01 | Ferrari 056 | AUS 6 |
MAL 8 |
BHR Ret |
GBR Ret |
ESP 18 |
CAN 9 |
USA 15 |
FRA Ret |
GER 4 |
AUT 14 |
BEL 8 |
ITA 7 |
CHN 14 |
JPN 12 |
BRA Ret |
MEX 16 |
12th | 36 | ||
2014 | Westwood Racing | Westwood WR02 | Westwood Type 069NA | AUS |
MAL |
BHR |
GBR |
CAN |
USA |
ESP |
POR |
FRA 8 |
GER Ret |
AUT 11 |
BEL |
ITA |
CHN |
JPN |
BRA |
MEX |
24th | 4 | |
2016 | FIRST Motorsport | FIRST Inspire 16 | Ford Zephyr 146 | AUS 22 |
MAL Ret |
CHN Ret |
JPN 19 |
FRA 22 |
ESP 18 |
GBR 22 |
GER Ret |
NED DSQ |
BEL 13 |
ITA 20 |
TUR Ret |
BHR 17 |
CAN 21 |
USA 19 |
MEX 23 |
POR 22 |
BRA 20 |
23rd | 0 |
2017 | FIRST Motorsport | FIRST Transform 17 | Ford Zephyr 168 | AUS Ret |
MAL 11 |
JPN 13 |
CHN Ret |
FRA |
ESP |
GER |
AUT |
GBR |
BEL |
ITA |
POR |
TUR |
BHR |
CAN TD |
USA |
MEX |
BRA |
24th | 0 |
* Season in progress.