GROUP-A RACING ENTERS USF2000 WITH TATUUS USF-17’S
Lindenhurst, New York – Group-A Racing is pleased to announce its entry into the 2017 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda with the purchase of new Tatuus USF-17’s. The teams’ return to USF2000 comes in a new era with the debut of the new state-of-the-art Tatuus USF-17 with which the team is planning a two to three car effort, along with a one to two car program in the National Class using the previous generation Van Diemen.
Group-A Racing is a Long Island-based team started in 1996 when it originally competed in the USF2000 Series. It’s debut took place at the now defunct Walt Disney World Speedway competing against names like Sam Schmidt, Steve Knapp, Augie Pabst, Alex Barron, Jason Bright, Sam Hornish Jr and many others. The team started on the outside pole in a field that had 67 entries, and led the majority of the race.
Since then the team has gone on to have a lot of success in both open wheel and sports car series, winning races and having championship efforts. The team is filled with a very experienced staff such as lead engineer Ian Brown, who has spent the past 30 years in race engineering mainly in IndyCar, Australian V8 Supercars and Indy Lights, and working for some of the biggest names such as Andretti, Holden and Herta.
The team has taken delivery of its first USF-17 car this week, and have chosen to skip the Chris Griffis test next week to make sure nothing is rushed and everything is properly prepared for the first outing. The team will start testing with potential drivers the beginning of November at its winter base in MSR Houston.
“I am really excited about returning to USF2000 next season,” said team manager Jonathan Scarallo. “The series has so much momentum behind it with all the support from INDYCAR, Mazda and Cooper Tire plus you have this beautiful new USF-17 car. The field is going to be massive with some incredible competition. I am really looking forward to giving our drivers all the tools they need on and off the track to go win races and hopefully a championship, earning the Mazda scholarship to Pro Mazda.”
The team will be based at MSR Houston for the winter giving them about 15-20 potential test days a month and drastically reducing cost. Drivers interested in testing and racing with the team can contact them via GroupARacing@aol.com
Source: Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda PR
TSO Ladder Note #1:
Group-A Racing will be a fun AND professional addition to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda series in 2017. Based on Long Island, New York, there is no doubt that the Scarallo family will bring a New York flavor to the paddock (and that’s not a bad thing). Led by “Poppa Joe” and Jonathan Scarallo, the team has been in the racing game for two decades, including stints in USF2000, Trans-Am, Pirelli World Challenge, F2000 Championship Series, Formula Lites and the F4 United States Championship Powered by Honda.
Joe Scarallo Sr. uses his business experience, founding and running Group-A /Autotrend Wheels and Tires, since 1983, to make sure the team has the best personal and equipment available.
Team manager Jonathan Scarallo, grew up at the race track and was a successful racer as well, winning 13 times and stating on the podium 30 times in various F2000 series between 2007 and 2010.
With experienced IndyCar level engineer Ian Brown developing the brand new Mazda powered Tatuus USF-17 for the team, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them at the pointy end of the grid when the season begins at St. Petersburg in March.
TSO Ladder Note #2: We found video of the start of the above mentioned 1996 USF2000 race from Walt Disney World. As noted there was a good field of future Indy Car and Mazda Road To Indy presented by Cooper Tire drivers and team owners. Also of note was the commentary team that featured Vince Welch on play-by-play and Donald Davidson.
You can follow Group-A Racing on the following social media channels.