By Steve Wittich

In 2018, Indy Lights Championship winning team Carlin, took a hiatus from the top level of the American Open Wheel Ladder to focus on their freshman Verizon IndyCar Series program.

TSO Ladder had a chance to catch up with Trevor Carlin today, and he confirmed that the Delray Beach, Fla. based team is getting close to rejoining the Indy Lights grid with a two-car team for the upcoming 2019 season.

The familiar blue livery of Carlin is close to making their return to the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

When Carlin moved to the United States four years ago to compete in Indy Lights, they made an immediate splash, winning the first three races of the IL-15 era in 2015.

The team’s drivers collected a dozen wins in their three seasons of Indy Lights competition and in 2016 they won the team championship and driver’s championship with Ed Jones.

The Carlin gang celebrate the 2016 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires championship (Photo courtesy of INDYCAR)

In Europe, Carlin competes in the Euroformula Open Championship, the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, the FIA European Formula 3 Championship, and FIA Formula 2 Championship.

The team is currently leading the FIA F2 team championship, and Formula 1 bound Lando Norris with fellow Brit George Russel for the driver’s title.

Ten of the drivers in this weekends INDYCAR Grand Prix Of Sonoma have piloted a junior open-wheel machine for Carlin. That list includes Max Chilton, Jack Harvey, Colton Herta, Ed Jones, Charlie Kimball, Jordan King, Matheus Leist, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Takuma Sato.

The Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series will be back on track on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course next weekend (September 22 & 23, 2018) for the Chris Griffis Memorial Test. TSO Ladder expects Andretti Autosport, Belardi Auto Racing, Juncos Racing and Team Pelfrey to all have entries.