Archives for Juncos PR

Rinus VeeKay Joins Juncos Racing for 2018 Pro Mazda Title Fight 

Posted by  on Tuesday, November 28th 2017     

HOOFDDORP, NETHERLANDS (Nov. 28, 2017) –Rinus van Kalmthout (Rinus VeeKay), 2017 USF2000 Vice-Champion, announced today he has signed with multi-championship winning team Juncos Racing to contest the 2018 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. The 17-year-old joins the Indianapolis-based outfit following a successful test outing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last month.

Rinus van Kalmthout and Ricardo Juncos (photo courtesy of Juncos Racing)

“I feel very honored that I can join such a successful team,” noted the Dutchman. “They have a very professional attitude and the cooperation during the test was excellent from the very first moment; I really felt at home. I was also able to visit the team’s workshop in Indianapolis where they have state-of-the-art facilities, and everything looks tidy and clean like a Formula 1 operation which impressed me.”

The teenager quickly put himself into the Mazda Road to Indy limelight as he charged to three wins and 12 podium finishes in his rookie USF2000 Championship season with Pabst Racing in 2017. His results drew the attention of Ricardo Juncos, owner of Juncos Racing, a three-time Pro Mazda and two-time Indy Lights championship-winning organization.

“I am thrilled to announce Rinus is joining Juncos Racing for the 2018 Pro Mazda season,” Juncos commented. “We first worked with Rinus back in October testing at Mid-Ohio and were very pleased with him all around. He was very fast on track, and had a great professional approach when working with the crew and engineers. Rinus showed he will be a top contender on track and he is going to be an incredible asset to our Pro Mazda lineup this coming year. I want to thank Rinus and his family for the opportunity to add him to our program and look forward to a great year as we compete for another championship.”

For the 2018 season, VeeKay will again be supported by Jumbo Supermarkten, the most significant supermarket chain in the Netherlands, as well as KNAF Talent First, Holland’s official young driver development program.

“We are very happy with this important next step in Rinus’ career,” noted Maarten van Wesenbeeck of KNAF Talent First. “During the 2017 season he proved to be extremely quick in the USF2000 Championship as well as every other car he set foot in. He adapts easily and is in great shape. We have high expectations for next season.”

The youngster is also mentored by two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Arie Luyendyk, the input of which he takes very seriously.

“Arie recommended that I move up to Pro Mazda for 2018 instead of Indy Lights,” said VeeKay. “Gathering more experience on the second level of the Mazda Road to Indy will be a big help to my career and my goal for next year is clear and simple: win the Pro Mazda Championship.”

The 2018 Pro Mazda Championship will see a brand new Tatuus PM-18 racecar with a whopping 275 horsepower produced from its two-liter Mazda engine. The new racecar has seen Pro Mazda lap times drop by as much as five seconds on road courses. The season kicks off with a doubleheader weekend at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg March 9 – 11 and overall will include a total of 16 races on street courses, road courses and ovals.

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Juncos Racing Set for Pro Mazda in 2018 with Purchase of Three Tatuus PM-18s

Posted by  on Monday, August 21st 2017     

Indianapolis, IN (August 21, 2017) – Juncos Racing is pleased to announce they have purchased three Tatuus PM-18 cars for the 2018 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season. The team looks to continue their highly successful run in the series with the advanced technology and tools the new car will offer to upcoming drivers from around the world.

 
The Tatuus PM-18 features a full carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque chasis manufactured by Tatuus Racing. The 2-litre MZR-PM18A Mazda engines will be prepared by Elite Engines and have a maximum torque of 190 Ft. Lbs. with a fly-by-wire throttle system and Cosworth  SQ6 engine management system.
“There are few teams in the Pro Mazda paddock with the history of Juncos Racing,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, which operates all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires. “I am extremely pleased that they’ve stepped up and ordered three of our new PM-18 racecars. This new car will provide vastly increased performance and improved safety, and will close the gap in lap times to Indy Lights. Our goal is to provide the best training for Pro Mazda drivers intent on moving to Indy Lights, and Juncos Racing can certainly offer a great team effort to accomplish that goal.”
“The Mazda Road to Indy is far more than a driver development program: it offers the same benefits for teams as well,” said John Doonan, Director of Motorsports for Mazda North American Operations. To see that nearly a decade of involvement in the MRTI by Ricardo Juncos and Juncos Racing led to their entry in the Indianapolis 500 and the Verizon IndyCar Series is something we were thrilled to see. Now, we’re also thrilled to see them continue to commit to the Mazda Road to Indy with the order of the new PM-18 Pro Mazda cars. We’re certain they will remain one of the teams to beat in all of the categories of the program.”
Juncos Racing Team Owner Ricardo Juncos looks forward to providing future drivers a car that will deliver more power and advanced technology, which will take his driver development program to a higher level.
“We have been in the Pro Mazda series for nine years now and we would not be where we are today without this series,” said Juncos. “This series has not only helped drivers grow into the next level, but has helped us grow as a team and a business. We have grown from a Pro Mazda team only to an Indy Lights and Pro Mazda team and now we are expanding to include the Verizon IndyCar Series. The new PM-18 car will also help us grow our successful Driver Development Program, which this team is based on, by providing a car that is technologically advanced. In the past we have run four cars in the Pro Mazda series, but next year we will start with a three-car program as we continue to expand into the Verizon IndyCar Series. We are looking forward to delivery of the cars in early September, and getting them on track for the Chris Griffis Memorial Test in October.”
Juncos Racing has proved to be one of the most successful teams in the MRTI ladder series. The team entered the Pro Mazda Championship in 2009 winning four races and finishing second in the championship with driver Peter Dempsey. The following year the team won the driver championship with current Verizon IndyCar Series driver Conor Daly. In 2014 Juncos Racing captured both the team and driver championships with current  IndyCar driver Spencer Pigot. The team carried their success into the 2015 season where they claimed the Pro Mazda Team Championship for the second year in a row.
The 2018 Pro Mazda car is the latest upgrade for the highly successful Mazda Road to Indy (MRTI) driver development system. The ladder features three steps – USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. All three series offer drivers from around the world a place to develop and grow into the next level of their racing career with a clearly defined scholarship-funded path.
Juncos Racing also competes in the Indy Lights Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. In 2015 the team entered into the series for their first full season campaign and went on to capture the driver championship with Spencer Pigot. Currently the team leads the 2017 championship with driver Kyle Kaiser.
For more information, visit www.JuncosRacing.com
category: Juncos PR

Kyle Kaiser Maintains Indy Lights Championship Lead after Tough Weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Posted by  on Wednesday, August 2nd 2017     

Lexington, Ohio (July 30, 2017) – After a difficult weekend in Rounds 13 and 14 of the Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Powered by Mazda, Juncos Racing’s Kyle Kaiser still continues to lead the Indy Lights Championship Presented by Cooper Tires by 42 points. Nicolas Dapero earned his best qualifying position, starting seventh for Round 14 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The Indy Lights series schedule for the weekend on the 2.258 mile, 13-Turn road course began with one practice session followed by two qualifying sessions.

Rookie Nicolas Dapero (Buenos Aires, Argentina) picked up his best qualifying position in the Indy Lights Series for Round 14, qualifying seventh. Dapero qualified 13th for Round 13 after too many red flags would not give the time he needed to get his pace into a strong rhythm. Kyle Kaiser (Los Gatos, California) took the sixth starting position for Round 13 and ninth position for Round 14.

Round 13 did not go as planned for the team with both drivers finishing outside the Top-10. Dapero, driving the #31 American Brokers Juncos Racing car was making his way through the field, when a mechanical issue forced his day to end with only four laps to go. Kasier finished 12th.

Round 14 concluded the weekend for the Indy Lights series. Dapero had strong pace throughout the race running in the Top-5, but would have to settle for eighth. Kaiser finished 12th for the second time.

Despite not receiving the results he hoped for Kaiser still maintains the championship lead and looks forward to moving onto the final oval of the season.

“Obviously this wasn’t the weekend we were hoping for,” said Kaiser. “We struggled for pace in the qualifying sessions and races. Fortunately we’ve built up a big buffer throughout the season incase we had a rough race weekend like this. I’m still extremely grateful for all of the hard work the team put in for me this weekend, and I know we’ll all be motivated to do well at the next event. Our next step is to look ahead to Gateway this next month and get back to our strong performances that got us to where we currently are in the championship.”

Despite the results he received in both races, Dapero had one of the best weekends during his qualifying sessions where he picked up his best qualifying position for the season.

“So far this was our best weekend,” said Dapero. “We had ups and downs in both qualifying sessions. In the first one we couldn’t get in rhythm after having so many red flags and in the second qualifying we were able to put the car in seventh, our best starting position so far. Both races were totally different. Race 1 we were coming from the back and moving to the front, but a mechanical issue took us out of the race. That didn’t stop us from putting everything together in Race 2 where we fought our way to the Top-5. Overall it was a tough weekend, but we will keep working hard to end the season in the best way possible. I just want to thank Juncos Racing for all of their hard work, also American Brokers Assistance for their support!”

Team Principle Ricardo Juncos said “This wasn’t our best weekend results wise for the 2017 season. We saw a lot of ups and downs throughout both qualifying sessions and races. Nico (Dapero) showed some of his strongest pace in qualifying for Round 7. He also made some great passes in both races and really showed how much he has grown into this series this year. Kyle (Kaiser) has been working so hard this season, staying consistent and scoring crucial points for this championship. This weekend is one we want to move on from and get back the strong momentum we have had during the season.”

The 2017 Indy Lights Championship continues August 24-26th with Round 15 at Gateway Motorsports Park.

For more information, visit www.JuncosRacing.com

category: Juncos PR

Victor Franzoni Captures Win and Two Podiums at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Posted by  on Tuesday, August 1st 2017     

Lexington, Ohio (July 30, 2017) – Juncos Racing continued the tight battle for the 2017 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires this past weekend with Rounds 7, 8 and 9 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Brazilian Victor Franzoni picked up two second place finishes and one win in the Cooper Tires Pro Mazda Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Presented by Allied Building Products.

The second half of the season got underway with two test sessions followed by one practice session for the three race weekend on the 2.258 mile, 13-Turn road course located in Lexington, Ohio.  Both Juncos Pro Mazda cars showed great speed and consistency throughout all sessions.

Qualifying for Rounds 7 and 8 followed the next day. Victor Franzoni (Sao Paulo, Brazil) qualified third for Round 7 and second for Round 8. Teammate Jeff Green (Peoria, Illinois) took the ninth starting position for both races.

Round 7 kicked off the three races that same day. Franzoni would drive the #23 Juncos Racing car to a comfortable second place finish. Green driving the #60 Juncos Racing car  was involved in an incident which put him eight laps down, ending the day in 13th.

Round 8 proved to be the most successful race of the weekend for Franzoni when he took the lead with four laps to go, earning his fourth win of the season. Green took 13th.

Round 9 concluded with Franzoni claiming his second, second place finish of the weekend, and fifth second place finish of the season. Green took 10th.

Franzoni currently sits second in the Pro Mazda Championship, trailing the leader by four points.

“The weekend went ok for us, but Mid-Ohio is just not my track,” said Franzoni. “I haven’t done well here in the past. We earned two second place finishes and on win which puts us second in the championship by only a few points. We had some good luck and we had some bad luck. We did what we could do this weekend and the team did an amazing job. They worked really hard changing engines overnight. I am really excited for the next race on the oval.”

“Mid-Ohio has proven to me it is one of the most difficult if not the single most difficult tracks to master in all of the United States,” said Green. “If I made a mistake on a corner I usually paid for it the next four corners. The people that manage Mid-Ohio were not only friendly, but I am very thankful and appreciative for what they did.”

Team Principle Ricardo Juncos said “I am really proud of the team and what they were able to do this weekend as we continue to fight for the championship. Both drivers worked really hard on and off track. Victor (Franzoni) did a great job putting the car on the podium all three races and picking up a win. Jeff (Green) really improved a lot over the weekend in his first appearance on the very difficult road course. We still have three races left in the Pro Mazda Championship and we only are four points behind the leader, so we will continue to focus and to work hard for this final month.”

The 2017 Pro Mazda Championship continues August 24-26th for only oval circuit of the season at Gateway Motorsports Park located just outside of St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information, visit www.JuncosRacing.com

category: Juncos PR

Top-5 Finish for Kyle Kaiser in Indy Lights Season Opener in St. Petersburg

Posted by  on Thursday, March 16th 2017     

Nico Dapero Earns Two Top-10’s in First Indy Lights Race Weekend

St. Petersburg, FL (March 13, 2017) – The  2017 Indy Lights Championship presented by Cooper Tires season kicked off this past weekend with Rounds 1 and 2 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Juncos Racing’s Kyle Kaiser picked up a Top-5 finish while teammate Nicolas Dapero completed his first weekend in the championship inside the Top-10.

Juncos Racing hit the 1.8 mile, 14-Turn street course proudly debuting the team’s official colors with two green, white, and orange cars for the 2017 campaign. The weekend began with one practice followed by two qualifying sessions for the 15 car field.

The 2016 pole sitter Kyle Kaiser (Los Gatos, California) continued his strong qualifying effort for the second straight year narrowly missing the pole for Round 1 by four tenths of a second. Rookie Nicolas Dapero (Buenos Aires, Argentina) took the 13th starting position in his first Indy Lights qualifying attempt.

The following day began with the second round of qualifying for the Indy Lights field. Kaiser, driving the #18 Juncos Racing car qualified fifth and teammate Dapero, driving the #31 American Brokers / Juncos Racing car, went on to repeat a 13th starting position for Round 2.

The first race of the season proved to be one of the most action packed races around the streets of St. Petersburg with multiple battles going on throughout the field until the checkered flag. Kaiser’s day did not go as planned after multiple incidents caused damage to the right side of the car forcing him to settle for a sixth place finish. Argentinean Dapero worked his way through the field to take home ninth in his first Indy Lights race.

Juncos Racing ended the weekend on a positive note with both drivers improving their final positions. Kaiser, who battled for third throughout the 45-lap race, finished just off the podium to take fourth. Dapero made his way through the pack for the second day in a row to finish inside the Top-10 in eighth.

Kaiser, who took third in a very close 2016 Indy Lights Championship, leaves St. Pete  tied for fourth in the championship.

Kaiser said “This weekend didn’t yield the results we were hoping for, but it’s still very early in the season and we managed to collect modest points to start the championship. I’m very grateful for the team putting in a lot of hard work this past weekend and I’ll be training hard over the next month in preparation for Barber. We showed great pace in the qualifying and races, so I know we’ll be strong at a track we’ve had success at.”

Dapero made an impressive debut in the Indy Lights series collecting two Top-10 finishes and earned the third fastest lap in Round 2.

“I am really happy how the weekend went,” said Dapero. “It was my first time with Juncos Racing in the Indy Lights car on a street course and we were able to meet our goals! We learned a lot each session and were able to finish both races. I am really looking forward to our race at Barber Motorsports Park. Without a doubt we will keep working hard to make it to the top. I can’t thank everyone at Juncos Racing enough for their great job! I can say that we will have a great year!”

Juncos Racing Team Principle Ricardo Juncos said “Even though we didn’t walk away from the weekend with a podium finish, we showed great pace with both drivers in a highly competitive field. Kyle (Kaiser) had a great first qualifying session and almost gave us the first pole of the year.  Nico’s (Dapero) first race weekend went great keeping a clean race in both rounds, and after the past few seasons we know every point counts towards the championship so we will continue to work hard to be back on the podium. I want to thank the crew for the long hours they put into this weekend. I also want to thank the drivers for their continued dedication and work they put in on and off the track. “

The 2017 Indy Lights Championship continues April 21st – 23rd with Rounds 3 and 4 at Barber Motorsports Park located in Birmingham, Alabama.

For more information, visit www.JuncosRacing.com

 About Juncos Racing

Juncos Racing is a championship-winning Mazda Road to Indy team currently running in Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires.

Juncos Racing was established by Ricardo Juncos in 1997 as a small formula car race program based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After times became financially tough, Juncos relocated to the United States in 2002 where he worked as a mechanic for a small karting team based in Florida. Juncos was then able to open the doors to his own shop and run in karting series throughout the United States.

In 2009, Juncos Racing entered in the former Star Mazda Championship (now the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires), where the team had great success in its maiden season, finishing second in the driver’s championship and third in the team championship. The following year, the team captured its first championship in the series with Indiana native Conor Daly. Fast forward to 2015, where Juncos Racing had its most successful season capturing the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires driver’s championship with current Verizon Indy Car Series driver Spencer Pigot and also claiming the Pro Mazda team championship.

The mission of Juncos Racing is to develop young drivers from around the world into the next level of their racing careers through the Juncos Racing Driver Development Program. Through this program, the team not only works with drivers on track to improve their skills behind the wheel, but also gives them the tools needed to understand the engineering and mechanics of the race car. Drivers who have participated in the program and have gone on to compete in the next level include Peter Dempsey, Conor Daly, Connor De Phillippi, Chase Austin, Kyle Kaiser, Nicolas Dapero and Spencer Pigot.

For more information, please visit www.juncosracing.com.

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category: Juncos PR

Victor Franzoni Scores Second Place Finishes in Pro Mazda Double Header at St. Pete

Posted by  on Thursday, March 16th 2017     

St. Petersburg, Florida (March 13, 2017) – The 2017 Pro Mazda Championship kicked off with the double header Allied Building Products Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this past weekend. Juncos Racing’s rookie Victor Franzoni earned back to back second place finishes in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires. Teammate and fellow rookie Jeff Green picked up a Top-10 finish in Round 2.

The first weekend of the 2017 Pro Mazda Championship started off on a high note for Juncos Racing with rookie Victor Franzoni (Sao Paulo, Brazil) taking the fastest overall time in practice on the 1.8 mile, 14-Turn street course located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Rookie Jeff Green (Peoria, Illinois) also made his official debut in the Pro Mazda series, finishing 12th in the first and only practice session.

Two qualifying sessions would set the tone for Juncos Racing in the Pro Mazda Championship. Franzoni, driving the #23 Juncos Racing car almost captured the first pole of the year, however had to settle for the second starting position by only a tenth of a second. Green, driving the #60 Juncos Racing car qualified 13th in his first Pro Mazda qualifying run.

The following morning Franzoni once again qualified second for Round 2. Green improved to take the 11th starting position.

Franzoni carried the strong momentum gained in practice and qualifying to Round 1 of the championship scoring a second place finish in his first Pro Mazda race. Green took 13th in his first race in the Pro Mazda series.

Round 2 would almost mirror the results for Juncos Racing from Round 1 with Franzoni claiming his second podium of the weekend taking second. Green showed great pace throughout the race making his way to eighth, however an incident on the second to last lap took Green out of the race ending his day in ninth.

Rookie Franzoni leaves the streets of St. Pete second in the Pro Mazda Championship.

“My weekend went well, Juncos Racing gave me an amazing car and they did an amazing job,” said Franzoni. “We had two second place finishes which is good for the championship. This was a great way to start the season and I am really looking forward to the next race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We are really strong there and it is one of my favorite tracks.”

Green’s first weekend in the Pro Mazda series showed great consistency throughout each session on track.

“Only being in a Pro Mazda car for the second time I was happy with my results by becoming very consistent in Race 2,” said Green. “The guys at Juncos (Racing) helped me achieve my goals and I’ve got to thank them because I didn’t have to worry about the car not being perfect, all I had to worry about was my driving. St. Petersburg was a great track to drive and I am looking forward to a great season in the Pro Mazda series.”

Team Principle Ricardo Juncos was pleased to take home two podiums with Franzoni’s two second place finishes and strong momentum gained by teammate Green in his first weekend in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder series.

“We had a great weekend back in the Pro Mazda Championship,” said Juncos. “We are happy to be back in the series after we had originally intended on being away for the 2017 season. Both drivers showed a lot of consistency in both of their first weekends in the Pro Mazda Championship. Victor (Franzoni) started off the weekend strong in practice and was able to keep up the momentum in both races giving us two podiums. Jeff (Green) had a great weekend and improved in each session. I am confident both drivers will have great success this season and I look forward to battling back for the championship. I want to thank both drivers for committing to Juncos Racing for the 2017 season. I also want to thank my crew for working so hard on this last minute deal and still able to deliver the drivers fast, reliable cars for the weekend.”

The 2017 Pro Mazda Championship continues May 11-13th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Rounds 3 and 4 on the 2.439 mile, 14-Turn road course.

For more information, visit www.JuncosRacing.com

 About Juncos Racing

Juncos Racing is a championship-winning Mazda Road to Indy team currently running in Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires.

Juncos Racing was established by Ricardo Juncos in 1997 as a small formula car race program based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After times became financially tough, Juncos relocated to the United States in 2002 where he worked as a mechanic for a small karting team based in Florida. Juncos was then able to open the doors to his own shop and run in karting series throughout the United States.

In 2009, Juncos Racing entered in the former Star Mazda Championship (now the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires), where the team had great success in its maiden season, finishing second in the driver’s championship and third in the team championship. The following year, the team captured its first championship in the series with Indiana native Conor Daly. Fast forward to 2015, where Juncos Racing had its most successful season capturing the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires driver’s championship with current Verizon Indy Car Series driver Spencer Pigot and also claiming the Pro Mazda team championship.

The mission of Juncos Racing is to develop young drivers from around the world into the next level of their racing careers through the Juncos Racing Driver Development Program. Through this program, the team not only works with drivers on track to improve their skills behind the wheel, but also gives them the tools needed to understand the engineering and mechanics of the race car. Drivers who have participated in the program and have gone on to compete in the next level include Peter Dempsey, Conor Daly, Connor De Phillippi, Chase Austin, Kyle Kaiser, Nicolas Dapero and Spencer Pigot.

For more information, please visit www.juncosracing.com.

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category: Juncos PR

Argentinean Nicolas Dapero Moves Up to Indy Lights Series with Juncos Racing

Posted by  on Tuesday, November 29th 2016     

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Team release:

Argentinean Nicolas Dapero Moves Up to Indy Lights Series with Juncos Racing

Indianapolis, Indiana (November 28, 2016) – Juncos Racing is pleased to announce young Argentinean Nicolas Dapero will return to Juncos Racing and move up to the final step of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder for the 2017 Indy Lights Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Dapero is the first driver to commit the championship winning team’s Indy Lights line-up.

Nicolas Dapero  (Buenos Aires, Argentina) joins the Indy Lights series after a successful rookie season in the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires with Juncos Racing. Dapero recorded one win, multiple podium finishes, and earned the fastest lap in the final race of the 2016 season.

“I am so excited to move up to the Indy Lights series,” said Dapero. “I’m really excited to keep my career going with Juncos Racing! They are more than a team for me, they are like family. We will work harder than ever to be as competitive in each event. I don’t have a doubt that we will be really strong next year. I am really looking forward to a great season and I want to thank all of the people who have made this possible. I especially want to thank my family, Marcos Tenaglia, Marcelo La Manna, and the whole Juncos Racing crew for their great support they have for me!”

Dapero first joined Juncos Racing’s Driver Development program in the winter of 2015 where he prepared for the Mazda Road to Indy ladder program. The Argentinean tested with the team throughout that year, and made his official debut in the Pro Mazda series at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Series Official test.

Team Principle Ricardo Juncos is thrilled to have Dapero return to the team after an impressive rookie season in the Pro Mazda Championship. Juncos looks forward to continuing the strong relationship Dapero has built within the team and is confident he will be successful in the Indy Lights series.

“I am extremely happy to announce Nico (Dapero) will be back for another season with Juncos Racing,” said Juncos. “He proved to be a top driver in the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship finishing on the podium multiple times, and even earlning his first win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Nico has shown great consistency and always finds a way to improve his skills behind the wheel. I am confident he will have a great rookie season in the Indy Lights series and I look forward to helping him improve into the next level of his racing career. I want to thank Nico for his commitment to the team, along with his family and sponsors who have been a big part of Nico’s successful career.”

Dapero began his racing career competing in various karting series throughout Argentina. In 2012 Dapero competed in ROTAX of Buenos Aires, the Florida Winter Tour, and ROTAX Euro Challenge claiming one win and three podiums. Dapero continued his fun in karts in 2013 competing in the ROTAX MAX Challenge in Buenos Aires taking two wins and six podiums. The following year Dapero won the 2014 ROTAX Argentinga  Championship with three wins, four poles, and eight podiums.

Nicolas Dapero celebrates his first Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

Nicolas Dapero celebrates his first Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

TSO Ladder Notes from Steve:

  • Nicolas “Nico” Dapero is the third confirmed driver for the 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire season, joining: Dalton Kellett (Andretti Autosport) and Shelby Blackstock (Belardi Auto Racing)
  • While he’s only 18 years-old, Dapero’s approach to his maiden Pro Mazda season was that of a much older driver. After failing to score a top five in the first six races of the season, Dapero had eight top fives in the final 10 races (including one win and five podiums). 
  • Dapero has been testing extensively with the team, and our sources tell us that he has continued his measured approach and has been very impressive.
  • Dapero got more comfortable with English as the 2016 Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire season progressed, and his enthusiasm for improvement and positive personality really started to shine through. 
  • The native of Buenos Aires, Argentina is the first Argentinian to take part in Indy Lights since Esteban Guerrieri finished second in 2012. (side bar – Guerrieri is still racing Touring Cars in Argentina – he scored two wins and ended up seventh in the 2016 Super TC2000, Argentina Championship. 
  • You can follow Dapero on the following social media platforms: Twitter – Instagram – Facebook 
Nicolas Dapero is strapped in for his first laps in the Juncos Racing No. 31. The Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire race winner looked comfortable in the higher power and downforce car (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

Nicolas Dapero is strapped in for his first laps in the Juncos Racing No. 31. The Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire race winner looked comfortable in the higher power and downforce car (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

category: Juncos PR
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Kyle Kaiser Captures 3rd in Round 7 of the Mazda Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Posted by  on Tuesday, May 17th 2016     

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Kyle Kaiser Captures 3rd in Round 7 of the Mazda Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Speedway, Indiana (May 15, 2015) – Juncos Racing returned to the podium this past weekend with American Kyle Kaiser picking up a third place finish in Round 7 of the Indy Lights Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in the Mazda Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

The Mazda Road to Indy series saw a wild week of weather at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with sunny warm conditions turning to rain and ending with one of the coldest races on record on the 2.439 mile, 14-Turn road course.

The Indy Lights series kicked off the week with two sessions of testing followed by two practice sessions. Kyle Kaiser (Santa Clara, California) took the fastest time in the final practice before heading into qualifying. The next day qualifying did not go as planned for Juncos Racing with Kaiser taking the sixth starting position and teammate Zach Claman De Melo (Montreal, Canada) starting 16th.

Later that afternoon Round 6 did not get off to a clean start, with multiple drivers making contact in Turn-1. Kaiser escaped any damage, but was forced to take the run off in Turn-1, moving to the back of the field. Rookie Claman De Melo did not fare as well, leaving Turn-1 with damage to the front wing, which he would battle with on track for the entire race. Kaiser was able to pull off a sixth place finish in the #18 InterVision/NetApp/ JuniperNetworks car and Claman De Melo took 13th.

Temperatures lingering in the high 40’s for the final day of the Mazda Grand Prix of Indianapolis proved to be a game changer for the Indy Lights series, as the 16 car field looked to get their Cooper Tires up to temperature for the final race of the weekend. Kaiser took the 11th starting position and Claman De Melo started 15th for the 35 lap race. Kaiser was able to battle his way through the field at the start of the race to run inside the Top-5 and ended the day on the podium with a third place finish. Claman De Melo’s was making his way up to the Top-5 when his day ended early on lap 18, after making contact with two other drivers forcing his #13 Adidas/Seven for All Mankind car to finish 14th.

Kaiser’s third place finish in Round 7 marked his fourth podium of the 2016 season, moving him into second in the Indy Lights Championship standings.

“After a rough start to the weekend I was very pleased with the results in both races,” said Kaiser. “In such a tight championship, I know its weekends like this that make the difference at the end of the season. I’m very thankful for the team working hard this weekend to give me a great car in both races. I’m excited to get back on the oval in a couple of weeks for the biggest race of the year!”

Even though Claman De Melo did not get the results he was looking for, the young Canadian was able to take away a lot of experience in his first running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Overall it wasn’t the weekend we were hoping for,” said Claman De Melo. “The results did not show what we were capable of, we were faster and I know we had the speed to finish in the Top-10. In Round 7 I was running just outside the Top-5, but a small mistake on my part costs us a great finish. I know we will bounce back as the season continues and will show the speed we have.”

Juncos Racing Team Principle Ricardo Juncos was pleased to see Kaiser pick up another podium finish and is confident the team will carry this strong momentum onto the famous 2.5 mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway later this month.

“I am really proud of the results we were able to obtain after we struggled here last season,” said Juncos. “Kaiser did a fantastic job moving all the way up to a third place, after starting back in 11th. He (Kyle Kaiser) has stayed so focused this season and that has really shown with the multiple podiums and win his has earned. Zach (Claman De Melo) has continued to show great speed, despite not getting the results he deserves. At each event this year he has passed multiple cars, which is very impressive for such a young rookie. I am especially pleased to see how tight of a battle we have for the Indy Lights Championship, after six drivers have won in seven races. This really shows how competitive this series is and the high caliber of drivers the Mazda Road to Indy program takes in. I of course want to thank the team for all of their hard work, and for the fast cars they give these drivers, to the sponsors for all of their support, and to the families who make up Juncos Racing for all of their dedication to the team.”

The 2016 Indy Lights Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season continues May 27th with Round 8  on the famous 2.5 mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For more information please visit juncosracing.com and indylights.com.

category: Juncos PR

American Will Owen Earns Double Podium Finishes at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Posted by  on Tuesday, May 17th 2016     

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American Will Owen Earns Double Podium Finishes at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis
Rookie Jake Parsons Claims First Podium in the Pro Mazda Championship

Speedway, Indiana (May 15, 2016) – Juncos Racing collected three podium finishes this past weekend in Rounds 5 and 6 of the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Will Owen picked up two of the podiums, while teammate Jake Parsons earned his first podium finish since joining the Mazda Road to Indy series this year.

The third weekend of the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship started off with warm sunny conditions during the two test sessions followed by two practice sessions on the 2.439 mile, 14-Turn road course located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Canadian Garett Grist kicked off the week running second in the first test session. Teammate Will Owen would take the second quickest time in the second practice session followed by Grist in third.

Juncos Racing would go on to qualify side by side for rows two and three of Round 5, with Owen taking the third starting position followed by Jake Parsons in fourth, Grist fifth, and Nicolas Dapero in sixth.

Later that afternoon Round 5 of the Pro Mazda Championship would go green from start to finish in the 40 minute timed race. Owen drove the #23 AMR car to its best finish of the season, taking second. Teammate Parsons picked up his first podium since joining the Mazda Road to Indy series, finishing third. Grist, driver of the #5 Lander Property Management/Mac Tools car, took fourth and rookie Dapero finished eighth.

The final day saw some of the coldest race conditions on record on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with temperatures running in the high 40’s. Round 6 would mirror Round 5 going caution free for the entire 40 minute timed race. Owen took home his second podium of the weekend, claiming third and moving him into third in the Pro Mazda Championship standings. Grist took a Top-5 finish finishing fifth. Parsons, driver of the #00 Smart Minds car took sixth. Dapero drove the #31 Federal Seguros car to run in the fourth position for the first part of the race, but would fall back later to finish eighth.

Team Principle, Ricardo Juncos was thrilled to see Owen pick up not one, but two podiums along with Parsons taking home his first podium since joining the team this year.

“Overall we had a very successful weekend here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said Juncos. “Three of our four drivers were battling for a podium finish at some point between both races. Even though they did not all finish on the podium, I am very pleased with the great pace each one showed. We are just going to work even harder now to catch up with the pace of the yellow Pelfrey cars. Will (Owen) had two solid runs this weekend, earning his top finish of the season so far and following that up with another podium.  He (Owen) was very consistent behind the wheel and I know he will be a top contender as the season continues.  Jake (Parsons) did a great job this weekend and has really developed quickly behind the wheel of the Pro Mazda car in a short time. Even though Garett (Grist) did not get on the podium this weekend, I am confident he will bounce back as we move onto the first oval where he has had great success in the past. Nicolas (Dapero) really came alive in Round 6 this weekend, making his way to run third. Despite not finishing in fourth, he (Dapero) earned a lot of experience running with the front of the field. The weather really played a big role this weekend and I want to give a big thank you to the crew for working to keep the cars on pace with the consent changing conditions. I also want to thank everyone who came out to watch the race and to those who could not make it for all of their positive messages and support.”

 

Driver Quotes: 

Nicolas Dapero (Buenos Aires, Argentina):”It was a great weekend for me. I really improved a lot and gained a ton of experience battling with all types of conditions. I have also really started to understand the car and have really stepped up on the feedback I am giving to our mechanics and engineers. My pace really improved and allowed me to run with the front of the field. I still have a lot of improvements to make, but I am happy with where I have come so far this season. I want to thank all of the Juncos Racing crew for the awesome job they have done. Without a doubt we will come back stronger for the oval race at Lucas Oil Raceway!”

Garett Grist (Grimsby, Ontario, Canada): “Overall a rough weekend for us. We had great pace in practice, but when it came time for qualifying we were a second off and we were a second off in both races. We are going to take a look at things and see where we can figure out what’s going on. I’m still the only car to start on the front row besides the yellow ones. We have had some positives, but just not enough to take out of this weekend. In the first race I felt like I was just doing some laps and for the second race I went off on the first lap moving me to back to seventh. I was able to make some great passes in Turn-1 and Turn-2 which gave me some excitement. After that the race settled down and I pushed as hard as I could and stayed as consistent as I could be. Lucas Oil Raceway is coming up next, it’s a track I dominated at my rookie year in Pro Mazda. I’m hoping this year will be like my first year there, as it’s a track I really enjoy and my favourite oval we compete on”

Will Owen (Castle Rock, Colorado, USA): “We had a really good weekend. We achieved our goal which was to finish ahead of my teammates, and I was able to do that in both races which I am really happy about and a huge step in points. Now I am actually third in points, rather than seventh so that’s a huge step. We made a lot of improvements to the car over the weekend from where we started to where we finished out the weekend. We still our looking for the speed that Pelfrey has, but we are going to keep doing everything we can and working as hard as possible to get to their speed. I’ve got to thank my team Juncos Racing, and all of my sponsors for a great weekend!”

Jake Parsons (Melbourne, Australia): “I took my first podium in Pro Mazda this weekend, so this was a great weekend for me. We had a few mechanical issues to overcome at the start of the week, but we got it all on track and were able to show great speed and have a great first race. The second race of the weekend was a little bit tougher. The start was a bit frantic and I lost some spots.  I was able to fight my way back from eighth and was challenging for fifth by the end. I think I was more consistent in Round 6, I took it up a level which allowed me to have a good comeback. We have a test  coming up which will be my first time on an oval, so I am really looking forward to that and preparing for the first oval race at Lucas Oil Raceway later this month.”

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires continues with Rounds 6 and 7 of the Indianapolis Grand Prix on the 2.43 mile road course located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For more information please visit juncosracing.com and promazdachampionship.com

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Double Podiums for Kyle Kaiser at Indy Lights Season Opener in St. Petersburg

Posted by  on Tuesday, March 15th 2016     

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St. Petersburg, FL (March 14, 2015) – The 2016 Indy Lights Championship Presented by Cooper Tires  is shaping up to be an exciting year for Juncos Racing after a successful weekend at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Lucas School of Racing. American Kyle Kaiser claimed his first pole and two podiums, while teammate Zach Claman Demelo gave an impressive performance in his first run in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder series.

A total of 16 cars made up the highly competitive field for the season-opening rounds of the 2016 Indy Lights Championship. Juncos Racing teammates Kaiser and Claman Demelo showed great pace in both practice sessions on the 1.8 mile, 14-Turn street course located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Kaiser, (Santa Clara, California) proved to be a top contender behind the wheel of the #18 InterVision/NetApp/ JuniperNetworks car, pacing the field in qualifying to pick up the first pole of the year. Claman Demelo took the 10th starting position for his first race in the Indy Lights series.

The first round of the 2016 season showed just how competitive the field will be for the year with multiple battles throughout the race. Kaiser, who took the pole position, fell back to fourth on the first lap after contact from behind forced him to lose the lead. The American went on to finish third for Round 1. Rookie Claman Demelo (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) saw lots of action on the first lap after contact damaged the front nose. Even though Claman Demelo would run the entire race in the #13 Adidias/SevenforAllManKind car with the damaged nose cone, it did not stop the rookie from showing how strong he will be for the season, finishing only one position down from where he qualified.

The following day Juncos Racing carried the strong momentum gained into Round 2 which saw even more action in the 16 car line-up. Kaiser took the third starting position and Claman Demelo started seventh. On the first lap, Kaiser made his way up to second where he would remain the entire race, delivering the team their second podium of the weekend. Claman Demelo moved into sixth during the first half of the race and had a strong run going until his car lost all power, causing him to end his day early.

Kaiser, who recorded two podiums and one pole in the opening rounds, currently sits one point behind the championship leader.

“It was a great weekend for the team,” said Kaiser. “We executed in qualifying, which really set us up well to achieve the two podiums this weekend. We’ll be looking to carry this momentum to Phoenix in a couple of weeks. I’m so grateful for the team and my sponsors for supporting my program for another year.”

The Indy Lights paddock took notice of rookie Zach Claman Demelo after he showed just how competitive he will be this season, even when faced with unfortunate incidents.

“Overall it wasn’t a bad weekend,” said Claman Demelo. “I learned a lot and was able to get closer to the team over the race weekend. I had some electrical problems in Round 2, but was in sixth until those issues forced me out for the rest of the race. These types of things happen and are part of racing, but I know we will figure out the issues and come back stronger. I’m looking forward to carrying this positive momentum into the next round. “

After an impressive start to the 2016 season Juncos Racing Team Principle, Ricardo Juncos, is pleased with the results of both drivers and thrilled to take home two podiums after the first rounds of the Indy Lights season. Juncos is confident the team will only continue to improve as they head into Round 3 at Phoenix International Raceway later this month.

“I’m really proud of all we were able to accomplish this weekend at St. Pete,” said Juncos. “Everyone has been working very hard to come out this year with the same strong momentum we had last year. Kyle (Kaiser) has really stepped up after a tough 2015 season dealing with many unfortunate incidents that did not allow him to get the results he deserved. These two podiums and his first pole position show he will be one of the top drivers to beat for the championship and I am thrilled to have him back on board for his third year with the team. Zach (Claman Demelo) gained a lot of attention this weekend after he showed what he is capable of in race mode, even with damaged nose cone. When most drivers would come in to have changed, he fought his way through the race and showed us all he will be a tough driver behind the wheel this year. We will continue to stay focused as the season progresses and I am confident as long as we continue to work hard we will obtain the results we deserve. I want to thank everyone for all of their continued support as we make our run for the 2016 championship.”

The Indy Lights Championship Presented by Cooper Tires continues with Round 3 on the first oval of the year at Phoenix International Raceway April, 2nd 2016. For more information please visit juncosracing.com and indylights.com.

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