Archives for Mazda Road To Indy PR

Nico Jamin To Race with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2016

Posted by  on Wednesday, February 3rd 2016     

Nico Jamin To Race with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2016

USF2000 Champion climbs Mazda Road to Indy ladder to Pro Mazda
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 3, 2016) – Nico Jamin, who won the 2015 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship in dominant fashion, will contest the 2016 Pro Mazda Series with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Jamin, a 20-year-old from Rouen, France, won the Mazda Road to Indy driver development scholarship with his USF2000 championship, and moves up to the Pro Mazda ranks with the team that propelled him to 10 race wins last season.
“We’re extremely happy to have Nico compete on behalf of Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing for the 2016 season,” said Dominic Cape, team owner. “Nico demonstrated to everyone how competitive he was in capturing 13 pole positions, winning 10 races and ultimately claiming the 2015 championship along with the coveted Mazda scholarship. Nico has impressed us already during the initial tests he has done with the team and we’re really looking forward to seeing him race in 2016.”
Jamin dominated the final half of the 2015 season, grabbing pole, fastest lap and victory in the final six races. After beginning his career in karts, Jamin progressed through several junior formula in Europe before coming to the United States in 2014. He finished ninth in the championship in his first season of USF2000.
The 2016 Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda champion Nico Jamin is using his Mazda Motorsports advancement scholarship to move up to Pro Mazda with Cape Motorsports with /WTR (photo courtesy of Mazda Motorsports)

The 2016 Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda champion Nico Jamin is using his Mazda Motorsports advancement scholarship to move up to Pro Mazda with Cape Motorsports with /WTR (photo courtesy of Mazda Motorsports)

“I am very happy and proud to stay in the Cape family for my 2016 season and have the opportunity to race in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires,” said Jamin. “This team is seriously amazing, we did a great job together in 2015 for our USF2000 campaign, and that teamwork allowed me to get the championship win and the big scholarship from Mazda Motorsports. I’m very honored to be a Mazda scholarship driver, and this is a lifetime opportunity for me. We’ll be 100-percent dedicated this year to bring the Soul Red Pro Mazda car in victory lane, as my only goal is to win this championship and race Indy Lights in 2017!”
Jamin, who is sponsored by SYNOVA Automotive Eco Plastics Recycling and Hexagon USA, has already completed several successful Pro Mazda test sessions with the team. He also raced on ice for the first time last month, with backing from Mazda France in the Trophee Andros Cup.
The 2016 season for the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires is a 16-race championship which debuts at St. Petersburg, Fla., March 11-13. It is the middle of three series that comprise the Mazda Road to Indy, a program that helps drivers and teams progress from grassroots racing all the way to the Verizon IndyCar Series.
Source: Mazda Racing PR
You can follow Nico’s journey on social media at: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
You can follow Cape Motorsports with /WTR on social media at: Twitter, and Facebook
You can follow Mazda Motorsports on social media at: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
Jamin’s career Mazda Road To Indy record to date:
Races Wins Podiums Poles Fastest Laps
USF2000 30 10 16 13 9
MRTI TOTAL 30 10 16 13 9

Nico Jamin became the seventh confirmed Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire driver for 2016.

Confirmed Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire drivers for 2016:

Cape Motorsports with /WTR

  1. Nico Jamin

Juncos Racing

  1. Garett Grist
  2. Will Owen
  3. Nicolas Dapero
  4. Jake Parsons

Team Pelfrey

  1. Aaron Telitz

World Speed Motorsports

  1. Bobby Eberle
category: Cape Motorsports
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My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Jordan Cane

Posted by  on Wednesday, February 3rd 2016     

My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Jordan Cane

A weekly series providing an inside look at new faces on the Mazda Road to Indy, the only driver development program of its type in the world.
Cane-2
PALMETTO, Fla. – At a mere 14 years of age, Brit Jordan Cane turned some heads last year in his first season in a car (and only his fourth year racing) as he earned seven F1600 victories for Team Pelfrey despite missing the first two events due to age restrictions. This year Cane, who was brought up just a few miles from the Goodwood circuit in England, will step up to the Mazda Road to Indy, competing for Team Pelfrey in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.
You were 11 when the racing bug hit with a trip to Goodwood?
I’d always loved cars, but I never thought of racing. I was 8 years old when I first encountered the Festival of Speed at Goodwood. I went again when I was 11, and that sealed the deal for me. I wanted to take this up as just a hobby at first. I wanted to do pit biking (motocross) because my best mate was going to buy a pit bike, but my dad said no because he’d really hurt himself on a dirt bike when he was young. He asked if I’d ever thought of karting, and that’s where the seed was planted. We went to a cadet course at Thruxton every Sunday for a month. In the first session, I was the slowest on track. But at the second session, I broke the track record. I took the test for a license and my hobby turned into a career.
Take us through your racing career to date.  
After the cadet course, I won a club cadet championship. That helped us make the decision to go into the top level of British karting. We switched mid-season to a Mini Max because I got too big for the cadet kart. I won a couple of races and finished 10th out of 33 karts despite a good amount of bad luck. We decided to make the move to cars at that point going to Skip Barber courses.
It was quite a big shock. You have much bigger surroundings and the car is much faster than a kart. Everything is maximized in a car, but Skip Barber taught in a way that got the best out of me. After three days at Road Atlanta and two days at Lime Rock, I felt very confident in myself and I felt that I could compete in cars. It made the feeling that I wanted to be a race car driver even stronger.
How did you connect with Team Pelfrey?
It’s a funny story, and it shows that it’s a very small world. My very first karting mechanic had tested with Team Pelfrey in Pro Mazda and he recommended that I contact them. That’s how the relationship started. From the first test, we bonded really well. I was 10 times more confident at the test because of the Skip Barber program. I signed with them to do F1600 and everything just went from there. The team felt I had potential to win races, so we signed with them.
You had a very good year in F1600 even though you missed the first two race weekends.
You have to be 14 to run in F1600, so I missed the first two events. It was quite hard to get used to running with 20 other cars, but we got there in the end. We had two fifth-place finishes the first weekend at Virginia and the season went upwards from there. I finished fifth in the first race of the Mid-Ohio weekend and won the second one, which was the first race win of the season for the team. We ended up with seven wins and 10 podiums at the end of the season, which was a huge confidence booster for me and for the team.
Obviously it’s a natural progression from F1600, especially with Team Pelfrey, but what attracted you to the Mazda Road to Indy and the USF2000 series?
I think the Mazda Road to Indy offers something no other racing series does which is the scholarship program. You can’t get that anywhere else and that’s what persuaded me and my dad to race here for another two years, to fight for the championship. If you look at where I was two years ago, it’s been a game changer for me. On the American path, IndyCar is definitely the goal.
How difficult has it been to be away from home? It’s a big transition, coming to the States.
My parents bought a vacation house in Florida before I was born and we spent our summers here so we’re not your typical tourists. This is more like our second home. It was hard at first, almost like a different culture, but we did it at such a young age that we bonded with American culture. We go back and forth from America to England for every race, so it’s a bit of a jump. We have a lot of air miles! I go to a regular public school at home and they’ve really supported me, even though I will miss 75 days of school this year. The work piles up, and I have to catch up no matter where I am. It’s hard being away from home, because my family is everything to me. And I’m in the gym five times a week and on the simulator twice a week so the commitments are huge.
What are your expectations for 2016?
I want to win races, but I’d be happy with a top five in the championship. I went into last year as a learning year and I’ll take that same approach this season. What will be will be, but of course, I’ll try to win every race.
What kind of activities do you do away from the race car?
I’ve always had a dog, so I love dogs. I wanted to do something to help so we approached the Dog’s Trust. (Note: founded in 1891, Dog’s Trust is the largest dog charity in the United Kingdom.) I’m working with them, doing media bits and talks. They work on getting dogs re-homed and fighting animal cruelty.
Do you have a “hidden” talent?
I used to play drums, so that was my forte three or four years ago. But I was also Junior Fishing Champion in Key West in 2009. My dad and I entered this competition and we won it. We won a pretty big trophy, which is currently the biggest trophy I have!
Who is your greatest inspiration – personal and/or professional?
Racing-wise, I’ve always been a Lewis Hamilton fan. For motivational purposes and someone who links to my life, it would be Jenson Button. He came from a more difficult background than I did and he still had the determination to make it work. Personally, it would be my dad. He came from a rough background, leaving school at age 18. He started his own business in a small work shed with a welder and a saw. Before long, he was working on buildings like the Canterbury Cathedral and the Tower of London.
Source: Andersen Promotions PR
category: My Road To Indy, Uncategorized

AYLA AGREN RETURNS TO USF2000 FOR 2016 SEASON

Posted by  on Tuesday, February 2nd 2016     

John Cummiskey Racing logo

Norwegian racecar driver Ayla Agren today announced she will be back on the Mazda Road to Indy Ladder for the 2016 season. The talented 22 year-old will be competing with John Cummiskey Racing in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered By Mazda.

“I am thrilled to have been given another chance to compete on the Verizon IndyCar Series ladder.” commented an enthusiastic Ayla. “Last year was a big learning experience with lots of ups and downs, and I am excited to put the experience to good use with John’s [Cummiskey] team” commented Ayla.

Agren, who won the 2014 F1600 Championship Series title, will be entering her fifth season of US racing after making the switch from European karting to the US open wheel racing scene in 2011.

Ayla’s new team owner, John Cummiskey, is thrilled to have the sole female driver on the Mazda Road to Indy in one of his cars for the 2016 season.

“I’m very happy to have Ayla race with us in 2016,” said Cummiskey. “She’s a past champion and race winner so she knows how to win and we’re looking forward to getting her on the podium in USF2000. She has faced many of these competitors before and knows how to get the job done. 2016 will be our best year yet on the Mazda Road to Indy as we have a full season under us already.”

The 2016 USF2000 season kicks off at the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, with a doubleheader on March 11-12.

You can read more about Ayla on AylaAgren.com and also follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

category: John Cummiskey Racing

AARON TELITZ JOINS TEAM PELFREY PRO MAZDA TEAM

Posted by  on Friday, January 29th 2016     

Team Pelfrey logo

TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2016) – Team Pelfrey announced today that Aaron Telitz signed with Team Pelfrey for the 2016 season in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.

The 24-year-old Birchwood, Wisc., native arrives at Team Pelfrey after competing in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda last season. Telitz finished third in the 2015 championship standings while competing for Cape Motorsports with poise and consistency. He finished the season on the podium 11 times, including a win in Race One at Barber Motorsports Park.

“Joining Team Pelfrey for 2016 is a big leap in my racing career,” said Telitz.

“I’ve moved up to Pro Mazda and have joined a big powerhouse team. I can’t wait to get to work. It’s easy to just say that Team Pelfrey is the reigning Pro Mazda Champions and that makes them a favorite, but there’s more to it than that. They put an insane amount of effort into all the small details both on and away from the track. In a business that is measured to the ten thousandth of a second the small details can make all the difference.”

Telitz will pilot the No. 82 Rice Lake Weighing Systems-sponsored Team Pelfrey Mazda when the season commences in St. Petersburg, Fla. On March 11, 2016.

“I am seriously thrilled to have Rice Lake Weighing Systems back on board as my title sponsor. I am extremely proud to be representing such a great company based out of my home state of Wisconsin! They have been with me since 2013 and our partnership has grown into something amazing.”

In 2015, Santiago Urrutia claimed the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires title with Team Pelfrey. Telitz will look to defend the team’s championship and become the first American to win the title since Verizon IndyCar Series rookie Spencer Pigot won the championship in 2014.

The 2016 season will see Team Pelfrey become the only team to operate at every level of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, as well as the F1600 Formula F Championship Series.

For more information about Team Pelfrey and today’s announcement, please visit team-pelfrey.com and follow us on Twitter @TeamPelfrey.

Source: Team Pelfrey PR

category: Team Pelfrey
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Chastain Motorsports Enters 2016 USF2000 Season

Posted by  on Wednesday, January 27th 2016     

Chastain Mortorsports Logo

Chastain Motorsports Enters 2016 USF2000 Season

Noblesville, IN – Chastain Motorsports will field two cars in the upcoming 2016 Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship presented by Mazda. Team driver Sam Chastain will field the No. 77 Van Diemen/Mazda and will be joined by at least one teammate for the season.

Chastain Motorsports brings a long resume of open-wheel accomplishments to the USF2000 category, having run the 1997, 1998 and 2007 Indianapolis 500 Mile Races, as well as contesting the 1997 and 1998 IndyCar seasons.

The familiar two-tone blue livery of Chastain Motorsports is entering the Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda championship in 2016. (photo courtesy of Chastain Motorsports)

The familiar two-tone blue livery of Chastain Motorsports is entering the Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda championship in 2016. (photo courtesy of Chastain Motorsports)

Most recently, Chastain has fielded a multi-car effort that produced race wins in both 2014 and 2015 for aspiring drivers in the F1600 Formula F Championship Series. The team is based out of Indiana, giving it a close proximity to most events, and carries over its open-wheel engineering and team staff from past seasons.

After spending two years in F1600 in 2013 and 2014, Sam Chastain moved up to the F2000 category in 2015, with two podium finishes in his debut season. The 22-year old will now run a USF2000 campaign in 2016 and will be joined by at least one teammate. The team has the capacity to run additional cars should need arise.

Sam Chastain, a 22 year-old from Noblesville, Indiana is the first confirmed driver for Chastain Motorsports in 2016 (Photo courtesy of Chastain Motorsports)

Sam Chastain, a 22 year-old from Noblesville, Indiana is the first confirmed driver for Chastain Motorsports in 2016 (Photo courtesy of Chastain Motorsports)

Learn more about Chastain Motorsports, three time Indy 500 entrants and current full-time F1600 and F2000 Championship team, at www.ChastainMotorsports.com.

Source: Chastain Motorsports PR

You can follow Sam on: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

category: Chastain Motorsports
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My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Zachary Claman De Melo

Posted by  on Wednesday, January 27th 2016     

My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Zachary Claman De Melo

PALMETTO, Fla. – While Zachary Claman De Melo may be new to American audiences, his name is well known among karting aficionados in his native Quebec and across Eastern Canada. The 18-year-old won nearly everything there was to win during his seven-year karting career, including multiple regional and national titles. Moving up to cars last season, De Melo competed in three Formula Renault 2.0 series (Alps, Eurocup and NEC).
De Melo recently signed with Juncos Racing, winners of the 2015 driver’s championship with Spencer Pigot. He joins returning driver Kyle Kaiser to contest the 2016 season with an eye toward a Verizon IndyCar Series career.
Canadian Zachary Claman De Melo is joining the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire series for 2016 after spending last season in Europe ((Photo Courtesy of Andersen Promotions)

Canadian Zachary Claman De Melo is joining the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire series for 2016 after spending last season in Europe ((Photo Courtesy of Andersen Promotions)

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Westmount, in the city of Montreal. All my friends are there, my family is there, and I started racing there. I played every sport I could play growing up, but the only one I played seriously was hockey.
What first got you interested in racing?
When I was 10 years old, I went to a friend’s birthday party at an indoor karting track. I turned out to be pretty good at it, so my father got me a kart. I started practicing and I wanted to go every single weekend, every day I could. I started racing and everything carried on from there.
Take us through your racing career.
I started in cadets, then moved to ECKC (the Eastern Canadian Karting Championships) for four years and won every time I did it. I also won nationals a few times. I decided to race in Europe because I thought it would be good for me, and I finished third in the world championships. I learned a lot at the world championships. Traveling around with so many different people from countries all over the world and getting the chance to race in so many different places really stands out for me. It was very different than what I was used to back home. The driving standard was a bit higher – back home, there were two or three people that could win a race, but in Europe, it was more like 10 people who could win. There are so many variables: the driver, the people you’re racing against.
What got you interested in the Mazda Road to Indy and the Indy Lights series?
My coach knew Ricardo Juncos and he thought I could compete in Indy Lights. I tested an F3 car with Ed Jones and our times were similar, so I thought Indy Lights would be a good start. I did a test with Juncos and it went really well, so that’s when we decided to go ahead and do it. It’s a goal to be a professional racing driver and the Mazda Road to Indy really helps with that. Wherever I can go and make a career out of racing would be a great opportunity.
You were at or near the top of the speed charts in the November Chris Griffis Memorial Test at Circuit of The Americas, how was the transition to the Dallara IL-15 and what did you think of the car at COTA?
The car was great and the team was really helpful. I couldn’t be happier with the team, they listened to my feedback and we got along well. The car has a lot more power than a Formula 3, but the driving is basically the same. You just have to get used to the downforce.
It’s great to be with the team that won the championship last year. It will be good to compare my data with Spencer’s and Kyle’s. Kyle has helped me already – I can learn a lot from him but hopefully I’ll start beating him by the end of the year!
What are your expectations for 2016?
I think I’m with the best team and I’m confident of my abilities, so I believe I can challenge for the championship. We’ll see how the year goes, but I definitely think it’s possible.
Favorite racetrack and what is your best memory about that track?
I would have to say Goodwood Kartways in Toronto. I grew up racing there; it’s only a five-hour drive from Montreal. There are so many familiar faces. Winning the Nationals there against so many good drivers is one of my highlights.
If I wasn’t driving a race car, I’d be ___________________________.
Playing hockey. I played center for a house-league hockey team when I was younger, 7 or 8 years old. I decided to try out for AAA which was the highest level of hockey you could play at that time. I made the team, but when I told the coach I could only make a certain number of games throughout the year, because I’d started karting at that point, he said I’d have to choose between karting and hockey. I chose racing right away. Of course, now I wonder what would have happened, but I don’t regret picking racing! Now I just play for fun with friends. We go out whenever I’m home, wherever there’s ice. I’ll go and just play whenever I can, but not in any leagues anymore.
Do you have a “hidden” talent?
I don’t want to sound cocky but I think I’m pretty talented at everything! I’m pretty athletic and I’m good at sports. I could work on my school a bit, because I don’t enjoy it as much as I enjoy sports. I play as many sports as I can and I go to the gym, but whenever I can get in the go-kart, I will.
What do you do to relax?
I like to go fishing. It’s very relaxing and calm out on the water, which is nice because I’m usually doing something very high intensity!
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About Indy Lights: The third and final step on the unparalleled Mazda Road to Indy debuted as Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2014. Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the series is operated by Andersen Promotions, which oversees all three levels of the ladder system. Indy Lights has a rich history as a development step for many of today’s top drivers. Its series’ champion is awarded a three-race scholarship in the Verizon IndyCar Series including the Indianapolis 500. For more information, visit www. indylights.com.
About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports: Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to Indy includes USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights racing categories with Mazda power. In sports car racing, a similar ladder system involves a number of racing series, culminating with the Mazda Prototype team which races in the top level of IMSA sports car racing in North America. In the grassroots categories, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers.  Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.  For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.
About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, great-performing tires that people depend on for all of life’s road trips, whether on city streets, off-road adventures or high-speed tracks. In fact, Cooper Tire is proud to sponsor and race in all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development program within the IndyCar racing series. Cooper tires can also been seen on the track as a sponsor of the IMSA Prototype Lites Series, and competing in the short course off-road TORC Series. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper, together with its subsidiaries, has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities in 11 countries around the world.  This year, as we head into our second century in the tire industry, Cooper is looking toward a future where innovation will continue to drive our products and our products will continue to drive the world. To connect with Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/teamcoopertire.
Source: Andersen Promotions PR
You can follow Zachary’s career on the way to IndyCar on his social media channels: Twitter, and Facebook.
category: My Road To Indy
tags: , ,

Carlin sign Alberico for 2016 Indy Lights Series

Posted by  on Monday, January 25th 2016     

Carlin logo

Carlin sign Alberico for 2016 Indy Lights Series

Neil Alberico will race with Carlin in the 2016 Indy Lights Series presented by Cooper Tires.  The 23 year-old American will continue his career on the Mazda Road to Indy, after finishing the 2015 season as Pro Mazda vice-champion.  Alberico joins already announced Carlin drivers Ed Jones and Felix Serralles.
Alberico took eight podiums in total last season in the Pro Mazda Series, including four wins to take second in the popular Indy Lights feeder series.  It was the Californian’s second year in the championship, after a debut season which also saw four podiums.  A true racer of the IndyCar ladder, previous to competing in Pro Mazda, Alberico had raced to second overall in the 2013 USF2000 Series.
I'd say it was the announcement he was signed with Carlin for Indy Lights that has Neil Alberico smiling. But, the Rising Star Racing sponsored driver is always smiling. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

I’d say it was the announcement he was signed with Carlin for Indy Lights that has Neil Alberico smiling. But, the Rising Star Racing sponsored driver is always smiling. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

Having enjoyed a strong debut season in Indy Lights in 2015, Alberico’s signing takes the Carlin team to three cars after race winning success for duo Max Chilton and Ed Jones last year.  The team claimed four wins and 11 podiums overall, with rookie Jones challenging for the championship title right up to the season finale.
Alberico will make the step up to Indy Lights thanks to primary sponsor Rising Star Racing, an organisation whose mission it is to ensure that deserving drivers get the opportunities they deserve in motorsports.  Rising Star Racing also support 2015 Indy Lights Champion Spencer Pigot, who will race in selected Indy Car rounds in 2016, together with established Indy Car racer and winner Josef Newgarden.
Rising Star Racing logo
Speaking about the season ahead, Alberico said, “Carlin came to the US and immediately proved they could win races. They have a winning formula for success, so of course I am happy to be part of that for 2016. There will be challenges to adapt to as I learn the nuances of the new car, but driving alongside a pair of experienced teammates like Ed and Felix will help accelerate the learning process.”
Trevor Carlin added, “Neil was a driver who immediately caught our eye least season, from the outset he looked like one of the drivers to beat and throughout the year he handled himself very well both in and out of the car. We’re extremely proud that Neil and his sponsors have chosen Carlin as the team with which to continue his career on the Mazda Road to Indy.  Neil has impressed us already in the small amount of testing he has done with the team and we’re really looking forward to seeing him race alongside Ed and Felix in what we believe is a very strong driver line-up.”
Alberico will join Carlin team mates Ed Jones and Felix Serralles in the first of this season’s official tests, with two days running at Homestead this week from 26 – 27 January.
Source: Carlin PR
You can follow along with Neil’s career on his social media channels: Twitter – Instagram – Facebook
You can follow along with Carlin on their social media channels: Twitter – Instagram – Facebook
You can follow along with Rising Star Racing on their social media channels: Twitter – Instagram – Facebook
category: Carlin
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BELARDI AUTO RACING READY FOR INDY LIGHTS HOMESTEAD TEST

Posted by  on Friday, January 22nd 2016     

BELARDI AUTO RACING READY FOR INDY LIGHTS HOMESTEAD TEST

Race winner Zach Veach to be joined by Felix Rosenqvist on Florida road course

BROWNSBURG, IN (January 22, 2015) – Belardi Auto Racing is ready to break cover at Homestead-Miami Speedway next week to begin their quest to regain the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship that they won in 2014 with Gabby Chaves. The team announced the popular signing of series race winner Zach Veach back in November and the young American will be joined by reigning European F3 champion Felix Rosenqvist on the 2.21-mile 14-turn road course on January 26-27. This is the first official test of the 2016 season and the Mazda Road to Indy technical staff will be trackside to make sure the cars are legal and the drivers are primed and ready to go.

Veach will be making his return to the Indy Lights circuit after taking a year off pursuing an IndyCar seat, and his re-focus on the top level of the Mazda Road to Indy has put him behind the wheel of the new Dallara IL-15 that debuted last year. Veach was back up to speed quickly in his initial off-season tests with the Belardi operation in south Florida, and he is itching to return to the seat to continue preparing for the season, which will kick off on March 11-13 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, an event that Veach won in 2014. An opportunity to win the Indy Lights championship and the lucrative scholarship that includes three IndyCar races, including the Indianapolis 500, is certainly the prime motivator from the young 21-year-old Ohio native.

Rosenqvist, an extremely talented 24-year-old Swedish driver, comes to the Homestead test with Belardi Auto Racing having impressed with Team Pelfrey at Palm Beach in December. The reigning European Formula 3 champion tested with GP2 outfits Status Grand Prix and Prema Powerteam in Abu Dhabi last fall. A move to the Mazda Road to Indy looks imminent for the quick Swede, and he would be a powerful edition to the Belardi Auto Racing stable. Rosenqvist’s resume is stacked, and includes prestigious F3 wins in Pau, Macau and the Masters of Formula 3 events.

“We’re thrilled to have Felix in our second car alongside Zach for the Homestead test and we’re very keen on his running in Belardi red and white this season,” offered Team Principal Brian Belardi. “They both have race-winning pedigrees. Zach has in-depth knowledge of the Mazda Road to Indy venues, and he knows how to win. I know that first-hand, as we had to fight him all year to take the title in 2014. Felix is equally as talented and has a well-developed understanding of the sport and the racecar itself. His resume speaks for it. If we can firm up this team, we’ll be gunning to bring the title back to Brownsburg at the end of 2016.”

The drivers will be on-track at Homestead on Tuesday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 27. Living timing from the sessions will be available on www.indylights.com.

Source: Belardi Auto Racing press release

category: Belardi PR
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Yufeng Luo returns to Pabst Racing for a sophomore Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda campaign

Posted by  on Friday, January 22nd 2016     

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (January 20, 2016) – Pabst Racing announced today that 17-year-old Yufeng Luo will return for his second season with the team in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.  Luo will drive the #23 Pabst Racing USF2000 car for the 16-race  season, along with teammate Garth Rickards. The team is currently working to secure a third driver.

Yufeng Luo announced that he will be back with Pabst Racing for a sophomore season of Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda. The 17 year-old Los Angeles, CA native had 11 top 10 finishes in 2015 and also won the SCCA Run-Offs at Daytona Speedway. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

Yufeng Luo announced that he will be back with Pabst Racing for a sophomore season of Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda. The 17 year-old Los Angeles, CA native had 11 top 10 finishes in 2015 and also won the SCCA Run-Offs at Daytona Speedway. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

As a rookie, Luo finished eighth in the standings and scored three top-fives and eight top-10 results in the USF2000 Championship in 2015. After a strong first year, he looks to improve his performance in year two.

“My hope for the second season with Pabst Racing is to grab the championship,” said Luo.

In addition to running the 2015 USF2000 Championship, Pabst Racing and Luo won the Formula Continental National Championship at the SCCA Runoffs in September at Daytona International Speedway.

Luo is a resident of Arcadia, California, and was born in Beijing, China. His career began four years ago while racing in the Los Angeles Karting Championship. He has also raced in the Pacific F2000 Series.

The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Series Presented by Mazda will begin in St. Petersburg, Fla. March 11th through 13th.

Visit www.USF2000.com for more details about the series or upcoming events.

Fans can follow Pabst Racing on Twitter and Facebook

You can follow along with Luo’s journey on Instagram.

Source: Pabst Racing

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It’s a family affair as Ricardo Juncos and Speedway, Indiana officials break ground on $3 million Juncos Racing headquarters

Posted by  on Thursday, January 21st 2016     

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Ricardo Juncos and Speedway, Indiana town officials braved a cold Indiana morning to break the frozen ground for the new Juncos Technical Center. It’s fitting that a boy who grew up with a grandfather and father who were racers and dreamed of a career for his entire life would be surrounded by his father, wife, brother and other family (actual and racing) while planting new roots in the Hoosier State at the corner of Allison Way and Gilman Street in Speedway.

Ricardo Juncos is surrounded by family and Speedway, Indiana officials as he breaks ground on the Juncos Technical Center in Speedway, Indiana ((Photo Courtesy of IndyCar - Chris Owens)

Ricardo Juncos is surrounded by family,  Speedway, Indiana officials and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles as he breaks ground on the Juncos Technical Center in Speedway, Indiana ((Photo Courtesy of IndyCar – Chris Owens)

“The creation of the Juncos Technical Center (JTC) marks a historical turning point for the team,” said Juncos, team principal and founder of Juncos Racing. “Less than 10 years ago, we were a small karting team in Florida, and I continue to be amazed by the amount of growth and success we have seen in such a short period of time.”

The new $3 million, 41,000 square foot headquarters also includes plans that will make the building easily expandable to 70,000 square feet.  Juncos Racing and their 25 employees are currently housed in a cramped 10,000 square foot shop in Brownsburg, Indiana.

Initially, the team’s plans are to occupy 30,000 square feet and lease 10,000 square feet to another company. Juncos joins Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing, A.J. Foyt Racing, Dallara, USAC and of course the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (and INDYCAR) as major racing entities with facilities located in the town of 12,000.

There is definitely some symmetry that the 19-year-old race team has made the 104-year-old enclave of Indianapolis its new home, as both the race team and the town have been shaped by month of May events that occurred 91 years apart. The first Indianapolis 500 was held in during the month of May in 1911, and Juncos moved from his home in Argentina to the United States in May 2002.

The 40-year-old Juncos made the transition from successful race car driver to successful team owner during the mid-1990s, butentered the 21st century finding it difficult to survive a collapsing Argentinian economy. The Buenos Aires native made a difficult decision to move away from home and try to start over. His first plan was to move to Australia where he had friends he could live with, but he could not afford the the cost of the flight. Juncos could afford a flight to Miami, where he started life anew with no plans to continue with racing.

Juncos Racing began as a successful karting operation that won a total of 19 championships before making the move to the Mazda Road To Indy and Pro Mazda in 2009. In the past six years, the team has won two Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire championships (2010 – Conor Daly / 2014 – Spencer Pigot) and one Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire championship (2015 – Spencer Pigot).

The team which plans to move into their new headquarters in late summer or early fall, and has a full slate of drivers already signed. The Juncos Pro Mazda lineup will continue with four drivers, with two returning drivers and two rookies (Garett Grist, Will Owen, Jake Parsons & Nicolas Dapero), and a similar balance in Indy Lights with one sophomore and one rookie (Kyle Kaiser & Zachary Claman DeMelo).

“The team has grown larger and stronger each year, which created the need for a facility like the JTC,” Juncos explained. “This new facility will allow Juncos to continue to expand into new series. It wouldn’t be possible without the incredible passion and desire of every member of Juncos Racing, and I am truly grateful for all of the hard work they put in to make this dream a reality.”

Juncos did share that the team is planning on expanding to four Indy Lights entries in 2017 and does have aspirations to compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series, but would not commit to a definite time-frame for that big move.

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