Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing rising star ready to challenge for top honors during Cooper Tires Winterfest opener 

LOS GATOS, CALIF. – The chase for 2013 glory begins for Neil Alberico this week (February 5-6), when the highly-regarded junior formula car rising star takes part in the opening three races of the Cooper Tires Winterfest series at Sebring International Raceway. Making the switch to defending series champion Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing for his second season of USF2000 Championship action, the Californian is focused on starting the season off in fine style by challenging for top honors.

When the green flag waves in central Florida to begin the six-race USF2000 'off-season' championship, one of the drivers everyone will be keeping an eye on is Alberico. The former Team USA scholarship winner enters the Winterfest tripleheader ready to build on a strong end to his 2012 season last fall, when he scored a runner-up finish in the penultimate USF2000 Championship race at VIRginia International Raceway, and added a pair of podium finishes in a last minute replacement drive with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing in the F1600 Formula F Championship Series finale doubleheader. Given Alberico has additionally impressed his new team and crew with his attitude, feedback, and speed in pre-season testing, the stage is set for the 20 year-old to fight for race wins right from the get go in 2013.

"I'm just super excited that the season is finally here!" commented Alberico. "The Capes have organized another group of talented guys this season, and I think everyone is just amped to get back on track. Winterfest is always a great event to kick everything off and get everyone into race mode. With Dan Andersen putting together another awesome schedule this year, It should be a fun one to watch."

Alberico, who has a Bondurant Championship Race Series title and a podium finish in the 40th edition of the world-renowned Formula Ford Festival on his resume, is well aware of the importance of not only getting a good start to the season, but building chemistry and communication within a team. As a result, the Los Gatos, Calif., will be striving to be one of the racers battling for wins, as well as using the two days at Sebring to further enhance his working relationship with his race engineer and mechanics to form a cohesive and successful partnership.

The on-track action at Sebring International Raceway gets underway for Alberico and his fellow Cooper Tires Winterfest racers on Tuesday (February 5), with practice, qualifying, and race one of the season-opening tripleheader.

Those interested in supporting this rising American racer are encouraged to contact Neil Alberico directly at eil@neilalberico.com to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Learn more about Neil Alberico at neilalberico.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ NeilAlberico and Facebook @ Neil-Alberico-Racing

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About Neil Alberico:
A native of Los Gatos, Calif., Alberico first started racing karts at the age of 10, competing in IKF region 11 action. Over the course of four seasons (2004-07), the young talent captured the Junior Sportsman, Junior Super Sportsman, and Junior Puma championship titles. In 2008, Alberico first got behind the wheel of a race car, graduating from the Skip Barber 2-day Advanced school at Laguna Seca prior to participating in the Formula BMW recruitment day at Miller Motorsports Park. Continuing to race in the karting ranks while raising funds to pursue a career in motorsports, Alberico won the Snap-On Stars of Karting Series National finale in Las Vegas in 2009, before finishing third in CKI National TAG Senior championship. Alberico built on this success in 2010, winning the TaG Senior class in the WSK North American Series, as well as the Bondurant Championship Race Series, capturing 10 wins in first full season of car competition. As part of the prize package for winning the Bondurant Championship, the teenager tested a Pro Formula Mazda with World Speed Motorsports and a Formula Atlantic Swift 016.a with Finlay Motorsports. In 2011, Alberico made his European racing debut, competing in the world-renowned Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with Irish-based Cliff Dempsey Racing. Finish ninth in his maiden FF season, the Californian earned a Team USA Scholarships. As a Team USA driver, he captured a Semi-Final win and finished third in the historic 40th Formula Ford Festival. Alberico joined the Mazda Road to Indy program in 2012, earning a podium finish and nine top-fives in his rookie season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. This season, the California standout returns to USF2000 Championship action, joining two-time defending champion Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.