Latorre finished an impressive fourth and seventh in Rounds Eight and Nine
PALMETTO, FLA. – The JAY Motorsports entry of Florian Latorre was one to watch this past weekend (August 3-4) at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, thanks to two impressive drives in Rounds Eight and Nine of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. The French rookie showcased his racecraft skills by advancing numerous positions in the opening two races of the lone tripleheader on the championship calendar, emerging with fourth and seventh place finishes. The Florida-based squad as a result continues to impress, entering the final four races of the season currently fifth in the driver standings.
Widely regarded as one of the premier technical tracks in North America, the Mid-Ohio road course presents multiple challenges to drivers and teams. When the USF2000 Championship cars first rolled on-course for event testing, it immediately became apparent that both JAY Motorsports and its rookie racer Latorre were ready to make their mark. Building on superb recent run of success that has featured two podium finishes, the No. 91 13th Avenue/MASM-Cogny/Accent du Sud Ouest/JAY Motorsports entry was second fastest in the opening session. Following that up with the seventh quickest lap in the second run, the stage was set for more quick times in practice and qualifying. Unfortunately things did not go according to plan, as an incident in the lone practice outing set the team back, and while Latorre was able to get out for the timed run that set the grid for Round Eight, he was unable to post a truly representative lap, securing a row seven starting position for race one.
The first of three races in Ohio proved to be a chaotic affair, with a very slick track greeting the talented USF2000 Championship field. Latorre, however, overcame the tricky conditions, displaying superb car control and passing skills in the limited green-flag race. The former French Formula 4 National Auto Sport Academy Championship Rookie of the Year in the end just missed a third consecutive trip to the post-race celebrations, advancing 10 positions all the way to fourth.
When Latorre returned to the driver's seat of his JAY Motorsports racing steed only a few hours later, sunny skies and a dry track greeted the teenage up-and-comer. Making the most of the improved conditions, Latorre again showcased his ever-growing talents. Starting P15, he capitalized on any opportunity to go forward, ultimately taking the checkered flag in a hard fought seventh place, earning the Tilton Hard Charger award.
With two strong drives already under his belt at the 2.25-mile track, Latorre was looking forward to final race of the triple bill, particularly since it featured his best starting position of the weekend, lining up in 11th. Unfortunately, this grid position proved to be less than ideal, as immediately upon the green flag waving a incident at the front of the field resulted in unavoidable contact for many of the cars behind, including Latorre, ending his race prior to the first turn.
While the IZOD IndyCar Series event at Mid-Ohio did not end as desired for JAY Motorsports and the 16 year-old Latorre, the team and driver again showed it has the skill and talent to be a championship front-runner.
"Unfortunately our results did not show how competitive I think we were," stated Latorre. "An incident in the first official practice put us a little behind, but the team worked very hard to get the car ready for qualifying. We all had to work hard this weekend to get the finishes we needed."
The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda campaign resumes for JAY Motorsports and Latorre on September 7-8, when Rounds 11 and 12 take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The Florida-based team enters the northern California doubleheader currently fifth in the driver standings, and eighth in the team championship.
Drivers interested in joining JAY Motorsports, are encouraged to contact team principal Jay Green.
Additional information on JAY Motorsports can be obtained from the team’s website @ JAYMotorsports.com. For direct contact, please contact Jay Green @ 304-610-5663 or jaymotorsports1@gmail.com, and keep up to date via Twitter @ jaymtrsprt and on Facebook @ JAYMotorsportsLLC. Videos also available on YouTube @ JAY Motorsports.
Learn more about Florian Latorre via Twitter @ FlorianLATORRE and Facebook @ Florian Latorre Pro.
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About JAY Motorsports:
JAY Motorsports, LLC is a family owned and operated racing organization based in Florida. Led by former racer Jay Green, the team became one of the highest rated customer service representatives within the SCCA's spec categories. With countless wins in SCCA Club and Pro competition, the team has become a mainstay in junior driver development over the years. By winning the 2009 and 2012 SCCA Formula Enterprises National Championships, they propelled their drivers to win spots on the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Team in 2009 and 2012. In addition to the 2009 and 2012 Runoffs gold medals, JAY Motorsports was the 2006 MARRS Spec Racer Ford champion, 2007 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford champion, 2008 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford and Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 SCCA Great Lakes/Central Division Formula Car Magazine Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 Carolina Cup Pro Series Spec Racer Ford champion, and 2009 SCCA Southeast Division ECR Spec Racer Ford champion. This past season, JAY Motorsports entered the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda full-time, contesting both the National and Championship classes.