ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing driver Petri Suvanto claimed the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda crown this past weekend during the Grand Prix of Baltimore. His efforts will be rewarded with a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to the Star Mazda Championship in 2012.
With only five laps of practice and the qualifying session canceled, Suvanto, driver of the No. 3 Viseko Van Diemen-Mazda, finished second in Race 1 to claim the championship on the 2.4-mile temporary street circuit. With his second-place finish in Race 2 the next day, Suvanto’s season included five race wins, five second-place finish. He only failed to finish on the podium once in 12 races and was named Rookie of the Year.
“Winning the championship meant a lot to me,” Suvanto said. “My family has made big sacrifices for this, and I know they wanted it as much as I did. Coming into this season I knew that I was in a ‘make or break’ kind of situation and maybe that additional pressure has helped to boost my performances a bit further.
“Also, I've seen how hard my team has worked over the season and how much they want it - I feel like these guys deserved it. It was a big privilege to be racing in USF2000 as part of the Mazda Road to Indy. There is no better place anywhere in the world for young drivers like me. This is a very big and important step closer to reaching my dreams.”
No. 2 Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing driver Shannon McIntosh also had reason to be excited after her weekend at Baltimore with her sixth and fifth place finishes.
“I am so happy we ended the season on a high note,” McIntosh said. “The Baltimore Grand Prix was an amazing event from the course, to the city, to the crazy amount of support and fans. My goals going into the race weekend were to keep the car in one piece, learn the track and improve incrementally each time I went out, and we achieved all three.
“I've got to thanks the Cape brothers (Dominic and Nicholas), my mechanic's for sticking with me through the season and working hard through all the ups and downs, my parents for the incredible support they've given me through this emotional year (for me). Also, I want to thank my management/PR Klint Briney at BRANDed for the hard work this year. Last but not least, thank you to Dale Pelfrey for giving me this first big opportunity to pursue IndyCar.”
After the final race, the team enjoyed the USF2000 banquet where Suvanto was presented his trophy. The young Finnish driver has little time to celebrate with the team as he was on the next flight to Finland to take his final high school exams.
Be sure to keep up with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing during the offseason and follow the team on Facebook and Twitter for updates (CMwithWTR).
Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing was formed in 2010 as a partnership between two successful racing entities. With leadership from brothers Nicholas and Dominic Cape, and along with Wayne Taylor and his organization in Indianapolis, the team campaigns cars in the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda. For more information, please visit www.capemotorsports.com.