Californian poised to battle for top honors in return to North American competition
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – Junior formula car standout JDC MotorSports is excited to announce that Neil Alberico will be part of its multi-car title challenge in the 2012 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda. The California racer joins the Minnesota-based squad following a strong campaign in the British Formula Ford ranks this past season.
JDC MotorSports has firmly set its sights on the USF2000 National Championship title in 2012, and with the addition of American up-and-comer Alberico to its driver line-up, it is taking another step towards achieving this goal. A former karting and Bondurant Championship Race Series champion, the Californian will make his USF2000 debut with JDC following a very successful season of Formula Ford competition in England and Europe that included a race win and a podium finish at the world renowned Formula Ford Festival. The Team USA Scholarship winner will pilot a Mazda powered Van Diemen in the Mazda Road to Indy series, partnering fellow JDC MotorSport rookies Scott Hargrove, Michael Johnson and Zac Silver at JDC MotorSports.
"We are very excited to add Neil to our 2012 roster," stated Church. “He brings a great attitude and a great deal of Formula Ford experience.”
"I'm so psyched to be competing in the USF2000 Championship with John Church and JDC Motorsports!" commented Alberico. "It feels great to come home after a solid season in Europe and put together a deal with such a well respected team like JDC. I am overly confident that all the guys at JDC will do a fantastic job for me during the season. I couldn't be more happy with my decision!"
Alberico's new partnership with JDC MotorSports marks not only a return to North American competition for the talented racer, but also the next chapter in his burgeoning motorsports journey. The Los Gatos, Calif., native first started racing karts at the age of 10, ultimately winning titles in the Junior Sportsman, Junior Super Sportsman, and Junior Puma classes in the International Karting Federation. Building on this success, Alberico secured the TaG Senior title in the WSK North American Series, before making the move to car competition. His transition to junior formula car action proved to be a winning affair, earning the Bondurant Championship Race Series title via 10 wins in his debut campaign. Alberico made the move 'across the pond' this past season, racing in the highly competitive MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain. Further establishing his position as a young driver on the rise, the 19 year-old helped develop the latest Ray chassis en route to a strong ninth place finish in the title chase. Alberico followed this up with a podium finish at the historic 40th Formula Ford Festival as a Team USA driver.
JDC MotorSports and Alberico's pursuit of the 2012 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda title commences on March 16-17, with Rounds One and Two as part of the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Prior to the season-opener, the Californian will pilot his JDC racing steed in the six-race Cooper Tires Winterfest, which gets underway on February 6-7, at Sebring International Raceway.
JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from www.RedLineOil.com.
Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team’s website at www.jdcmotorsports.com. For direct contact, please contact John Church @ 952-233-3075.
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About JDC MotorSports:
Involved in formula car racing since its inception in 1994, JDC MotorSports has established itself as one of the leading junior open-wheel teams in North America. Initially making its mark in the F2000 class of club racing competition, JDC MotorSports was soon a team worth watching in the pro ranks. Competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship, the team not only won races, but also helped develop multiple young drivers. In 2005, JDC MotorSports expanded its efforts, entering the Star Mazda Championship. Quickly becoming one of the top teams in the series, JDC captured both the driver and team titles in 2007, as well as Rookie of the Year honors, with Dane Cameron scoring a series-high three wins. In 2008, JDC MotorSports was the runner-up in the Star Mazda Championship and finished fourth in its inaugural season of F2000 Championship Series competition. The Minnesota-based team won the Star Mazda Championship title with Rookie of the Year Adam Christodoulou, and the F2000 Championship Series title with Chris Miller in 2009. The following year, JDC continued its winning ways, earning the Rookie of the Year award in the Star Mazda Championship with Connor De Phillippi, and scoring a non-points win in the USF2000 National Championship. In 2011, the Minneapolis-based squad captured its third Star Mazda Championship title with Tristan Vautier, scored a win in the USF2000 National Championship, and made its Prototype Lites Championship debut, earning five podium finishes. JDC MotorSports will contest the Star Mazda Championship, USF2000 National Championship and Prototype Lites Championship in 2012.