Indy Lights and USF2000 Championship race winner ready to challenge for titles with premier driver line-up and skilled crew BROWNSBURG, IND. – Mazda Road to Indy front-runners Belardi Auto Racing are excited about the upcoming 2014 season, ready to challenge for race wins and championship honors in both the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires and Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. With five dynamic drivers already signed, the Brownsburg, Ind., team is poised to build on what was a race-winning campaign in 2013, further establishing its position as a leading junior formula car squad and home to the next stars of motorsports.
Since its inception, Belardi Auto Racing has strived to be the best it can be both on, and off the track, offering its drivers all the tools and support necessary to succeed. To reach that goal, Team Owner Brian Belardi has continually surrounded himself with drivers and staff that are talented, dedicated, and focused on winning. In 2013, that resulted in strong race-winning efforts in both top rung of the Mazda Road to Indy program, Indy Lights, and the first step of the prestigious driver development ladder, USF2000 Championship.
Never content with maintaining the status quo, Belardi Auto Racing began preparations for adding to its legacy of winning almost immediately after the final checkered flag waved back in October on the streets of Houston, Texas.
Thus far the quest for Indy Lights supremacy is already off to a superb start. Building on a solid 2013 season that featured three podium finishes, and a win in the closest finish in history at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Belardi Auto Racing was the team to watch during the year-end Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Test. French rookie Alex Baron was quickest at the end of the two-day outing at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. The skilled racer, who was victorious in his USF2000 debut last season, promptly joined Belardi Auto Racing following the outing, making the team one of the early favorites to take home the Rookie of the Year award. The run of form continued for Belardi during the second pre-season test, with Gabby Chaves posting the second fastest time after two days of action at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.
The USF2000 program under the Belardi Auto Racing awning is likewise off and rolling with good results and exciting news. Having secured one win and six podium finishes last season, the team continued to shine during the December Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Test. French rookie Nico Jamin led the way with third best time, just ahead of British returnee Michael Epps, who was fourth fastest. Canadian second-year driver Daniel Burkett was eighth quickest, while French team newcomer Florian Latorre placed all four of the team cars in the top-10 with the 10th best time. With all four racers signed and ready to battle for top honors, Belardi Auto Racing has one of the premier line-ups in the always highly-competitive championship.
In addition to the drivers showcasing their talents on-course, the squad has been busy ensuring the Indy Lights Dallara racers, and USF2000 Van Diemen's are in ideal working order, as well as going over data, information, and video in order to get the most from every session on-track.
Belardi Auto Racing rolls back on-course on February 21-22, when the opening rounds of the Cooper Tires Winterfest are contested, and two days of Indy Lights testing are conducted at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, La. The Winterfest series and Indy Lights testing continues on February 25-26, with cars taking to the Barber Motorsports Park track in Leeds, Ala. The 2014 edition of both the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires and Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda get underway on March 29-30, with the opening rounds on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., as part of the IndyCar Series season-opening event.
The race-winning squad is seeking to add to its highly-regarded line-up of mechanics and engineers prior to the 2014 title fights start, with skilled and dedicated mechanics and engineers interested in fly-in or full time employment with Belardi Auto Racing sending their resume to Belardi2014@gmail.com or mail to Belardi Auto Racing, 1187 E Northfield Dr., Suite G, Brownsburg, Ind., 46112.
Additional information on Belardi Auto Racing can be obtained from their website @ BelardiAutoRacing.com or by contacting Brian Belardi at 317-456-2816 / belardi@belardiautoracing.com. Keep up to date via Twitter @ Belardi Racing and on Facebook page @ Belardi Auto Racing.
Keep up to date with Alex Baron via Twitter @ AlexBaronPro and on Facebook @ Alex Baron
Keep up to date with Daniel Burkett via Twitter @Daniel Burkett and on Facebook @ Daniel Burkett Racing
Learn more about at MichaelEpps.co.uk and keep up to date via Twitter @ MichaelEppsRace and on Facebook @ Michael Epps RacingMichaelEppsRacing
Keep up to date Nico Jamin via Facebook @ Nico Jamin Racing
Learn more about Florian Latorre via Twitter @ FlorianLATORRE and on Facebook @ Florian Latorre Pro
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About Belardi Auto Racing:
Belardi Auto Racing is an organization comprised of experienced individuals in the racing industry with an aggressive growth strategy and a strong commitment to finishing up front. No stranger to winning, team members having been achieving success in both the amateur and pro ranks for over a decade, winning numerous junior formula car races and championships. Based in Brownsburg, Ind., Belardi Auto Racing contests multi-car efforts in both the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires and Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series. Goal-oriented and focused on developing the next stars of motorsports, Belardi Auto Racing won in both Indy Lights and USF2000 Championship in 2013.