Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing is tested and ready to begin the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda with its first race at Sebring International Raceway. Vincent Beltoise will join previously announced drivers Shannon McIntosh and Suvanto Petri.
Beltoise, 20, is an accomplished open-wheel driver and motorcross rider, competing in the Formul’Academy Euro Series in 2008 and 2009, and the Formula Palmer Audi (UK) this past year. The young Frenchman is excited to join the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing team.
“It was a great decision to come to the United States and race,” Beltoise said. “I am very confident in Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing, and since visiting the shop in St. Petersburg, I see how professional they are. The team members are really kind, and it will be a pleasure to work with them.”
“We are very happy to have Vincent join the team,” said Dominic Cape, team principle. “We at Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing have high hopes for him and all our drivers. We have had an intense testing schedule, and we are confident going into the first races of the season at Sebring.”
Beltoise will drive the No. 32 machine, and join teammates McIntosh and Petri as all three begin their quest for the USF2000 National Championship next week at Sebring.
"I am very anxious about the first race and can't even believe it's crept up on us so quickly,” McIntosh, who will pilot the No. 2 machine, said. “It's surreal to me that I am entering my first full race season since 2006, and I have to thank my incredible partners, Glass Hammer Racing and Dale Pelfrey with Team Pelfrey for coming on board to support my effort. I couldn't be more comfortable and confident that I'll have the tools and equipment necessary to make my first season competing on road and street courses a great success.”
I expect that this year will consist of a lot of hard work, persistence, teamwork and patience as I try to get up to speed as quickly as possible in a completely different type of racing than what I'm used to. I am more than excited and can't wait to get on track!"
Teammate Suvanto, who will drive the No. 3, has similar feelings and expectations.
“Getting ready for a new season takes a lot of work from drivers and teams, and I'm pretty sure every single person in this business is happy to go racing again,” Suvanto said. “It's such a great feeling to finally get the season started. My goal is to learn as much as possible from every single lap, in order to improve every single session, every single day. I'm confident that Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing will give me the best possible tools to do that.
But to be honest, when it comes to competing, my goal has always been and always will be to come out as a winner. The fact is though, that in order to get there, one has to perform better than anybody else on any given day and it requires a lot of hard work. My goal is to do that and hopefully it is the right formula for the championship win.”
The Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing trio will first hit the track on Tuesday, March 15th for official USF2000 testing, with the first practice the following day, March 16th. Qualifying is scheduled for the morning of March 17th, with Race No. 1 later in the day. A morning warm-up will be held on March 18th and Race No. 2 will be in the afternoon. For the official schedule and to view live timing and scoring, please visit www.usf2000.com.
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.
The Capes have fielded a team every year since the series’ inception in the early 1990’s, placing second in the 2010 USF2000 National Championship Series points’ battle, capturing six podium finishes and two race-wins.