Canadian enters Mazda Road to Indy program as Skip Barber Summer Series runner-up
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – Junior formula car leader JDC MotorSports is excited to announce the addition of Scott Hargrove to its Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda program for the upcoming 2012 season. The talented Canadian will be making his series debut with the Minnesota-based squad following a successful rookie car racing season.
With an eye towards again challenging for top honors in the competitive USF2000 National Championship, JDC MotorSports has signed its first driver for the 2012 campaign. Hargrove, having finished second in the Skip Barber Summer Series in his first season of car competition, will make his pro F2000 debut, joining multiple race winner JDC MotorSports. The Surrey, B.C., native recently impressed the renowned junior formula car outfit in private testing at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, demonstrating good speed, skill, and feedback in his initial outing in a Mazda-powered Van Diemen. With support from RaceEnergy, Analytic Systems, Skip Barber Racing School, and Italian Motors, Hargrove will enter his new partnership with JDC with an eye on the USF2000 Rookie of the Year.
"After testing with the team in late September, I am ecstatic to be a part of JDC MotorSports for 2012, it really is a dream come true!" stated Hargrove. "The team has an extensive history of success, and I know they will provide me with all the best equipment to help continue that success into 2012. It is a very exciting time to join USF2000 and start on the Mazda Road to Indy, as many of my competitors from 2011 in Skip Barber have chosen to peruse rides in USF2000. 2012 will be a year full of learning, and I'm ecstatic that John Church and the team will be there to aid me all along the way."
"We are very happy to have signed Scott for the 2012 season," commented JDC MotorSports principal John Church. "He had a great test with the team in late September and we look forward to a successful campaign in 2012."
The 16 year-old Hargrove enters the USF2000 National Championship following a brief but successful start to his motorsports career. Having made his karting debut in 2008 via local competition, the Canadian quickly made his mark, winning two IKF Region 6 Gold Cup karting championships as a rookie in the Senior class. Winning a scholarship presented by MAZDASPEED Motorsports, The FIA Motorsports Safety Development Fund and Skip Barber Racing School, Hargrove made the transition to car competition this past season. The teenager promptly showed good natural talent by winning four races en route to capturing the Rookie of the Year award and second in the Skip Barber Summer Series.
JDC Motorsports continues preparations for the 2012 season with the squad's USF2000 cars taking to the Indianapolis Motorsports Speedway road course on October 28-29, as part of the Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Open Test. JDC will make further announcements regarding its 2012 driver line-up in the coming weeks, with the team currently evaluating additional racers, and interested parties urged to contact the squad.
JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from www.RedLineOil.com
Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team’s website @ 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.