McCordsville, Ind. – After a meeting late November in St. Louis, Mo., with Don Conner of DC Autosport, Ayrton Houk has committed to take the next steps in his racing career by participating in the USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire series test at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla., December 11-12.
USF2000 is the first step on the globally acclaimed USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire open-wheel development ladder, which provides scholarship opportunities for young drivers to progress all the way from the grassroots of the sport to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500.
In addition to serving as DC Autosport principal, Conner has won a total of seven USF2000 championships – 2010, and from 2012 to 2017 – managing data, engineering and coaching for the hugely successful Cape Motorsports team. He also helped engineer current Andretti Autosport NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Kyle Kirkwood to the 2017 F4 US Championship Powered by Honda title. In late 2017, DC Autosport with Cape Motorsports formed a partnership to contest the F4 US Championship from 2018 through 2021, also capturing the 2018 championship title with Dakota Dickerson.
Conner will be running three cars under the DC Autosport banner in the 2024 USF2000 series.
“The Sebring test will provide us both the opportunity to get to know each other, see how the team works together and decide if we can work together for the season,” said Houk, who recently returned from a six-week trip to England representing the prestigious Team USA Scholarship. “I’m grateful to Team USA President Jeremy Shaw for connecting me with Don and DC Autosport. I think this might be the start of another great racing relationship.”
Houk has competed in the Formula Race Promotions F1600 Championship Series for the past three seasons, as well as the USSA Kenyon Midget Series, honing his skills on both road courses and ovals. After securing a runner up position in the 2023 FRP F1600 championship, multiple wins in a Kenyon Midget car, and a successful Formula Ford debut in the UK, Houk has accrued the necessary skills and experience to be competitive in the next levels of the American open-wheel ladder in chase of his goal, a career in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Houk plans to run the full USF2000 championship in 2024 and is actively seeking partners and sponsors to help fund the required budget.