Rookie standout Latorre looking to continue early season run of form during Night Before the 500 race
PALMETTO, FLA. – JAY Motorsports' 2013 campaign in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda resumes on Saturday (May 25), with the prestigious Night Before the 500 event at Lucas Oil Raceway. Rookie standout Florian Latorre will once again lead the charge for the Florida-based squad during the lone oval race on the series calendar, having impressed in the opening four rounds of the Mazda Road to Indy driver development championship.
After racing on a more traditional road course and street circuit to start the race season, the USF2000 Championship competitors will complete the track trifecta in Round Five via an oval. While JAY Motorsports enters the action at the 0.686-mile banked Lucas Oil Raceway with a great deal less 'circle track' experience than many of its counterparts, the two-time Formula Enterprises SCCA National Champion is confident it can continue its early season run of form, that has included two top-fives and an additional top-10 in the four races contested thus far.
JAY Motorsports confidence comes well placed following two successful outings in official series testing in the lead up to the Memorial Day weekend race.
Focused on car setup and driver development, which is particularly vital given the team's limited private testing program, Latorre was part of a large contingent of racers taking part in a two-day run at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The French rookie promptly made the most of the extended track time to work with his JAY Motorsports crew, trying out multiple changes on the No. 91 13th Avenue/MASM-Cogny/Accent du Sud Ouest/JAY Motorsports entry. While less than ideal weather - intermittent rain - prevented the squad from accomplishing certain activities, a great deal of data and experience was gained ahead of the return visit to the technical undulating road course in early August, which will feature a rare tripleheader.
Immediately heading west to the Indianapolis, Ind., area after the test, Latorre began his introduction to oval competition via the annual Mazda Road to Indy Oval Clinic. After a day's worth of insight, information, and instruction from INDYCAR officials and drivers, the JAY Motorsports racer got his first opportunity to see and drive an oval via a one-day test at Lucas Oil Raceway. The former French Formula 4 National Auto Sport Academy Championship Rookie of the Year, as planned, spent virtually the entire test getting acclimated to the intricacies of oval racing, steadily building speed. When the final checkered flag waved to conclude the day's activities, both the 15 year-old and the JAY Motorsports crew were pleased with how things went, and were looking forward to using the information and experience gained in the tricky cool conditions in Round Five.
JAY Motorsports' Latorre commences his first-ever oval event on Friday (May 24), when three event test sessions are contest at Lucas Oil Raceway. The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda action officially commences one day later with a pair of practice runs, prior to single-car qualifying at 4:10 pm local time. The lone oval race on the 2013 series calendar, Round Five, is scheduled to start under the lights at 7:40 pm local time as part of the famed Night Before the 500. Latoore enters the race currently ninth in the championship fight. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx
Drivers interested in joining JAY Motorsports, are encouraged to contact team principal Jay Green.
Additional information on JAY Motorsports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jaymotorsports.com For direct contact, please contact Jay Green @ 304-610-5663 or jaymotorsports1@gmail.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ jaymtrsprt and on Facebook @ JAY Motorsports.
Learn more about Florian Latorre at www.Florian-Latorre.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ FFlorianLATORRE and Facebook @ Florian Latorre Pro
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About JAY Motorsports:
JAY Motorsports, LLC is a family owned and operated racing organization based in Florida. Led by former racer Jay Green, the team became one of the highest rated customer service representatives within the SCCA's spec categories. With countless wins in SCCA Club and Pro competition, the team has become a mainstay in junior driver development over the years. By winning the 2009 and 2012 SCCA Formula Enterprises National Championships, they propelled their drivers to win spots on the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Team in 2009 and 2012. In addition to the 2009 and 2012 Runoffs gold medals, JAY Motorsports was the 2006 MARRS Spec Racer Ford champion, 2007 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford champion, 2008 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford and Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 SCCA Great Lakes/Central Division Formula Car Magazine Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 Carolina Cup Pro Series Spec Racer Ford champion, and 2009 SCCA Southeast Division ECR Spec Racer Ford champion. This past season, JAY Motorsports entered the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda full-time, contesting both the National and Championship classes.