HOUSTON, Texas - As one of the top shifterkart drivers in the country, Florida resident Mathias Ramirez will join the Road to Indy program in 2020. Inking a deal with DEForce Racing, Ramirez will compete in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and will aim for Rookie of the Year honors in the first rung of the ladder in the climb towards IndyCar.
"I am absolutely completely shocked that my dream will become a reality in a matter of weeks," explained Ramirez, who scored a podium result this past weekend at the ROK Cup USA Florida Winter Tour. "I am ready to become comfortable with the team and the staff. I am really hoping that the transition between karts and cars goes smoothly, and I just can't wait to see what 2020 has in store."
As one of the most talented kart racers in the paddock, Ramirez has successfully moved through the ranks scoring countless race wins, podium results and championships along the way. Always flirting with the idea of moving to cars, Ramirez and his partners will make that a reality at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg March 12-15. Hailing from Florida, Ramirez will take part in the Road to Indy Series test at the Homestead-Miami Speedway the weekend prior before entering his first wheel-to-wheel competition of the year in what will be classified as his home event.
Entering the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires with a host of accomplishments, Mathias Ramirez was the 2019 ROK Shifter ROK the RIO Vice Champion, 2018 Florida Winter Tour ROK Shifter Champion and ROK the RIO Champion, 2016 ROK Junior Champion, US Open ROK Junior Champion, Rotax Junior Vice Champion and the 2015 Florida Winter Tour Rotax Junior and ROK Junior Champion. Additionally, Ramirez has karting titles to his name dating back to 2012 and has represented Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals throughout Europe on multiple occasions, as well as the Vortex ROK Cup Superfinal in Italy.
Ramirez added, "I am very happy to be able to announce that I will be competing with DEForce Racing. Over the past few years, many opportunities have been proposed, but none have successfully gone thorough. To actually be able to compete this year is a dream come true."