BROWNSBURG, Ind. – The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda will enjoy the partnering of two operations for the 2018 season, as RJB Motorsports and Swan Motorsports have joined forces to run as many as three USF-17s next season.
The combined team – which will run as Swan-RJB Motorsports - broke cover at the recent Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the Indianapolis Motorsports with 2016 Pro Mazda champion and 2017 Indy Lights race winner Aaron Telitz putting the team’s primary car through its paces. Telitz worked closely with Team Manager Mirl Swan and Team Principal Ryan Barth, logging crucial track time to develop their set-up platform. Team driver coach and former IndyCar race winner Alex Barron was also at Indy to begin work with the operation. The players in the new collaboration are extremely motivated and primed for success in 2018, and will once again be joined on the sponsorship side by Metalloid Corporation.
Swan-RJB Motorsports’ Co-Owner and Team Principal Ryan Barth has spent the last two years in the USF2000 series of the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, running Chandler Horton in a new USF-17 last season. Ryan is totally driven to take the team to the top and he’s pleased with the new partnership with Swan Motorsports, as the new team has some very aggressive programs in the works. Barth will oversee Logistics, Driver Development, and Media Relations for the new effort.
“I'm excited to be working with Swan Motorsports moving forward,” Barth offered. “Our efforts have always been directed into running a championship-winning team and environment, along with a support program that focuses on helping drivers with the financial strain of pursuing a career in motorsports through our team sponsorship programs. Swan Motorsports has 30 years of experience in the racing industry and the mentality and ethics inside the Swan Motorsports shop is immediately recognized. In identifying each of our business' core strength, we were able to build and now provide an unmatched professional motorsports program which includes video marketing, financial support, and professionalism. For me, it’s a collaboration like this that has me excited to have this opportunity to be involved in motorsports."
Swan will be at the helm of the engineering program as the Team Manager and Co-Owner, and will oversee the preparation and engineering of the operation’s Tatuus USF-17 racecars.
"I’m very happy to come to an agreement with RJB Motorsports to combine efforts with Swan Motorsports to run a multi-car effort in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda,” enthused Swan, who has 29 years of racing experience running in USF2000, Formula Atlantic and Indy Lights. “It’s a great series and a great program to be a part of. I’m also happy to announce we’ll be working with a long-time friend, Alex Barron. Alex has a tremendous back ground in IndyCar. He’s an IndyCar race winner, and has raced for some of the top teams in the sport. His driver coaching and engineering skills will add a very important element and advantage to our team.”
“Additionally, we have Metalloid Corporation partnering with our new team,” Swan continued. “Metalloid Corporation has allowed us to build a fantastic infrastructure to the team and start testing right away. Metalloid Corporation has made it possible to put together the most competitive USF2000 budget for 2018. Metalloid is fantastic with what they offer young drivers. We’re testing drivers very soon and looking to test more in December. It’s really going to be a great program! I’m very excited about the team overall, and we’re looking forward to the car and driver testing ahead.”
Metalloid Corporation will be a major partner for the new team, marking the fourth year in succession for the Metalloid/RJB partnership. The Metalloid Corporation partnership allows Swan-RJB Motorsports to assemble the best crew, develop new infrastructure, and offer drivers the most comprehensive race season and testing program at the best value. Metalloid Corporation has helped young drivers starting their way up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder since they entered the series in 2015. This year will mark their continued involvement in building the expanded new team and help reduce the budget for up-and-coming drivers.
About Swan-RJB Motorsports: Swan-RJB Motorsports is a new partnership between RJB Motorsports and Swan Motorsports that will compete in the Cooper Tire USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2018. Swan-RJB Motorsports is a championship-winning race team based in Brownsburg, Indiana. Located just minutes from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, they are in the heart of the Motor Racing Capital of the World. As a component of the new operation, RJB Motorsports has two season of experience in the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, competing on the biggest stage in North American racing, alongside the Verizon IndyCar Series. Swan Motorsports has won 12 Championships with 10 different drivers, from karting to Pro Formula Atlantic, Indy Lights, and SCCA. Swan-RJB Motorsports Team Manager Mirl Swan has won races and championships as a driver in karting and formula cars, and he was also a Crew Chief for the title-winning Dorricott Indy Lights team.