After an impressive four podium finishes in his 2021 season, Simon Sikes signs with Legacy Autosport to keep his momentum going for the full 2022 season of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.
“I’m thrilled to be competing in the 2022 USF2000 Championship," said Sikes. "With the strong run Legacy Autosport and I had this year, next year looks even more promising. 2022 will be my first full season in the series, and I am ready to chase after the championship with such a great team supporting me.
“I chose Legacy Autosport because they are a great group of people with an incredibly storied history, a wealth of experience that spans decades. The guys at Legacy Autosport know what they are doing and have competed at the levels that I aspire to reach. Given our results this season after contending only a few events, I believe that this is a place where we can chase a championship.
“2021 was most definitely a learning season. This year I’ve competed in a limited USF2000 schedule as well as winning the 2021 SCCA Runoffs in Formula Continental. Initially, we had planned to compete in the full USF2000 series. However, the age-old story of funding caused us to miss several events. It was still a great season overall where I learned so much about the series and car that I can take with me into 2022. After a run of four podiums in a row and missing out on a win by less than a tenth of a second, Legacy Autosport and I knew we had the perfect combination to compete at the front. That racing experience is something I look forward to carrying over into next year.
"With competition from some of the best up-and-coming drivers in the world, racing in the Road to Indy ensures that a driver is ready when they take the next step towards becoming an NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver. The support Road to Indy provides for its champions moving forward is, bar none, the best in the world. No other place in the world helps fund and prepare drivers to compete at the next level like the Road to Indy.
"The cars are a great development tool towards becoming an INDYCAR champion. Road to Indy cars teach drivers how to drive a car that is a lot like an Indy car. My long-term goal in racing is to become an NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and a winner of the Indianapolis 500. There is no better place to chase that dream than right here in the Road to Indy. I’m hoping to be one of those drivers.
“Lastly, I would not be able to make this announcement without the amazing support I have received for next season. First and foremost, I would like to thank Fred Edwards and the whole Metalloid family. It’s been a privilege to drive for them, and I love seeing the whole family at the races. I can’t wait to represent them to the best of my ability.
"Secondly, I can’t thank Legacy Autosport enough for all they have done for me. Having been a driver for Legacy for over a year now, I am privileged to compete for them. I am excited to chase a championship with a family as legendary as the Meyer family and, of course, without the support of my amazing parents, I could have never become a race car driver in the first place. I can’t thank them enough for getting me this far, and I look forward to having them with me in INDYCAR someday. It took a lot of effort from a big group of people to put me in this position, and I would just like to say that I am thinking of each and every one of you as I prepare to compete for that top spot on the podium next season.”
“I could not be happier to have Simon back to compete for the 2022 USF2000 championship with Legacy Autosport,” said Louis Michael Meyer, Owner of Legacy Autosport.
“Simon is the complete package on and off the racetrack, and we hope to continue and improve on our success together next year. We are 100% focused on the 2022 championship and creating the path to take Simon all the way up the Road to Indy.
“We went into the 2021 season not being able to get any of the testing we needed and made changes in the engineering department mid-season, but the team and Simon came together and had a streak of four podiums, coming so close to a win at Road America. We are excited to start extensively testing with the new spec USF2000 car to be ready for the first race of 2022.
“A special Thanks to our partners Metalloid Corporation and Sturgis Finishing for all they do and everyone in the Legacy Autosport family. I feel so privileged to be surrounded by such amazing people that make this team what it is.”