ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing is pleased to announce that Jeroen Slaghekke has joined the team for the 2013 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. Slaghekke will be the fourth member of an impressive line-up this season as the team tries to win its third driver championship in as many years.
Like many of today's racing talents, Slaghekke, 20, began his career karting. After just one season, the young Dutch driver graduated into cars, competing in the Netherlands Suzuki Swift Cup for the Coronel Junior Team before moving to the British Formula Ford championship in 2010. In his first season he was a regular front-runner and finished the season scoring podium finishes. In 2011 he was crowned British Formula Ford Vice-Champion with four wins, 21 podiums, eight pole positions, seven fastest laps and two lap records. In 2012, he competed in the Formula Renault NEC Championship where he picked up a race win and many podium finishes.
"I am delighted to announce that I will be driving for Cape Motorsport with Wayne Taylor Racing in the 2013 USF2000 Championship,” Slaghekke said. “I have been in contact with the team for some time now and have been looking at ways to make things work. Truthfully the Mazda Road to Indy program really made this decision a lot easier. American motorsports is really doing great things to harness young drivers, and I am so pleased to be a part of the program. The team has made me feel very welcome, and I am very much looking forward to helping them push for their third drivers championship in a row.”
Slaghekke will drive the No. 32 car for the team. He joins previously announced teammates Neil Alberico, Scott Hargrove and James Fletcher.
“Jeroen is a great addition to our team,” said team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape. “This is one of the best line-ups we have ever assembled. Each driver brings something different to the team, and we have high hopes for Jeroen and all our drivers.”
For more information, please visit www.usf2000.com. You can follow the team on Facebook and Twitter (CMwithWTR) for updates.
In 2012, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing drivers combined to win 12 of 14 races and led 208 out of 227 possible laps. Matthew Brabham claimed the USF2000 Championship and Henrik Furuseth won the National Class Championship, in addition to the team championship.
Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing was formed in 2010 as a partnership between two successful racing entities. With leadership from brothers Nicholas and Dominic Cape, and along with Wayne Taylor and his organization in Indianapolis, the team won the 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and team drivers have won the 2011 and 2012 driver championships. For more information, please visit www.capemotorsports.com.