(Louisville, Ky.) - Record-setting open wheel development team Abel Motorsports of Louisville, fresh off a stunning F3 Americas debut season, will begin a new chapter in its growth for 2019. Abel Motorsports (ABM) has acquired the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires assets of championship-winning team Cape Motorsports and will begin private testing this week with Jacob Abel of Louisville behind the wheel.
“This represents a major step forward in our development as a top-line racing organization,” stated team principal Bill Abel. “We intend to make more progress in 2019, our third season as a professional open wheel team. We’re coming off a sensational second year, with Kyle Kirkwood dominating F3 Americas and us winning the team championship there. Now, we’re ready to tackle the Road to Indy ladder in Pro Mazda. It’s a tough series with lots of strong teams and talented young drivers, but we’ve built the infrastructure on and off the track to allow us to succeed at that level and beyond.”
17-year-old Jacob Abel can’t wait to get started in Pro Mazda. “I raced several times the past few seasons in USF2000, so I know how tough the Road to Indy series are. After the success we had this past year in F3 Americas, with my podium finishes in that car, I think we can be fast from the start. It should be an awesome experience to race with IndyCar all year long.”
While plans for the team’s second Pro Mazda seat are not yet firm, ABM expects to bring another driver onboard who can also contend for wins and the season championship. “We have some strong options for our second car,” Bill Abel noted. “We’ve had inquiries from some terrific young drivers, and we’re still taking calls. Our cars were among the strongest in the paddock in 2018. And with our key team members in place, we know we can provide good young racers with the platform they’re seeking as they take the next step in their driving careers.”
ABM will continue off-season testing at the official Pro Mazda series test at Homestead Miami Speedway (FL) in early December. The 2019 Pro Mazda season opens next March on the streets of St. Petersburg, FL, part of the season-opening event for the IndyCar Series.
ABOUT ABEL MOTORSPORTS (ABM):
Abel Motorsports has competed in multiple open-wheel developmental series since 2017, winning the inaugural F3 Americas championship in 2018. Stay current with the latest Abel Motorsports news by visiting the official team website, www.abelmotorsports.com. ABM is accepting inquiries about driving opportunities in several different categories of cars including F3, F4, and Pro Mazda.