Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing driver focused on fighting for top honors on streets of St. Petersburg LOS GATOS, CALIF. – Highly-regarded American Neil Alberico's quest for Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires supremacy starts this coming weekend (March 29-30), when the opening rounds of the second step to the Mazda Road to Indy program gets underway on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Driving for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing, a multi-time junior formula car championship operation, the Californian is focused on starting his series debut in winning fashion at the team's home track.
The start of any race season is always exciting, and that is certainly the case for Alberico in 2014. Reuniting with Cape Motorsports, having scored 11 wins en route to the Cooper Tires Winterfest title and second in the USF2000 Championship fight last season with the team, the Rising Star Racing driver is taking the next step up the motorsports ladder, as he works towards becoming a Verizon IndyCar Series racer. While both Alberico and Cape Motorsports enter the season-opening twin bill as Pro Mazda newcomers, they have indicated they are up to the challenge of fighting for top honors.
The Los Gatos, Calif., native's transition to his new racing steed has proved to be a successful affair to date. First sampling the No. 2 Rising Star Racing/Arai/OMP Racing/J&M Trophies/Oakley/Bondurant School of High Performance Driving/SafeisFast/eFormulaCarNews.com entry via private testing, Alberico and the skilled Cape Motorsports team gained valuable data and information. Continued development of the car and driver followed in the four-race 'off-season' Cooper Tires Winterfest. While the primary focus during the doubleheader events at NOLA Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park was to further prepare for the full Pro Mazda season, Alberico showcased his intentions going forward via a pair of top-fives in Alabama.
Given the results to date, and the proven track of both Alberico and Cape Motorsports, who have five consecutive USF2000 wins in St. Petersburg, combined with the fact the team will have strong hometown support during IndyCar series event, the stage is set for Alberico to start his rookie Pro Mazda season in fine fashion.
"It's going to be great to finally get this season started on the streets of St. Petersburg," stated Alberico. "This is always a highly anticipated time for the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing boys, being based in St. Pete. Especially more this year than others, as we are now moving up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder into the Pro Mazda series. Big thanks to the Rising Star Racing program for all their support thus far, as we are anxious to announce our new partners for the 2014 season in the coming days. I can't wait to get on-track and go racing!"
Alberico and his Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing crew get the 2014 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season underway on Friday (March 28) with two practice runs. The lone qualifying session around the 1.8-mile St. Petersburg, Fla., street circuit takes place one day later, with Round One slated to get the green flag at 5:35 pm local time. Race two of the doubleheader, as part of the Verizon IndyCar Series season-opener, is scheduled for 10:30 am local time on Sunday (March 30). Live timing and audio will be available at ProMazdaChampionship.com/results/live-timing
Those interested in supporting this rising American racer are encouraged to contact Neil Alberico directly @ neil@neilalberico.com to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Learn more about Neil Alberico at NeilAlberico.com and keep up to date via Twitter @NeilAlberico and Facebook @ Neil Alberico Motorsports.
Learn more about Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing at CapeMotorsports.com and keep up to date via Twitter @CMwithWTR.
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About Neil Alberico:
A native of Los Gatos, Calif., Alberico first started racing karts at the age of 10, competing in IKF Region 11 action. Over the course of four seasons (2004-07), the young talent captured the Junior Sportsman, Junior Super Sportsman, and Junior Puma championship titles. Continuing to race in the karting ranks while raising funds to pursue a career in motorsports, Alberico won the Snap-On Stars of Karting Series National finale in Las Vegas in 2009, before finishing third in the CKI National TaG Senior championship, and winning the 2010 TaG Senior class in the WSK North American Series. That same year, Alberico won the Bondurant Championship Race Series, winning 10 races as a junior formula car rookie. In 2011, Alberico made his European racing debut, competing in the world-renowned Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with Irish-based Cliff Dempsey Racing. Finish ninth in his maiden FF season, the Californian earned a Team USA Scholarship, subsequently capturing a Semi-Final win and third place finish in the historic 40th Formula Ford Festival. Alberico joined the Mazda Road to Indy program in 2012, earning a podium finish and nine top-fives in his rookie season of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. The California standout followed that up with 11 wins in 2013, en route to the Cooper Tires Winterfest title and second in the USF2000 Championship with multiple champion Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.