Florida teams scores fifth straight USF2000 title and 16 wins on the Mazda Road to Indy ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Upon completion of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires finales at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in early September, Cape Motorsport with Wayne Taylor Racing wrapped up their 2015 racing season, which was yet another stellar effort for the squad. Overall, Cape teams claimed a total of 16 victories, 17 pole positions and 46 top-five finishes across the two series in which they compete. This incredible season was highlighted by the organization’s fifth straight USF2000 Championship; their ninth overall title.
French pilot Nico Jamin and rising American star Aaron Telitz teamed as Cape Motorsports drivers for the 2015 USF2000 season, and they quickly picked up where the team left off in 2014, when it won the championship with Florian Latorre. Jamin drove to his first Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda series title with 10 overall wins, while Telitz posted one win and a third-place finish in the championship standings on the strength of 11 podium finishes. These performances marked the 11 consecutive seasons in which Cape drivers have finished inside the top-three in the championship standings. With the title, Cape Motorsport has now captured five consecutive Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda titles (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) and nine open wheel championships (including 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006). The result not only gave Jamin his second career championship, but Cape drivers led in 12 of 16 races on the season.
The 2015 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires campaign was the second full-time season in the program for Cape Motorsport and returning driver Neil Alberico was teamed with series rookies Daniel Burkett and reigning USF2000 Champion Florian Latorre. Cape Motorsports drivers started the season with two victories in St. Petersburg and all three drivers stood on the podium during the two opening rounds, highlighted by a sweep of the wins for Alberico. By season’s end, Neil would score two more victories in the #2 Pro Mazda enroute to second overall in the championship point standings. Latorre and Burkett finished eighth and 10th in the final standings, respectively, with Latorre winning on the streets of Toronto. Cape Motorsport closed the season with five wins, three poles, 17 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes. Alberico tied for most wins with four and the team led in wins with five total.
The squad put up some very impressive stats in 2015:
Winning Streak: Cape Motorsport captured its fifth consecutive Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda Championship (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) for the second time in history and now have nine championships (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006) if USF2000 and have amassed overall 33 armature and professional championships.
2015 By the Numbers: Cape Motorsports 16-win breakdown included fives victories in Pro Mazda and 11 in USF2000. The USF2000 title was the ninth, with a total in all championships of 33 for Cape Motorsport. Cape now boasts 143 total wins and 165 total pole positions.
USF2000 Consistency: For the fifth time in six seasons (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Cape’s USF2000 team won four or more races in a single season, and 11 or more races in three of the last five seasons. They also won the Team Championship during the last four years. The 2015 season was the third time that the team won both the Winterfest Drivers Championship and the full season Drivers Championship, along the Team Championship in the same year (2012, 2013, 2015). They continue to be the most successful team in series history.
For 2016, Cape Motorsports has been hard at work isolating the areas where it needs to improve on both levels, and has once again evolved with its personnel to maximize their performance, enhance the team’s atmosphere and drive for championships. Cape Motorsports will be pushing harder than ever in the team’s quest for championships. Two of the team’s three USF2000 drivers have already been announced with the signing of Parker Thompson and Nikita Lastochkin. The third driver is expected to be named in January, as will both of the Pro Mazda Championship drivers.
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About Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing:
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 campaigns cars in the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda and the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. The goal of Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing is to provide unmatched driver development both on and off the track. It is difficult for a young driver to jump into a professional series and win, regardless of talent. Through coaching and mentoring, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing provides young drivers with as much knowledge of motorsports to become as successful as possible.