The moment that 20-year-old Nico Jamin has been waiting for is finally here. Six months ago, Jamin won the 2015 Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after a record-breaking season, in which the Frenchman from Normandy collected 10 wins, 15 podium finishes and 13 pole positions.
Jamin and his Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing team, managed by Nicholas and Dominic Cape, have been together since the early days of 2015. Jamin and his team have been working hard during the last three months to prepare for the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Jamin tested at several racetracks and recently participated in the Mazda Road to Indy Spring Training at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.
In 2016, Jamin will drive the No. 2 SYNOVA Automotive Eco Plastics Recycling / Hexagon USA / Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing Pro Mazda car in the 16-race Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, which debuts this week on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit of St. Petersburg, Fla., March 11-13. Jamin’s 2016 teammate will be Jake Eidson, who will drive the No. 3 Pro Mazda race car.
“I am very excited to finally get back to racing, after a very long off-season,” Jamin said. “All the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing guys worked very hard all winter and at the Barber test, to figure out all the tools we need to start the season very strong at St. Pete. It's going to be the home race for the team, and they swept the two Pro Mazda races last year there. I am confident that we’ll be able to fight at the front, right out of the gate, and I'll be proud to represent Mazda as a Mazda scholarship driver, and hopefully bring the soul red car to victory lane."
After winning the 2015 championship, Jamin earned a Mazda Scholarship, which allowed him to graduate one step up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder to Pro Mazda in 2016. Thanks to Mazda, Cooper Tires and Andersen Promotions, Jamin is now able to focus on winning races and ultimately the 2016 championship.
Jamin and Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing come to St Petersburg for the 2016 season opener, prepared. The team and driver’s goal is to run at the front of the Pro Mazda pack. In 2015, Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing won both season-opener rounds in the streets of St Petersburg with its driver, Neil Alberico.
"We are eager to start the 2016 season at our home racetrack,” Dominic Cape said. “I think the Barber test was a great way to evaluate how everyone is working together under a slightly more pressurized situation, we worked on set-up packages and specific balance changes, and ran a lot of miles mid-day with heavy fuel loads -- overall a very good two days to improve the team before the St. Pete’s season opener."
Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing won nine Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Driver Championships since 2000. It finished second in points in 2015 in the Pro Mazda Championship, but has never yet won the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires. 2016 might be the year when the Florida team gets its first trophy.