Tampa, Fla.  – Patricio “Pato” O’Ward signed with Team Pelfrey for the St. Petersburg, Fla. and Birmingham, Ala. Rounds of the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, after testing with the team at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday and Monday. 

“I am thrilled and massively thankful for the opportunity Team Pelfrey has given me,” said O’Ward. “I will start the season at St. Pete and Barber and hopefully, complete the whole year with them if everything goes to plan. Testing has gone great and as always a pleasure to be working with such a great, hard-working group of guys. I am super motivated for the up and coming races and I am determined to give it my all and maintain the team on the highest step on the podium.” 

The San Antonio, Tex. resident returns after a strong rookie campaign in 2015, competing as the youngest driver in the championship at just 15 years of age. O’Ward finished sixth in the season standings, with a season-high finish of second in Race One on the streets of Toronto and multiple third place finishes including Race Two at Toronto and the short-oval at Iowa Speedway in July. 

“It’s with great pleasure that we can welcome Pato back to the Team Pelfrey family,” said team principal, Nigel Tuckey. “He clearly demonstrated his speed last year in his rookie season, and with that added experience alongside his recent testing performance at Barber, I have no doubts he will be at the very sharp end of the grid come St. Petersburg.” 

O’Ward was born in Monterrey, Mexico, but at the age of six, moved with his family to San Antonio where currently attends the Texas Military Institute. 

The Team Pelfrey Pro Mazda Championship cars hit the streets of St. Pete on Friday morning at 8:05 a.m. ET. All Mazda Road to Indy sessions will be live streamed on ProMazda.com, Indycar.com and the Road to INDY App.