Indianapolis, IN – After a busy off-season, the 2014 Pro Mazda Champions Juncos Racing are set to make their first run in the 2015 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires series winter test at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR). Juncos Racing rookies Timothé Buret and Will Owen, along with veterans Garett Grist and José Gutiérrez begin the first round of winter testing January 25th on the 2.034-mile, 11-Turn road course located in Jupiter, Florida.
The Pro Mazda Series test at PBIR will hold three sessions throughout the day, beginning with Session 1 at 9:00AM-9:55AM, Session 2 at 11:30AM-12:55PM, and finish with Session 3 at 3:20-5:00PM (eastern standard time). The series will continue with winter testing January 28th on the 2.21-mile, 14-Turn road course at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Rookies Timothé Buret and Will Owen will drive the #6 and #23 Juncos Racing cars, respectively. Returning veterans Garett Grist will be behind the wheel of the #5 and José Gutiérrez will move in the #7 Juncos Racing car.
Juncos Racing Team Owner, Ricardo Juncos, is confident the team is more than ready to begin their 2015 campaign after an extremely busy off-season preparing the crew, drivers, and cars, in order to continue the success from the 2014 season. Juncos Racing captured the team and driver 2014 Pro Mazda Championship.
“After a massive overhaul of the cars and equipment the team is more prepared than it has ever been entering a championship,” said Juncos. “I strongly believe that as a whole, our 2015 driver line up is the strongest we have ever had. Between Garett (Grist) and José (Gutiérrez) they claimed four wins last season, while both of them were in their rookie season. As sophomores, I believe they will be nearly unstoppable. Our two rookies Will (Owen) and Timothé (Buret) were massively impressive in winter testing, and we look forward to their championship campaigns. Our 2014 season was a success, and we look to continue that momentum into 2015.”
Driver Quotes:
Timothé Buret (Montpellier, France): “Although the winter break was pretty short it seemed like an eternity. I am so happy and excited to be in Palm Beach for the first test day of the 2015 Pro Mazda season. I’m ready to work with my new team Juncos Racing, teammates, and to meet all of the people involved in the Mazda Road to Indy series. I am well prepared to start the new season in an intensive program. I feel ready to give my best from the first day and continue the work I started with the team at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test in Indianapolis last year.”
Garett Grist (Grimsby, Ontario, Canada): “I'm excited for the upcoming series tests. It will be great to get 2015 started and be able to mesh more with the team. The guys have been working hard at the shop to prepare everything.”
José Gutiérrez (Monterrey, Mexico): “It's good to be back! Testing is one of one of my favorite things to do because you learn how to setup the car and talk with your engineer. 2015 is a new year for Juncos Racing new teammates, new engineer, etc. My objective in Palm Beach is to be in the Top-3 in all the practices and get to know new people in the team.”
Will Owen (Castle Rock, Colorado, USA): “I am very excited for our first official test. We have been working hard over the winter break to prepare for this year. I can't wait to get a feel for the competition and figure out where I stand against them. This test will teach us a lot of things to work on and fix before the racing begins. My primary goal for this test is to mesh with the crew my teammates. I want to be prepared going into the first race and I will do that by getting more comfortable with the Juncos team.”
The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires kicks off the 2015 season with the Cooper Tires Winterfest championship February 19- 20th on the 2.75 16-Turn road course at NOLA Motorsports Park located in Avondale, Louisiana. For more information please visit juncosracing.com and promazdachampionship.com.
About Juncos Racing: Ricardo Juncos, a second generation and former Formula Renault driver, grew up with a deep passion and desire for racing. At the age of 14, Juncos made his first steps in the racing community driving karts in Argentina. Through his success in karts Juncos was able to join the Formula Renault class competing throughout South America. After funding became difficult as many drivers experience over their career, Juncos began working for many race teams in order to continue his own racing career. During this time Juncos was able to learn all aspects of the car in and out, along with schooling in mechanical and electrical engineering. Stationed in Buenos Aires, Argentina and headed by Ricardo Juncos, in 1997 “Juncos Racing” became a full-service Formula Racing team. By 2003, the team relocated to Miami, Florida as a full-service karting team. During the first few years in the U.S., the team picked up 19 local, regional, and national karting titles. Juncos Racing moved operations north to Indiana, where they developed into a formula open-wheel racing team in 2008. The team went into full swing dedicating most of the time preparing drivers and crew members for the next level in racing. Following this transitional year, Juncos Racing participated in its first open-wheel series, in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship - INDYCAR’s Mazda Road to Indy ladder series. 2010 proved to be a big year for the team with driver Conor Daly capturing the driver championship and finishing second in the team Star Mazda Championship. By 2012, the team’s operations expanded to include cars in the Firestone Indy Lights series and even recorded the fastest lap of the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That same year Juncos Racing took second in the Star Mazda team championship and third driver in the championship with driver Conner De Phillippi while Diego Ferreria was awarded “Most Improved Driver of the Year.” Juncos Racing continued their run in the Pro Mazda Championship (former Star Mazda Championship) finishing second in the 2013 team championship. Most recently the team finished one of their most successful years winning the driver championship, with Spencer Pigot, and the team championship in both the Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship and 2014 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. The team operates of out Brownsburg, Indiana.
For more information, please visit www.juncosracing.com.
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