Franzoni, Green Join Juncos Racing for 2017 Pro Mazda
Indianapolis, Ind. – Juncos Racing is pleased to announce Brazilian Victor Franzoni and American Jeff Green will join the championship-winning team for the 2017 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.
Victor Franzoni (Sao Paulo, Brazil) made his first appearance with Juncos Racing during the 2016 Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Brazilian paced the field throughout the two-day test, finishing fastest overall and posting a new unofficial track record. Franzoni moves up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder after competing in the 2016 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, where he earned three wins.
“I’m really happy that in 2017 I’ll be part of Juncos Racing,” said Franzoni. “They are one of the biggest teams in the Mazda Road to Indy series and that makes me very happy. I tested at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Juncos (Racing) and we led all of the test sessions and also broke the unofficial track record. I am sure we will have an amazing season together! I feel that I am ready and really focused on this season. It’s a big year for me that will decide my future, so I am happy to be with a team like Juncos Racing!”
Jeff Green recently made his official debut in the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires ladder series running in the Pro Mazda Spring Training at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After a successful test with the team, Green joins Juncos Racing for the 2017 Pro Mazda Championship. Green’s motorsports career began at a young age running the Skip Barber program. From there Green ran in the Radical Cup Nationals finishing second and Spec Miata Racing at the Autobahn Country Club.
“Even though I may be over the hill, once I got on the other side I seemed to speed up,” said Green. “This may be only my second time running the Pro Mazda car, but I plan on speeding up as the series goes on.”
Team Principal Ricardo Juncos is confident both drivers will be successful this season as they each bring experience and passion to the team.
“I am happy to be back in the Pro Mazda Championship for the 2017 season,” said Juncos. “We have a great driver lineup with Victor (Franzoni) and Jeff (Green). They both have great determination to make 2017 a successful year. Victor ran with us at the Chris Griffis test back in October, where he proved he is ready to make the move up into the Pro Mazda series by taking the fastest time overall in all eight sessions. Jeff recently joined us at the series open test at Homestead Miami Speedway and made his decision to run with us for his first full season in the Pro Mazda series. We look forward to working with these drivers this year, and providing them the tools and skills sets to take the next step in their racing careers.”
The 2017 Pro Mazda Championship kicks off this week March 9–12 with Rounds 1 and 2 at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
For more information, visit www.JuncosRacing.com
About Juncos Racing : Juncos Racing is a championship-winning Mazda Road to Indy team currently running in Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires.
Juncos Racing was established by Ricardo Juncos in 1997 as a small formula car race program based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After times became financially tough, Juncos relocated to the United States in 2002 where he worked as a mechanic for a small karting team based in Florida. Juncos was then able to open the doors to his own shop and run in karting series throughout the United States.
In 2009, Juncos Racing entered in the former Star Mazda Championship (now the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires), where the team had great success in its maiden season, finishing second in the driver’s championship and third in the team championship. The following year, the team captured its first championship in the series with Indiana native Conor Daly. Fast forward to 2015, where Juncos Racing had its most successful season capturing the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires driver’s championship with current Verizon Indy Car Series driver Spencer Pigot and also claiming the Pro Mazda team championship.
The mission of Juncos Racing is to develop young drivers from around the world into the next level of their racing careers through the Juncos Racing Driver Development Program. Through this program, the team not only works with drivers on track to improve their skills behind the wheel, but also gives them the tools needed to understand the engineering and mechanics of the race car. Drivers who have participated in the program and have gone on to compete in the next level include Peter Dempsey, Conor Daly, Connor De Phillippi, Chase Austin, Kyle Kaiser, Nicolas Dapero and Spencer Pigot.
Source :Pro Mazda Championship.com
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