American Star Mazda champion eyes Road to F1

Newly crowned Star Mazda champion, Conor Daly, will spend the weekend in Monza, Italy, as part of a fact finding mission as he decides where his career might take him in 2011. The final two rounds of the GP3 championship will support the Italian Grand Prix and Daly is keen to see the races and meet the teams. "This is really a fact finding meet-n-greet for me this weekend. This time of any season is usually a little blurry as potential opportunities come to light. I have some great opportunities with Mazda for next year and I just want to decide slowly what would be the best move for my career" said Daly. "I need mileage in race cars and tough competition for the coming years and I want to really challenge myself to learn as much as possible".

Daly has had a record setting season in the Star Mazda championship presented by Goodyear. He has set new records for the number of pole positions (9) and the number of podium finishes (11) in a single season. On the way to his impressive championship win, he has also scored 7 wins and will chase the ultimate record of 8 wins in a single season at the final round of the championship in Road Atlanta during the Petite Le Mans weekend. "This has been a dream season for me and I think it proves what can happen for a driver when he is with a team of dedicated people like the Juncos team . I've had a blast every weekend and have learned so much this season", said Daly. " It will be nice to go to the Petite Le Mans weekend and not have to think of the championship points. The mission will be the same though, get the maximum from both me and the car and let the rest take care of itself".

In 2009 Conor was a member of the MAZDASPEED driver development ladder system. He was one of six race winners in the Star Mazda championship presented by Goodyear and finished third in the championship. In 2008 Conor won the Walter Hayes Formula Ford Trophy in England as a member of the Team USA Scholarship, the Ontario Formula Ford Rookie of the Year title, and the Mazda Skip Barber National championship.