IndyCar News: Toby Sowery to debut with Dale Coyne Racing

INDY NXT by Firestone alumni Toby Sowery will take over driving duties of the #51 Dale Coyne Racing with RWR entry for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course which takes place July 5 to 7, 2024.

Sowery will be making his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES start at the Ohio track after getting his first taste of IndyCar during a test with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing last year at Sebring International Raceway.

The British driver is currently racing in the LMP2 class of IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup where he finished second at the 24 Hours of Daytona and was praised for his outstanding performance at the 12 Hours of Sebring in his debut LMP2 season. In addition to competing in the Fanatec GT World Series, he has also raced and won in LMP2 in the Asian Le Mans Series this year.

“Racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is an exciting challenge for anyone and I’m extremely fortunate to be given this opportunity by Dale,” expressed Sowery. “This race adds to an already incredible season for me filled with two amazing programs in IMSA and Fanatec GT world Challenge.

“Dale Coyne has been fundamental to IndyCar in giving drivers opportunities to prove themselves and I am eager for this challenge. It’ll be a difficult step to make having only one day in the car over a year ago as well as adapting to the hybrid system, but I’m up for it!”

Sowery competed in INDY NXT by Firestone in 2019 and finished third in the Championship on the strength of seven podium finishes, including a win at Portland International Raceway. He returned to the series for a partial season in 2021, finishing on the podium three times. After being crowned Champion of the inaugural Radical World Finals in 2022, Sowery returned to INDY NXT in 2023 to compete in two rounds of the Championship and scored a podium finish at Barber Motorsports Park.

“I’ve been following Toby’s career for quite some time now,” shared Team Owner Dale Coyne. “He’s shown that he can quickly adapt to whatever car he is driving and has a successful track record to prove it. We realize coming into the weekend at Mid-Ohio with no prior testing of the car in its hybrid form might be a steep learning curve, but we’re confident he will get up to speed quickly and we look forward to seeing what he can do.”

Earlier in his racing career, Sowery won the MSV Formula 3 cup Championship (2014) as well as the MRF Series Championship (2014/15). He is a two-time BRDC McLaren Autosport Finalist (2015, 2016). Sowery competed in the BRDC British Formula 3 series in 2016, where he finished third in the Championship and returned to the series in 2017 (fourth in the championship). He was also vice-champion of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series in 2017.

Sowery has four starts at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in INDY NXT by Firestone with four top ten finishes, including a best finish of second.

Sowery, along with his teammate and fellow countryman Jack Harvey (#18 INVST Honda), will be on track starting Friday, July 5 at 3:20pm ET for Practice 1. The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio will go green on Sunday, July 7 a