AF Racing expands to 4-car GRC Lites effort

Colombian-owned AF Racing will expand its GRC Lites operation for the second consecutive year in 2016, doubling in size from two cars to four. Alejandro Fernandez will return for his third season in GRC Lites, joined by second-year driver Jackie Heinricher, and rookies Travis Pecoy and Christian Brooks. The expansion will establish AF Racing as the largest team in GRC Lites.

“2016 should be an amazing year for AF Racing," said AF Racing team principal David Fernandez. “We’re proud to add Travis, Christian, and Jackie alongside Alejo for the upcoming GRC Lites season, bringing our team to four cars. We’re determined as ever to contend for our first GRC Lites championship this year, and we think we have the drivers to make it happen!"

AF Racing was established in 2014 as a single-car team with Alejandro Fernandez behind the wheel, before expanding to two cars in 2015. In that time, AF Racing cars have earned 12 podiums in 21 races, contending for victories every weekend and establishing the team as a powerhouse in GRC Lites competition.

Fernandez will once again lead the team in 2016, returning to the #126 GRC Lites car. His sophomore GRC Lites season in 2015 saw him finish fourth in the series standings. He earned his first career heat victory in the season opener in Fort Lauderdale and his first career pole in Barbados, and ended the season with a total of five podium finishes and four heat wins.

Heinricher, a bio-tech scientist and entrepreneur, competed in the first four GRC Lites races in 2015, and returns for the full season with AF Racing in 2016. She made it to the first two main events of the 2015 season, finishing seventh in the first Daytona race. Alongside her rallycross experience, Heinricher also races in various open-wheel and sports car racing series, alongside her primary focus on the GRC Lites championship.

Despite being only 15 years old, Pecoy brings extensive off-road experience to the #3 GRC Lites car. Last year, Pecoy finished second in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series’ Modified Kart class, earning five victories and nine podium finishes in 13 starts. In addition, Pecoy ran four races in LOORRS’ Pro Lite class later in the season.

Brooks, a native of Santa Clarita, CA, will move into the #44 GRC Lites car after years of top- level karting experience. The 15-year-old has won eight karting championships in his career so far, including multiple SuperKarts! USA titles, and earned a Mazda Road to Indy test in 2014.

Be sure to visit the new AF Racing website at www.afracingteam.com, and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @afracingteam.

AF Racing