Talented teens sign up for 2012 USF2000 season
The 19-year-old McGregor has signed with two-time defending USF2000 team champion Andretti Autosport while the 15-year-old Silver will join JDC Motorsports
McGregor, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, spent a year and a half competing in Skip Barber and secured the Skip Barber Racing School Formula Southern Series Championship title in 2011. He was the runner up in both the Skip Barber Formula 2000 Western Series and the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED MX5 championships in 2011. He then moved on to compete in a partial schedule of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda Championship collecting two wins and a third place podium finish. To date, McGregor has accumulated a total of 17 wins, 33 podium finishes and 11 pole positions in 56 starts in the formula car.
"I am honored to have signed with Andretti Autosport for the 2012 USF2000 season," McGregor said. "The team has had success in every level of the Mazda Road to Indy program, from USF2000 all the way up to IndyCar. Being with Andretti Autosport gives me the best opportunity to develop as a driver and progress through the Road to Indy program. I am grateful for this opportunity and have to thank Exclusive Management Inc. and Andretti Autosport for giving me this chance. I am looking forward to the upcoming season."
McGregor began racing at the age of 11 when he first raced Rotax Karts at the Saskatoon Kart Club. In seven years of karting in Canada, he recorded 15 karting championships before moving on to open-wheel and sports car racing at age 18.
McGregor will participate in the Mazda Road to Indy open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Oct. 28 and 29 with Andretti Autosport. He will also compete in the USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest in February 2012 at Sebring International Raceway and Palm Beach International Raceway. The first rounds of the 2012 USF2000 season will begin in March at Sebring.
"We're really pleased to welcome Thomas to Andretti Autosport next year in the USF2000 car," said Michael Andretti. "We've had a lot of success the past few years in this first step of the Mazda Road to Indy, and with Thomas' experience, I think we have another strong season ahead of us."
Silver joins JDC Motorsports having already shown the speed and skill to win championships, capturing multiple karting titles and a sedan championship crown. With multiple test days already under his belt, where he impressed the race-winning JDC crew, Silver now has his eyes firmly set on steering his No. 93 JDC MotorSports/Red Line Oil backed Mazda-powered Van Diemen into victory lane this coming season.
"I am obviously excited to be running with JDC MotorSports next year," said Silver. "I already tested with my future teammates Scott and Mike earlier this year with JDC at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, and think it will be a great year with a great group of people around me. I know both of them from running at Skip Barber and we work well together.
"JDC MotorSports is one of the most successful junior formula teams in the US. They have won championships in F2000 and Star Mazda in the last couple of years, so there is no question they know how to win races and championships. That's the team I want to be with hopefully for a long time to come."
Silver will make his USF2000 debut having impressed many in both the karting and car competition ranks. The Hinsdale, Ill.-based driver has won over 100 races in his kart career, capturing the 2006 and 2007 Great Lakes Superkarts USA! titles, and the 2009 Championship Enduro Series crown in the process. Silver made the transition to cars in 2010, and was quickly up to speed, finishing on the podium in the Skip Barber Winter Series.
This past season, the young racer further showcased his talents, earning two podium finishes in a limited Skip Barber National program, as well as winning a round in the Formula Car Challenge, finishing second in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) National Championship race in the Formula Mazda class, and winning the NASA Midwest Region Spec Miata title, earning the Midwest Rookie of the Year award.
"Zac impressed us the very first time he tested with us in July," commented JDC MotorSports principal John Church. "He is mature beyond his years and certainly knows how to use the loud pedal. I am really looking forward to the 2012 USF2000 season."