Lara signs with JDC Motorsports for 2010

Caio Lara photo: Star Mazda Series

JDC MotorSports has continued preparations for defending its Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear title with the announcement that Caio Lara will be part of its 2010 driver line-up. It marks the second consecutive year the Brazilian will race for the Minnesota-based team.

In a repeat of 2009, Lara will be part of a talented multi-car effort by JDC MotorSports in the 13-race Star Mazda Championship. With continued support from MLD, ATW and Red Line Oil, Lara will again pilot the No. 19 JDC MotorSports entry with the goal of not only challenging for race wins, but also the championship title. The Brazilian native was a consistent front-runner in his second full-season of series competition last year, remaining part of the title chase until the closing stages of the season. Lara will partner fellow series veteran Gerry Kraut, as well as newly signed rookie Chris Miller at JDC MotorSports throughout the season.

“We are excited to have Caio Lara back under the JDC MotorSports awning in 2010," said Team Co-Owner John Church. “He showed good speed last season and was very consistent. I think if he continues to develop behind the wheel this season, he can not only win some races, but also be in contention for series title come the end of the season."

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Lara first got behind the wheel via karting like many young up-and coming drivers. Racing in his homeland from 2004 to 2006, he showed good speed and race-craft regularly challenging for titles in both the junior and senior classes. Lara made the switch to cars when he turned 16, entering the Sao Paulo Formula, the region’s Formula Ford championship. Immediately adapting to the new challenge, Lara became one of the drivers to beat, setting a series record by finishing on the podium in all 10 rounds as a rookie en route to third in the title fight. In 2008, Lara joined the Star Mazda Championship, earning six top-10 finishes, including a pair of top-fives in the final two races of the season. This past season Lara built on this rookie success, finishing among the top-10 in 11 of the 13 races, and inside the top-five four times en route to eighth in the championship fight.

Under the guidance of Church, JDC MotorSports has a built a reputation as not only a race-winning and championship-winning outfit, but become known for developing talented young drivers. Currently fielding multi-car squads in both the Star Mazda Championship and the F2000 Championship Series, the Minnesota-based team is widely regarded as one of the premier junior formula car teams in North America. In 2009, JDC MotorSports captured five championship titles. In the Star Mazda Championship, the team captured it’s second-ever Driver, Team and Rookie of the Year titles, as well as the Masters crown. In only its second season of F2000 Championship Series competition, JDC won its inaugural Drivers title.

Lara and JDC MotorSports having recently taken part in official pre-season testing in central Florida, is currently finalizing preparations for 2010 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear season-opener on January 24th at Sebring International Raceway.