Junior Open Wheel Talent

The newly announced Team Stange has locked down a driver for the 2012 Star Mazda Championship.

According to a release sent out earlier this week, Brazilian driver Lázaro Selegar, 17, will join the squad this season. Selegar’s previous experience includes karting and testing a Formula 3 machine in South America.

Trent Hindman signed with Cliff Dempsey Racing for the 2012 Formula Renault BARC Championship, according to a release sent out this morning.

The New Jersey native plans to run all but one Renault race this season due to a scheduling conflict with his USF2000 National Championship campaign.

Said Hindman, “While the gaps in the USF2000 schedule are going to allow me to get to most of the Formula Renault races, unfortunately I’m going to miss Donington the weekend of August 17-18. When BARC updated the schedule it was moved from the end of June to the same weekend as the USF2000 triple header at Road America. USF2000 is my priority so I will be stateside that weekend.”

Running both USF2000 and the Formula Renault BARC Championship will certainly be good for Hindman’s experience, but it will also present a set of unique challenges associated with travel. Competing in multiple championships is nothing new for the 16-year-old, though. Hindman started 2011 in the USF2000 Winterfest and later focused on the Ontario Formula Ford Championship and Skip Barber National Championship. Then, last fall, he traveled to Europe (where he first worked with Cliff Dempsey) as a recipient of the Team USA Scholarship to compete in the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy.

It will be fun to watch his progress in both series this year and see how he adjusts to the cars. The Formula Renault BARC Championship gets underway on April 7-8 at Snetterton.

(photo: FormulaTwo.com)

Dean Stoneman, 21, will be traveling to North America on Monday to test an Indy Lights machine at Las Vegas, according to a report by Autosport.com’s Sam Tremayne.

Stoneman has also been testing a Formula Renault 3.5 machine while evaluating options for next season. For those who don’t know, the talented Briton recently beat testicular cancer. After 12 months away from racing, he’s looking to make a full-time return to the sport he loves.

Prior to his diagnosis, Stoneman won the 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship with six wins and 13 podiums. Last month, he tested a World Series by Renault car with ISR at Aragon. It will be nice to see him return to the cockpit. Regardless of the route he chooses for 2012, he will undoubtedly add tremendous depth to the field.

On Monday, the Indy Lights winter testing ban will be lifted and I should have more information on who’s testing with whom. Stay tuned for updates.

For up-to-date news and views on karting and junior formula racing follow @JOWT on Twitter or follow on Facebook.

The USF2000 National Championship today released its 14-race 2012 schedule.

While the number of races is higher in 2012, the championship will be run over seven weekends; a nice move by officials to reduce travel expenses for both teams and drivers. Factoring in the Winterfest, drivers will have the opportunity to compete in 20 USF2000 races in 2012.

Here’s a look at the current schedule:

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ArmsUp Motorsports announced today that Luigi Biangardi will pilot the team’s No. 15 car in the 2012 USF2000 National Championship.

Biangardi, 15, joins the Wisconsin-based team following a six-race debut in USF2000 last season while driving for Belardi Auto Racing. He finished the season with four top-10 finishes, including a season-best fourth at Baltimore. Prior to USF2000, Biangardi competed in Skip Barber regional and national races. In just his second national race, he finished fourth (Road America).

Watch for steady progress from both Biangardi and ArmsUp Motorsports in 2012.

For up-to-date news and views on karting and junior formula racing follow @JOWT on Twitter or follow on Facebook.

Sebastian Ordonez (86) and Trent Hindman (36) bring the field to the green flag for Round 13 of the 2011 National Championship at Autobahn County Club in Joliet, Ill. (Photo: Kelly Brouillet)

Skip Barber Racing released its 2012 Formula Skip Barber Summer Series schedule today. The calendar features 10 doubleheader race weekends at eight venues.

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The 2012 Star Mazda Championship will again open its season on the Streets of St. Petersburg. (Photo: Eric McCombs)

Are you looking to keep track of who’s racing with whom in the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder?  Well, you’re in luck.

Make the jump to read about each of the Star Mazda Championship drivers who have committed early for the 2012 season.

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Photo: Jakob Ebrey

Earlier today, Neil Alberico signed with JDC MotorSports adding considerable depth to the 2012 USF2000 National Championship field.

The California native will run the upcoming USF2000 Winterfest with the team, beginning Feb. 6, in preparation for the upcoming season.

Alberico, 19, had a tremendous karting career and has parlayed that skill-set to open-wheel car racing. Quickly, I might add.

In 2009 — his first full season in cars — he won 10 races en route to the Formula Mazda Bondurant Championship. Last season, he moved to Europe where he faced intense competition from talented drivers in the MSA British Formula Ford Championship.

In Europe, he earned his first top-10 in just his second race. It was one of many (20, to be more accurate). He competed in both the British Formula Ford Championship and the Formula Ford Eurocup.

His performances earned him the opportunity to compete for the prestigious Team USA Scholarship this fall. Again, he delivered. Alberico and fellow 2012 USF2000 entrant Trent Hindman received scholarships to represent the U.S. in the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy.

He finished third at Brands Hatch during the 40th running of the FFF and earned a heat-race win at Silverstone in the WHT.

Alberico will be a fun driver to watch this season. With his formula ford experience, guidance from JDC, and a solid group of teammates he is considered a favorite, by many, to win the 2012 title. Certainly, he will put up a good fight.

For up-to-date news and views on karting and junior formula racing follow @JOWT on Twitter or follow on Facebook.

Shelby Blackstock signed with Andretti Autosport to compete in the 2012 USF2000 National Championship and Winterfest.

Blackstock, 21, showed good pace in both Skip Barber regional and national competition in 2011. He finished fifth in the National Championship with two podium finishes (2nd-LRP, 3rd-Road Atlanta) and set the fast lap of the race on three occasions.

For up-to-date news and views on karting and junior formula racing follow @JOWT on Twitter or follow on Facebook.

STORM BREWING: USF2000 drivers test at Iowa Speedway in 2010. The event marked the first time the entire 'Road to Indy' development ladder raced together at one venue.
(Photo: Ryan - JuniorOpenWheelTalent.com)

Are you looking to keep track of who’s racing with whom in the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder?  Well, you’re in luck.

Make the jump to read about each of the USF2000 National Championship drivers who committed early for the 2012 season.

[Continue Reading...]