USF2000 – Belardi Signs Two Former Formula Car Champions

Belardi Auto Racing wrapped up their Firestone Indy Lights roster late last month, and now they’ve secured two former formula car champions to be their drivers in the Cooper Tires presents the US F2000 National Championship powered by Mazda, Wayne Boyd and Cole Morgan.

Wayne Boyd, a Belfast native, started racing in the Super 1 National JICA Championship where he had mixed results. After moving to cars, his results improved dramatically, winning the 2007 Northern Ireland Formula Ford 1600 Championship. He continued his winning ways the following year winning the 2008 British Formula Ford Championship. In fact, Boyd dominated the 2008 season winning 13 of the 25 races with 12 poles! Unfortunately, his success didn’t carry over to the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series where he finished he finished 12th in the championship although he did earn one win. Boyd didn’t have a full season in 2010 and only ran a few Formula 3 races and a couple of Formula Ford races. In spite of his 2009 season, I think we’ll see Boyd do well in the US F2000 series. Having a familiarity with a 2000cc formula car already will be a big asset.

Floridian, Cole Morgan, is already a veteran of the US F2000 National Championship having competed in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Morgan switched to the F2000 Championship Series as the US F2000 National Championship series ceased operations between 2007 and 2009. He would take the 2007 title winning six of the ten rounds with St. Clair Motorsports. In addition to the F2000 Championship Series, Morgan also competed in the first three rounds of the 2007 Star Mazda Championship with JDC Motorsports. 2008 and 2009 were dry years for Morgan, having no competitive events in 2008 and running in the SCCA Formula Continental series in 2009 where he finished 4th in the SCCA National Runoffs at Road America. In 2010, he returned to the F2000 Championship Series and finished runner-up at the end of the season in points after taking two wins and eight podiums. There’s no doubt that Cole understands how to race an F2000 car, and he should be a good fit at Belardi with Wayne.

Original Press Releases

Wayne Boyd Joins Belardi Auto Racing for USF2000

Indianapolis, Ind. (March 8, 2011) – Belardi Auto Racing is proud to announce that Wayne Boyd, the 2008 British Formula Ford Champion, will join the team for competition in this year’s Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda.

The 20-year-old British national was born in Belfast and currently resides in Northern Ireland. Boyd’s racing highlights include: Winner of the Formula Ford Festival in the Duratec class (2008); third in Formula Ford 1600 Walter Hayes Trophy (2010 and 2007); named as one of the BRDC Superstars and received a nomination of the very prestigious BRDC McLaren Autosport Award.

“Even as a boy, it’s always been about the Indy 500,” stated Boyd. “I grew up watching it and to have the opportunity through the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system to get there is incredible.” Boyd will be driving the #4 DHL-sponsored car, making his American debut in the season opener at Sebring International Raceway on March 17/18.

Boyd will be meeting his new team just prior to the race week at Sebring. When asked why he had chosen Belardi, Boyd responded, “Not only do they have a lot of IndyCar experience on the team, but it’s clear that they really want results, to really go after a championship.”

Team Owner Brian Belardi is equally pleased: “We’ve made an investment in people and equipment that is all about winning. Boyd is a driver that will be able to leverage that. While there is always a learning curve with a new car and certainly new tracks, I am confident that he will find success this season.”

Fans are welcomed to be friends with Wayne Boyd on Facebook.

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Cole Morgan Jumps on the Mazda Road to Indy Ladder with Belardi

Indianapolis, Ind. (March 8, 2011) – Cole Morgan, the 2007 F2000 Championship Series Champion, who also finished second in the series in 2010, has made the move to the Mazda Road to Indy ladder series, joining Belardi Auto Racing for this season’s Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda.

Cole is a native of South Florida who grew up around race tracks, working on his Dad’s formula cars as a kid and driving everything that had wheels. Cole stated, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to drive for Belardi Auto Racing in USF2000. Being able to partner with Brian and Larry Nash is really a dream come true. The entire Belardi Auto Racing operation is perfect; you can really see how much pride everyone takes in this program. I’m thrilled to be a part of all this.”

Also known as Private First Class Morgan, Cole is a member of our nation’s National Guard. He enlisted in 2008 and will be spending the weekend prior to Sebring training with his unit.

Team Owner Brian Belardi commented, “Cole is a great talent and truly deserves an opportunity to move up through the Mazda Road to Indy ladder series and have a shot at racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series. We could not be more pleased to have him join us, and we will certainly do all we can to help him achieve his dream.”

Morgan has signed for a limited schedule and is optimistic that he and the team will be able to secure sponsorship to support his ambition, one that he shares with his long-time girlfriend and now fiancé Carly, who is the granddaughter of Indy 500 driver Chuck Hulse (’62,’63, ’66, and ’67). Clearly the racing blood runs deep in this family.

Morgan will be driving the #9 car as he joins new teammate Wayne Boyd.

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