PERFORMANCE TECH IN GOOD HANDS WITH 2015 PROTOTYPE LITES LINEUP

Subtitle:Returnees Alon, Janco welcome newcomer Versteeg to elite team

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2014) - Longtime Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda standout team Performance Tech Motorsports unveiled its 2015 driver lineup Dec. 3, with talented newcomer Austin Versteeg joining team veterans Robert Alon and Joel Janco.

Focusing on a three-car effort will allow the team to not only concentrate on the driver’s individual performance but also winning Lites 1 and Lites 1 Masters Driver Championships and a Lites 1 Team Championship in the IMSA Development Series, Performance Tech Team Principal Brent O’Neill said. The lineup also will enhance the team’s continual goals of development and top-level achievement for its drivers.

“We’re looking at a really strong team this year,” O’Neill said. “These guys are going to compliment each other really well. Robert has a year under his belt now, Austin has a ton of karting experience, and Joel has gained a lot of experience and confidence – he’s really going to be a contender for the Masters Championship.

“We focus on helping drivers develop, and that’s never going to stop. We opted for a three-car effort this year so we can focus on that goal and the individual goals of each driver.”

Utah native Versteeg comes to Performance Tech and the Lites 1 class after winning three major titles in Rotax Max Challenge and Superkarts! USA and earning a spot on Team USA for the 2014 and 2015 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Valencia, Spain.

Versteeg, 15, spent seven years developing his race craft in karting. He is considered one of the top rising talents in the sport. Versteeg earned one of the first four offers to join the new Mazda Road to Indy/MAXSpeed Group Driver Advancement Program.

“We were looking for a good program, so we did a lot of research.” Versteeg said. “Performance Tech has a really great history in the Lites car. We decided to do a test to check them out and see if I mixed well with the team.

“I feel my skills are going to translate well into the Lites car. I think it fits my driving style. I’ll be working on learning how to get the most out of the car and how to do it as quick as possible. It’s a steep learning curve. That’s another reason we came to Performance Tech because they have the right guys to surround me and teach me. I’m here for improvement. I’d love to land a couple of podiums, but I’ll focus on driving well and staying clean.”

Versteeg will join Alon, who will continue with Performance Tech in his second year of Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda competition. Los Angeles native Alon, 24, finished fifth overall in L1 competition in 2014 in his first season of auto racing after minimal karting experience. He finished second twice in 2014, on the challenging circuits of Watkins Glen International and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Alon is aiming for a championship in 2015. His commitment to that goal included moving from Los Angeles to near the Performance Tech shop in Deerfield Beach, Florida, spending more time testing and learning about the car.

Janco is entering his second year with Performance Tech and his third season in Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda, aiming for the Masters Championship. Janco, from Key Largo, Florida, finished third in the Masters Championship in 2014. His best finish came at Road America, where he finished third in class.

Keep up with Performance Tech Motorsports throughout 2015 by following the team on Facebook and Twitter at @Perf_Tech. For more information on the team, visit performancetechmotorsports.com.