INDY LIGHTS: Alberico moves up with Carlin team

Neil Alberico, who finished second in the 2015 Pro Mazda Championship, will progress to the highest level on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder by joining Carlin Racing for the 2016 Indy Lights race season.

The 23-year-old from Los Gatos, Calif. is excited to join Carlin, a team that has dominated F1 ladder series racing and was immediately competitive in their first foray into Indy Lights competition last year.

"Carlin came to the U.S. and immediately proved they could win races," said Alberico (LEFT). "They have a winning formula for success, so of course I am happy to be part of that for 2016. There will be challenges to adapt to as I learn the nuances of the new car, but driving alongside a pair of experienced teammates will help accelerate the learning process."

Alberico, who earned four wins and two poles in the 2015 Pro Mazda season, will join teammates Ed Jones and Felix Serralles at Carlin.

"Neil was a driver who immediately caught our eye least season, from the outset he looked like one of the drivers to beat and throughout the year he handled himself very well both in and out of the car," Trevor Carlin, team principal of Carlin Racing, said. "We're extremely proud that Neil and his sponsors have chosen Carlin as the team with which to continue his career on the Mazda Road to Indy. Neil has impressed us already in the small amount of testing he has done with the team and we're really looking forward to seeing him race alongside Ed and Felix in what we believe is a very strong driver line-up."

For the second consecutive year, Rising Star Racing, which helps pair talented American drivers with funding to ensure they get the opportunities they deserve, will serve as primary sponsor on Alberico's car.

"Rising Star Racing has been a huge blessing in my life, and everyone involved are like family to me," Alberico said. "They are good people motivated by the right reasons, and without them I wouldn't be making this jump up to Indy Lights. They've created win-win situations for me and sponsors like MOBĒ, Mockett and PennGrade Motor Oil to name a few."

Rising Star Racing principal Art Wilmes is looking forward to a strong year in Indy Lights and cultivating new and existing corporate sponsors who support RSR's mission.

"I'm very proud of Neil (Alberico) for taking this next step in his career, and the RSR mission certainly receives a lift when we can work with talented individuals like him," Wilmes said. "At the end of the day, however, it is our sponsors that make it all happen. Without their interest in motorsports, our drivers would be sitting on the sidelines."

Alberico will join Carlin Racing on track again Tuesday, Jan. 26 during a test at Homestead-Miami Speedway.