News:

ROMAN LAGUDI GEARS UP FOR COOPER TIRES WINTERFEST

February 6, 2012 - Sydney, Australia native Roman Lagudi is set to begin the winter season in preparation for the upcoming Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda. With the Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship kicking off this week at Sebring International Raceway, the Belardi Auto Racing pilot will look to use the six-race mini-series as a prelude to his first full season in open wheel racing.

“I am excited the Winter Series is starting,” noted Lagudi. “I am very happy with the way previous testing went and I am definitely looking forward to the season starting.”

Announced in November, Lagudi will pilot the Belardi Auto Racing #4 USF2000 machine for the full Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda series. After a successful partial season in 2011, including seven top-tens, two top-fives and a podium finish at the Baltimore Grand Prix, Lagudi will be a favorite to contend for the overall series title and is ready to take on the challenge.

“The competition will be fierce in 2012, and the standard is set high for all the drivers,” continued Lagudi. “I really wouldn't want it any other way.”

Preseason action for the Cooper Tires Winterfest begins February 6-7 at Sebring International Raceway and concludes February 11-12 at Palm Beach International Raceway, leading up to the series opener March 15-16 in conjunction with ALMS’s 12 Hours of Sebring. The 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda series will see 11 stops at some of the most prestigious tracks North America has to offer. Running weekends with the IZOD IndyCar series, the American LeMans series and the United States Auto Club, Lagudi is set to contest for the series title with championship-caliber team Belardi Auto Racing. The Las Vegas, Nevada resident is working towards a dream career in motorsports and is proud to represent drivers taking the first step in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder development program.

Roman Lagudi is proudly sponsored by High Performance Distributors and Champion Stone, Tool and Supply. For more information on Roman Lagudi, please visit www.RomanLagudi.com or email Paul Lagudi at paul@romanlagudi.com.

2012 Schedule:

Sebring International Raceway, Florida
March 14-16, 2012
(With American Le Mans)

Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida
March 23-25, 2012
(With IZOD IndyCar Series)

Lucas Oil Raceway, Indiana
May 26, 2012
(Night Before the 500 with USAC)

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
August 3-5, 2012
(With IZOD IndyCar Series and ALMS)

Road America, Wisconsin
August 17-19, 2012
(With American Le Mans)

Streets of Baltimore, Maryland
September 1-2, 2012
(With IZOD IndyCar Series and ALMS)

Virginia International Raceway
September 14-15, 2012
(With American Le Mans)