Lara Joins JDC Motorsports For 2009 Star Mazda Championship Season

MINNEAPOLIS, MIN. (February 2, 2009) - Former series champions JDC MotorSports will be looking to return to the top of the podium again this season with the announcement that Brazilian Caio Lara will drive for the team in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Seeking to build on a championship-winning effort in 2007 and a runner-up finish in the driver championship this past season, JDC Motorsports is thrilled to have signed the second-year driver, who joins the team having contested his inaugural season in the highly competitive championship with another team, finishing eighth in the title fight. As part of multi-car effort at JDC, Lara will partner one or two yet-to-be-named drivers throughout the 13-race campaign. The team also put Lara on-track last week at the first official test of 2009 in Sebring.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Lara first got behind the wheel via karting like many young up-and coming drivers. Racing in his homeland from 2004 to 2006, he showed good speed and racecraft regular challenging for title in both the junior and senior classes. Lara made the switch to cars when he turned the age of 16, entering the Sao Paulo Formula, the region's Formula Ford championship. Immediately adapting to the new challenge, Lara became one of the drivers to beat, setting a series record by finishing on the podium in all 10 rounds as a rookie en route to third in the title fight. This past year, Lara made his North American racing debut in the Star Mazda Championship, earning six top-10 finishes, including a pair of top-fives in the final two races of the season. These impressive late-season performances proved Lara's continued development and hint towards a big year in '09.

"We are very excited to have added Caio to our 2009 driver lineup," stated JDC MotorSports coowner John Church. "He showed great potential in his rookie season and we plan to have him challenging for race wins each weekend."

JDC MotorSports and Lara will commence its 2009 pre-season testing program in the coming weeks, with further announcements regarding the Star Mazda Championship driver-line-up expected shortly.

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