Exclusive Autosport will expand its motorsport programme next season after announcing it will join Indy Lights in 2020.
The Canadian team, which is active in 1600cc single-seaters in Canada and the USA, has been a growing entity in North American motorsport over the last three years, making its debut in USF2000 in 2017 and Indy Pro 2000 a year later.
It has acquired one Dallara IL-15 chassis to race in Indy Lights, and plans to field a solo entry in its debut season. By joining the Indy Lights field, it will become the first team to be active on every stage of the Road to Indy paddock below IndyCar.
?This is truly a dream come true,? said Exclusive Autosport team principal Michael Duncalfe.
?When I started Exclusive Autosport in 2013, competing in the Road to Indy was always the goal, however it seemed like a distant reality.
“To be sitting here, announcing that we are expanding to Indy Lights and have a four-tiered ladder system after seven years of competition, is one of the proudest moments of my career.
“This transition is a natural fit for the Exclusive Autosport programme.”
Dan Andersen, CEO of Road to Indy promoter Andersen Promotions, added: ?We are excited to welcome Exclusive Autosport into the Indy Lights family,?
?Michael Duncalfe parallels our goals in the Road to Indy of providing a complete ladder system for drivers to advance, and his expansion into Indy Lights now completes this platform for his well-established and highly regarded team.
“His passion for helping tomorrow?s talent was evident from day one, and we look forward to seeing him and his drivers on our Indy Lights grids next season.?
Exclusive Autosport has dominated the F1600 scene in Canada over the last six years, winning the last eight titles in the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship (Ontario) and the Formula Tour (Quebec) programmes, whilst also winning the combined F1600 Super Series for the last four seasons.
The team plans to debut its new Indy Lights car on October 19-20 at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, alongside its USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 chassis.