Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Formula Regional Americas dominator Global Racing Group will enter the Road to Indy for the first time next year by partnering up with HMD Motorsports to race in Indy Lights.
HMD, which moved its Indy Lights operation across to FRegional Americas this year when the Indy Lights season was cancelled, will expand to four full-time entries after planning to run three in 2020 and debuting with one car under its own banner and another in partnership with Team Pelfrey in 2019.
In the new partnership, all four cars will be run out of HMD’s Brownsburg workshop, but two will be raced under the GRG with HMD Motorsports name. The first driver to be racing for the new alliance is expected to be announced in a few weeks.
“Working together will bring an unparallel operation to the Road to Indy program in 2021 and beyond,” said HMD owner Henry Malukas.
“I met with Christian [Pedersen, GRG boss] on several occasions through the season and our programs are very well aligned with one another. We have similar goals and interests and with our new relationship, have a direct line from FRegional Americas to Indy Lights.”
GRG romped to the 2020 FRegional Americas teams title by 206 points over HMD. Of the 17 races held, GRG’s Linus Lundqvist won 15 and HMD’s David Malukas won two. Both will be racing in Indy Lights next year, and it is tipped that they will be team-mates in the GRG/HMD stable. It is unlikely that HMD’s participation in FRegional Americas will continue.
Christian Pedersen said: “Expanding our programme into Indy Lights has been on the drawing board for a while, and via discussions with Henry throughout 2020 it has been clear that the synergies we can unleash together will bring benefits to both teams, our drivers, the Indy Lights series and to motorsport in the USA in general.
“We both set the bar high in terms of expectations for performance, results, appearance and continued development of opportunities for drivers. That’s what the partnership is based on.”
Dan Anderse, CEO of Road to Indy promoter Andersen Promotions, added:
“We are very excited to welcome Global Racing Group to the Indy Lights paddock in 2021. Their partnership with HMD Motorsports brings two of the most professional and powerful teams together in one programme with a reach for driver potential throughout North America and in Europe.
“HMD Motorsports has been a consistent frontrunner in the Road to Indy, especially at the Indy Lights level, while GRG has been the dominant programme in other open-wheel series. While both entities have been successful on the track, their knack for business off the track will elevate them to the forefront of the Road to Indy for a very long time.”