Series returnee Genoa Racing has announced that 2006 Star Mazda Champion Adrian Carrio will drive for the team in the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Championship.
Carrio celebrated his 18th birthday by signing with Genoa Racing and touring the team’s race shop in Indianapolis. Making his Champ Car Atlantic Championship debut this coming season, the talented youngster is the first driver signing of what is expected to be a two-car outfit for the newly reformed team.
Carrio, a native of Monument, Colo., joins Genoa Racing having enjoyed a great deal of success behind the wheel despite his young age. After winning over 75 races and several national championships in the karting ranks, Carrio began racing cars in 2003 as a 14 year-old. Initially racing in the Formula TR Pro Series, he captured the Rookie of the Year award before moving up to the highly competitive Star Mazda Championship with World Speed Motorsports.
Carrio proved to be not only one of the fastest drivers in the series this past year, but captured the series title with two wins and multiple track records. In addition to racing in the open-wheel ranks, the youngster competed in the 2005 Rolex 24 at Daytona as part of the much publicized “Team 16” effort for three 16 year-old drivers.
Genoa Racing returns to both the Atlantic Championship and open-wheel racing in 2007 after a lengthy hiatus. A former race winner and top team in the both the Atlantic Championship and Indy Lights Championship, Genoa Racing owner Angelo Ferro reformed the team with a strong core of personnel. Among those involved are renowned race engineer Thomas Knapp, who will as the Team Manager, and racing legend Jimmy Vasser.
Carrio will make his official Champ Car Atlantic Championship debut this coming weekend, when he takes part in the series organized pre-season test at Sebring International Raceway.