World karting champion ready to challenge for top honors as part of expanded effort by Florida-based team

PALMETTO, FLA. – JAY Motorsports is excited to announce it has signed up-and-coming French driver Florian Latorre for the 2013 edition of the Copper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. As part of an expanded junior formula car program, which includes the squad now being based in Florida, the talented teenager will make his North American racing debut focused on challenging for Rookie of the Year honors.

Since its inception, JAY Motorsports has prided itself on helping talented drivers develop both behind the wheel and outside of the cockpit. With an emphasis on giving its racers all the tools to reach their goals, the team has done just that, as evidenced by two alumni (Nick Evans and Patrick Gallagher) capturing the Mazda Club Racer Shootout. The trend of a JAY Motorsports racer making his mark in the junior formula car ranks looks set to continue in 2013, as former world karting champion and French Formula 4 National Auto Sport Academy Championship Rookie of the Year Latorre makes the move to North America race action with JAY Motorsports. The 15 year-old, having already impressed his new squad with his skill, attitude, and desire, will contest the entire 14-race USF2000 Championship. Given the experiences gained by the squad - which has relocated to Andersen RacePark in Florida - in its first season of series competition last season, combined with its winning heritage and the talent Latorre brings to the table, the stage is set for a strong run in the highly-competitive Mazda Road to Indy series.

"I am very excited to be entering the USF2000 Championship with JAY Motorsports," stated Latorre. "The team has an incredible motivation. We have already run a few days together, and the atmosphere was exceptional and very professional. I've loved US motorsports for a long time, and I hope this year will be the beginning of a long career here. I've already had the chance to race karts in Las Vegas at the SKUSA SuperNationals, but this year with tracks like Sebring, Laguna Seca, and Indianapolis on the USF2000 schedule, it will be fantastic and very exciting. I'm a rookie, but I hope really soon to be among the best drivers in the category. I am working very hard and I am in hurry to be at Sebring for the first race."

"I am very pleased to have Florian piloting our 2013 USF2000 Championship class car," commented team owner Jay Green. "We have had the pleasure of working with this young man on several occasions, and were very impressed with both his speed and maturity. He will be a valuable asset to our team, and we look forward to our first races together at the 2013 USF2000 off-season Winterfest event. I hope this will be the start of a long and prosperous relationship with Thierry Germanovitch as well and his 13th Avenue Driver Development Company."

"This is the first time that we have decided to take a so very young driver from Europe to participate in the Mazda Road to Indy program," added Germanovitch. "Florian has demonstrated qualities so impressive for his age, that we decided to give him a chance here. We are extremely demanding with our drivers, and we will do our best to help Florian throughout the season. We are also extremely pleased to be working with JAY Motorsports, who shares the same vision that we have for professional motorsports. I hope this will be the starting point of a long and wonderful adventure together involving Florian, and other drivers in the future."

While Latorre, who is a 13th Avenue (French Driver Management Company) racer, joins JAY Motorsports with limited formula car experience, the teenager has a winning race resume to build on. A front-runner right from the get go in the karting ranks, Latorre captured the French Cadet Championship title in his inaugural season of racing in 2009. He continued to showcase his talents in year two behind the wheel, finishing as the French KF3 Junior Championship runner-up and third in the Belgian KF3 Junior Championship. One year later, prior to making the move to car competition, the rising French racer won both the European and World IAME X30 Junior Championships, in addition to the Belgian KF3 Junior Championship. Latorre made the transition to junior formula car racing last season, competing in the French Formula 4 National Auto Sport Academy Championship, where he finished eighth in the overall title fight, earning Rookie of the Year honors.

Under the continued guidance of owner and founder Jay Green, JAY Motorsports will now be based in Florida. With a new overall emphasis on formula car competition - having previously also been an SCCA Enterprises Customer Service Representative and leading Spec Racer Ford team and prep shop - the multiple Formula Enterprises SCCA National Championship-winning squad will run a multi-car operation in the USF2000 Championship and SCCA Club Racing out of its new headquarters at Anderson RacePark in Palmetto, Fla.

JAY Motorsports is currently testing and preparing for the upcoming 2013 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, which commences on March 14-15, with Rounds One and Two as part the famed Twelve Hours of Sebring event at Sebring International Raceway in central Florida. Prior to the start of the regular season, Latorre and JAY Motorsports will take part in the Cooper Tires Winterfest series, starting on February 5, at Sebring. Drivers interested in taking part in JAY Motorsports' off-season programs, or joining the squad in 2013, are encouraged to contact team principal Jay Green. 

Additional information on JAY Motorsports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jaymotorsports.com. For direct contact, please contact Jay Green @ 304-610-5663 or jaymotorsports1@gmail.com. Keep up to date via Twitter @ jaymtrsprt and on Facebook page @ JAYMotorsportsLLC.

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About JAY Motorsports:
JAY Motorsports, LLC is a family owned and operated racing organization based in Florida. Led by former racer Jay Green, the team became one of the highest rated customer service representatives within the SCCA's spec categories. With countless wins in SCCA Club and Pro competition, the team has become a mainstay in junior driver development over the years. By winning the 2009 and 2012 SCCA Formula Enterprises National Championships, they propelled their drivers to win spots on the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Team in 2009 and 2012. In addition to the 2009 and 2012 Runoffs gold medals, JAY Motorsports was the 2006 MARRS Spec Racer Ford champion, 2007 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford champion, 2008 SCCA National Great Lakes Division Spec Racer Ford and Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 SCCA Great Lakes/Central Division Formula Car Magazine Formula Enterprises champion, 2008 Carolina Cup Pro Series Spec Racer Ford champion, and 2009 SCCA Southeast Division ECR Spec Racer Ford champion. This past season, JAY Motorsports entered the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda full-time, contesting both the National and Championship classes.