JARETT ANDRETTI ANNOUNCES TEAM AND MANUFACTURER FOR 2019 RACE SEASON
Andretti to Join Andretti Autosport and McLaren in Pirelli GT4 America Series
Jarett Andretti continues to announce his plans for the 2019 race season. Andretti, who recently announced his intention to compete full-time in the GT4 America Series, will do so racing for Andretti Autosport with manufacturer McLaren Automotive. Endurance Auto Warranty, one of the largest providers of vehicle service contracts in the nation, will serve as a primary sponsor in the GT4 America Sprint events with more partners to be announced before the start of the season.
Jarett will lead Andretti Autosport into the GT4 America Series driving a new McLaren 570S GT4, supplied via McLaren Philadelphia – one of the recently confirmed Official Motorsport Retailers for McLaren Automotive. This announcement continues a relationship with McLaren and Andretti Autosport that started with two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso, who competed for Andretti Autosport in the 2017 Indianapolis 500. Andretti Autosport is a championship racing organization with wins in multiple professional series and is led by Michael Andretti, the Godfather of Jarett.
“We are happy to expand our organization for Jarett as he competes with McLaren and the 570S GT4 in the GT4 America Series,” said Michael Andretti, CEO, Andretti Autosport. “Jarett is family and, of course, we know the people at McLaren well. This is a natural partnership for us and Jarett as he continues his professional racing career. We look forward to a successful 2019 race season with McLaren, Endurance, and future partners.”
This new team comes after Jarett finished his rookie season in the Pirelli World Challenge TCR Class in 2018. He will now to compete in the McLaren 570S GT4, a car that is capable of a championship for Andretti Autosport.
“We are pleased to welcome Jarett and Andretti Autosport as part of the McLaren Customer Racing family in the 2019 GT4 America Series,” said Dan Walmsley, Motorsport Director, McLaren Automotive. “The 570S GT4 has already proven itself on grids around the world and has scored pole positions and race wins at circuits around the USA, so we are confident that the team can hit the ground running and challenge for race wins and for a championship. The GT4 America Series is one of the most competitive classes in American sports car racing and it is a significant moment for us to be working with Andretti Autosport, who are one of the biggest names in American racing.”
“I really want to thank Michael and McLaren for the opportunity to work with them as we build our race program for 2019,” said Jarett Andretti. “I want to compete for Andretti Autosport and Michael, and I believe we can win a lot of races together with McLaren. I feel this is the next step in my career and I’m doing it with proven winners.”
Andretti, a graduate of North Carolina State University, lives in Indianapolis and races full-time. The third-generation racer is the son of John Andretti, the grandson of Aldo Andretti and the great-nephew of Mario Andretti.
He has carried on the family racing tradition and has championships in go-karts, the USAC Eastern Ignite Pavement Midget Series, the 410 Sprint Car division at the Lawrenceburg Speedway and is also an Indiana Sprint Car Series champion. In addition, Andretti is the 2014 USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of The Year and a former Rookie of The Year at the Oswego Speedway in the supermodified class. In 2018, Andretti competed as a rookie in the Pirelli World Challenge TCR Class.