USF Juniors
 | |
| Category | Single seaters |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| Inaugural season | 2022 |
| Drivers | 17 |
| Teams | 7 |
| Constructors | Tatuus |
| Engine suppliers | Mazda |
| Tyre suppliers | Cooper Tires |
| Official website | usfjuniors.com |
 Current season | |
The USF Juniors championship, also known as USF Juniors presented by Cooper Tires for sponsorship reasons, is an American auto racing series running with USF2000 cars (as of 2023). The series inaugurated in 2022 as a new first rung of the Road to Indy, below the U.S. F2000 National Championship. The series is owned by Andersen Promotions and sanctioned by USAC.[1]
History
The USF Juniors championship was formally announced in September 2021. Series founder Dan Andersen cited the need for one more step on the Road to Indy ladder after karting due to the increasingly competitive nature of the previous first run, the U.S. F2000 National Championship as a primary factor for forming the series. He further established the want to provide "a true entry level series that is professionally managed where drivers, teams and parents can focus on training and racing via shorter, more economical events, while also lowering the spotlight on young drivers that often occurs on IndyCar race weekends."[2] The series was also made as a direct competitor to the Formula 4 United States Championship.[3] To allow champions of the series to progress in their careers, winners will receive a scholarship valued at $200,000.
For the series' inaugural season, a six-event scheduled was planned featuring all road courses. USAC, who already handled duties for the U.S. F2000 National Championship and Indy Pro 2000 championships in Road to Indy, was named the sanctioning body for the series. Former driver Gustavo Yacamán was hired as the series manager, while another two former drivers, Joel Miller and Johnny Unser, were hired as race stewards.[2]
Cars
For the series' inaugural season, competitors will use a Ligier JS F4 chassis with a 160 hp 2.0 Liter engine made by Honda Performance Development (HPD).[4] As with all other series in the Road to Indy ladder, The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, through their Cooper brand, will be the tire supplier for the series. For the 2023 season, USF Juniors plans to begin using the Tatuus JR-23 chassis, which can be upgraded for use in both U.S. F2000 and Indy Pro 2000 as drivers and teams progress through the Road to Indy ladder. The new car will also use the same MZR engine used in the Road to Indy series.[5]
Circuits
| Course | Years |
|---|---|
| Barber Motorsports Park | 2022 |
| Circuit of the Americas | 2022 |
| Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 2022 |
| Ozarks International Raceway | 2022 |
| Road America | 2022 |
| Virginia International Raceway | 2022 |
References
- ^ "USF Juniors: About". usfjuniors.com. Andersen Promotions. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ a b Glendenning, Mark (September 30, 2021). "Andersen Promotions unveils USF Juniors series". racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ Demmendaal, Jeroen. "Your season guide to the 2022 USF Juniors Championship". f1feederseries.com. F1FeederSeries. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ "Ligier JS". usfjuniors.com. Anderson Promotions. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ "Meet USF Juniors, the newest entry-level feeder series in the United States". F1 Feeder Series. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2022-04-28.