British driver Jordan King has announced that his career will take a new path as he will do the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season with Ed Carpenter Racing. The former Formula 2 driver will be sitting at the nº. 20 car on road and street courses, taking the place Spencer Pigot had last year, after which he was promoted to a full-time ride.
It was one of the few IndyCar seats still available. With Spencer Pigot getting the nº. 21 car and JR Hildebrand out of the team, it was a mystery who would drive the ECR nº. 20 car, the one that team owner Ed Carpenter drives on ovals, on road and street courses. The team has confirmed that Jordan King is finally the chosen one to race for the team.
In 2017, King completed his third GP2/FIA F2 in a disappointing way, eleventh on the standings and without a single podium finish. MP Motorsport, the team he drove for this last season, will lose both of his 2017 drivers as Sergio Sette Camara joined Carlin in F2.
As for King, this move implies that, due to his lack of results and the disappearance of the F1 team he was a developement driver for, Manor Racing; his chances to step up to Formula One are probably gone and he now has this chance to continue developing his racing career, with a full-time place in 2019 as the main goal.
He, however, will have to adapt to a new car, new rivals, unknown tracks and longer races. This chance, nonetheless, won’t be that dramatic as he won’t do any oval race.
The British driver has had the opportunity to speak about this new adventure:
“It’s taken a lot of effort. I personally worked very hard towards it. It’s really been a goal ever since I popped out to Sonoma in 2016 and saw everything. I’ve worked towards it since then. I’m really pleased to get it announced and thankful to Ed for giving me the opportunity.
“I suppose European racing lends itself to road and street courses. With it being a steppingstone for me, I personally find this a good way to go. I’ll do the road and street courses and leave Ed and the experts to do the ovals and learn everything I can. That will help me in the future.”
