Juncos Racing announced today that Rene Binder will join the team for a partial season in the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series. Binder will run a four-race schedule beginning with the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Innsbruck-born Rene Binder will also run races with Juncos Racing at Barber Motorsports Park, the streets of Toronto and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car course.
“I am honored to be a part of the Verizon IndyCar Series for the 2018 season,” said Binder. “I have been a huge fan of INDYCAR and what the series has to offer to me as a driver. I had a hard decision to make this year on which path I would take in my career, and I am confident that I made the right decision. Right now, we have signed for four races, but I hope to add more to our schedule as the season progresses. I would like to thank my sponsors, family and Juncos Racing for giving me this opportunity.”
Binder joins the Verizon IndyCar Series after competing in the World Series Formula V8, where he captured four wins, five podiums and two poles. Binder was a title contender throughout the first half of the 2017 season, however multiple technical issues forced him to retire early or to start from the back multiple times throughout the year, causing him to finish fourth in the championship. Binder competed in the GP2 series from 2013 – 2015 where he earned five top-10 finishes including a sixth- and seventh-place finish at Monte Carlo.
“I am happy to welcome Rene (Binder) to our team and we are thrilled to be a part of his North American debut,” said Team Owner Ricardo Juncos. “Rene has a successful background running in the World Series V8 and GP2, along with the testing he has done within Formula 1, and I know he will carry that momentum into the Verizon IndyCar Series this year. The timing is right for a talented driver like Rene to join, as everyone will be starting over with the new INDYCAR aero kits. I want to thank Rene for choosing Juncos Racing for his INDYCAR debut, along with his sponsors and family for this opportunity.”
Binder, a third-generation driver, is the second driver to join Juncos Racing for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. He will make his first test in an Indy car at the end of February
Juncos Racing announced in October that the 2017 Indy Lights Champion Kyle Kaiser would move up within the team for his IndyCar debut.
The 2018 Verizon IndyCar season kicks off March 9th – 11th on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.