Andretti Autosport has announced that Frenchman Nico Jamin will join the team’s Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires roster for the 2017 season. The Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires standout will pilot the No. 27 Mazda for the schedule’s 16 races alongside Canadian Indy Lights sophomore Dalton Kellett.
“We are really pleased to welcome Nico to our Indy Lights team,” said team owner Michael Andretti. “His progress in the MRTI system has been promising so far and he was impressive in recent testing. We’re looking forward to a competitive season for Nico and the No. 27 team.”
Jamin collected two wins, six podiums and one pole position over the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season, earning him third place in the drivers’ championship. In addition to his Pro Mazda statistics, the 20-year-old claimed 10 wins, 12 pole positions and 15 podiums on his route to earning the 2015 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.
“I am delighted to announce that I will be driving in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires for Andretti Autosport in 2017,” Jamin said. “I remember my first USF2000 race back in 2014, walking by Mario Andretti in the paddock and I asked him to take a picture with me. That day, I was far to think that I was going to drive for a team owned by his son, Michael, a few years later. This is a dream come true and I thank everyone who made it possible – my family, partners, the whole Andretti team and fellow Frenchman, J-F Thormann. We have had extremely positive test days already and I am very much looking forward to seeing the first green flag of the season wave at St. Petersburg.”
Jamin tested for Andretti Autosport at the Chris Griffis Test held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in early October where the 20-year-old ended the weekend second-fastest overall. The Mazda Road to Indy veteran’s progression to the final step of the INDYCAR ladder, places him one step closer to achieving his Verizon IndyCar Series aspirations.
The 2017 Indy Lights campaign kicks off on the streets of St. Petersburg with Rounds 1 and 2 of competition starting March 10.
IndyLights.com