Performance Tech Motorsports is pleased to confirm 2011 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda champion Ricardo Vera will be part of the squad’s American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón LMP Challenge driver line-up at 60th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh from Florida.

The 18 year-old Vera will join Jarrett Boon and Anthony Nicolosi behind the wheel of a Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA FLM09 LMP Challenge car when the 2012 ALMS season gets underway at Sebring International Raceway. While the partnership is currently only for the prestigious 12 hour race in Florida, both Vera’s management team and the Performance Tech squad are working at finding funding to run the talented Puerto Rican racer throughout the season.

“We are very excited to be part of this team, and look forward to racing the complete season with Performance Tech Motorsports, as sponsorship arrives,” stated Vera Racing Corp Manager Pedro Prosper.

With the addition of Vera to the Performance Tech Motorsports line-up, the highly rated team is continuing its efforts of promoting drivers from development series like Prototype Lites. Nicolosi, who captured four top-fives in his rookie LMP Challenge campaign last season, joined of the team’s LMPC effort after winning the last Lites race of 2010 at Road Atlanta.

“Our mission at Performance Tech Motorsports is to provide an opportunity for drivers to develop in one series and move up as they wish into the professional racing arena,” explained Performance Tech Motorsports owner Brent O’Neill. “With five of our customers running Lites cars in 2011, we had plenty of opportunities to see Ricardo Vera display exceptional talent and driver maturity while he won the Lites 1 championship.

“We are extremely happy to have him, his family, and his fans become part of our LMPC program.”

Vera first got behind the wheel at the age of 12, piloting a kart in his native Puerto Rico. Immediately showing natural talent, he captured his first series title one year later. In 2008, he received an invitation from Team Costa Rica to test a Formula 1000 car. Displaying speed and and skill in his first car experience, Italian team owner Mauritzio Facondini suggested to the Costa Rica Team Principal that Vera drive the Formula 2000 car. Following that test, the young Puerto Rican was signed to Team Costa Rica to participate in the 2009 Latam Challenge Series, where he finished eighth in his rookie campaign. After a season of Formula Abarth competition in Italy, he transition to prototype action last season. An immediate force in the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, Vera ended the year as the Lites 1 champion with two wins and six podium finishes.

Source : Performance Tech Motorsports