James Hinchcliffe Commits to Team Moore Racing

Canada’s James Hinchcliffe will return to the Firestone Indy Lights Series in 2010 having announced a deal to compete for Indianapolis-based Team Moore Racing. The 23-year-old from Toronto will kick-start his sophomore season in IndyCar’s official feeder series on Sunday 28th March as Round 1 of the 13-race championship takes to the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Hinchcliffe enjoyed an impressive rookie season in the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Series, powering his way to fifth overall in the Driver Standings racing for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.  The Ontario-resident collected a string of podium finishes, including a popular third-place hometown effort at the ‘Honda Indy Toronto’ last July.

“I’m super excited to be back in the Firestone Indy Lights Series and I’m looking forward to competing for Team Moore Racing,” enthused Hinchcliffe in announcing his new ride.  “I know the owners, Mark Moore and Tom Wood, have put together a really strong group of people to steer the team forwards and I’ll be giving my all behind the wheel to contribute to that.

“I was competitive in my first season in Indy Lights which was great but I need to close the deal and get some race wins this year as I look towards moving up full-time into the IZOD IndyCar Series.  Last year there were a few unknowns for me but now I have experience of both the car and the tracks under my belt.  It’s down to me to put that to good use and work with Team Moore Racing to target the title.”

Hinchcliffe will join Spanish rookie, Adrian Campos, in Team Moore Racing’s two-car line-up for 2010.

‘Hinch’ boasts a stellar record in the junior ranks as he aims to follow in the footsteps his fellow Canadians – Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Patrick Carpentier and Alex Tagliani, in making it to the top-flight of North American open-wheel racing, the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Back-to-back ‘Rookie of the Year’ titles and Runner-Up finishes in Formula BMW USA and Star Mazda, in 2004 and 2005 respectively, were followed by race wins and podiums in the Atlantic Championship between 2006-08.  James similarly enjoyed success representing A1 Team Canada in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport during this period.

For further details – www.teammmooreracing / www.indycar.com // ENDS – www.hinchtown.com // Press release issued on behalf of James Hinchcliffe by SM-PR: Tel: +1 514 684 2621 / Cell: +1 514 945 3253 / Email: stuart@sm-pr.com