BN Racing Confirms Expansion into Indy Lights for 2019

By Road to Indy

PALMETTO, Fla. – After a season of small fields – but no shortage of thrilling action among an extremely talented group of drivers – Andersen Promotions is pleased to announce that a new team, BN Racing, will enter the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires fray in 2019. The Chicago, IL-based squad today confirmed plans to enter at least one Dallara-Mazda IL-15, in addition to its existing commitments in both the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

Indy Lights represents the top rung on the highly acclaimed Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, which offers talented young open-wheel drivers a series of opportunities to progress from the grassroots of the sport to the pinnacle in North America. No fewer than 25 of the 33 starters in this year’s Indianapolis 500 graduated via Indy Lights. As confirmed recently, the winner of next year’s Indy Lights championship will claim an enhanced scholarship valued at $1.1M to guarantee entry into at least three IndyCar Series events in 2020, including the 104th Indianapolis 500.

BN Racing is led by Englishman Bryn Nuttall, who has an extensive background in many areas of motorsports globally, from the engineering side to management and coaching aspects of the sport, with success all around the world.

The team has made quite an impression since bursting onto the scene with a partial season of USF2000 competition in 2017. Despite missing the opening four races, BN guided teenager David Malukas to a pole position in just his second event start at Road America and ended the season with a best finish of second, as well as three consecutive top-six results to round out its initial campaign.

The progression continued into 2018 as BN added a pair of Pro Mazda cars to its roster. The young team’s highlight came once again at Road America, where Malukas and Englishman Toby Sowery finished first and second in each of the two races and Keith Donegan earned his first podium finish in USF2000, claiming a season record of five podiums during a race weekend. The team finished the 2018 season in style with Malukas winning the last race of the year at the Portland GP this past weekend.

In a little over a year BN Racing has become an established front running team in both categories, with race wins, podiums, pole positions and lap records strewn across its impressive first full season in 2018.

“I’m delighted to be able to announce we will enter the 2019 Indy Lights championship and complete the team’s ability to offer all three categories of these outstanding racing series operated by Andersen Promotions,” said Nuttall. “Not only is this a key step in moving forward as a racing team but with the extra personnel coming in, this will also strengthen my already established USF2000 and Pro Mazda teams, which is a very critical point for me. My aim is to have the capability of winning in every series we enter.

“I’m under no illusions on how tough 2019 in Indy Lights is going to be, but we’ve shown many times over the last 18 months what we are capable of, so let’s see what happens when March arrives.”

BN will announce its driver and testing plans in the coming weeks.

“We are very excited to welcome BN Racing to the Indy Lights paddock,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “Bryn has established his credentials with front-running teams in both USF2000 and Pro Mazda, and I expect no less from him in Indy Lights. His dedication and passion in helping drivers reach the top level of our sport is underscored with his expansion to now include all three levels of the ladder system. Bryn is a go-getter and has put a great program in place in a short amount of time. We are looking forward to seeing his hard work and commitment pay off with continued success in Indy Lights.”