By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter
Exclusive Autosport’s inaugural campaign in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda has been bolstered with the signing of 2016 series runner-up Parker Thompson.
Thompson will drive the No. 90 Tatus USF-17 in his third season in USF2000. The Red Deer, Alberta native is coming off a runner-up finish in the standings to former Cape Motorsports teammate Anthony Martin.
“This was easily one of the hardest off seasons I have had in my motorsport career thus far,” Thompson admitted. “I honestly didn’t know if I was going to get behind the wheel of a racecar in 2017, so when the opportunity arose to become a part of the EA organization, I was ecstatic.”
Thompson previously drove for Exclusive Autosport in 2015 in the Formula Tour F1600 series where he swept a race weekend at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec and claimed a pole Le Circuit Mt. Tremblant. His previous relationship with the team gives him confidence in returning to the team.
“This is a dream team fit for myself, in a number of different ways,” Thompson continued. “I met Michael (Duncalfe) when I was just 11-years-old racing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the Western Canadian Karting Championships. It just goes to show you what relationship building can do for your career down the road! Since then, I actually raced for Michael in his decorated FF1600 program, and claimed my first two formula car wins with him.”
There’s not many team owners in the paddock who I have had such a great history and relationship with over the years. I think that is going to make me push even harder to make sure I am doing everything on and off the track possible to pursue a championship for this team in 2017.” Michael Duncalfe was equally as ecstatic.
Having seen Thompson compete in years past, team owner Michael Duncalfe was equally as ecstatic as his team heads into USF2000 competition.
“It has been a long time coming, signing Parker to a full season program with Exclusive Autosport,” Duncalfe continued. “I am especially excited that he will be one of our drivers, a series veteran, leading the EA program in our inaugural season in the USF2000 Championship / MRTI. I have the utmost respect for not only Parker’s racecraft, but also his work ethic on and off the track. I have never seen a driver work as hard as he does off the track on his racing program.”
The team will be based in Palmetto, Florida.
