Mazda Road to Indy’s Pro Mazda Championship entry Team Pefrey has taken over the operations of 8Star Motorsports and will move up to Indy Lights for the 2016 season.
All of the team’s Indy Lights personnel, including team manager Gary Neal have been retained and the team will continue to operate out of 8Star’s headquarters in Pompano Beach, Florida.
“Rather than start from ground zero, we researched the market and quickly realized that absorbing the great people and resources at 8Star Motorsports was the best way possible to enter Indy Lights with Team Pelfrey,” said owner Dale Pelfrey. “We will be entering the 2016 season with an already proven race winning package and cannot wait to get started.”
With the acquisition, Team Pelfrey becomes the only team to field cars in the entire Mazda Road to Indy ladder.
8Star had a successful partial season in 2015 where driver Sean Rayhall claimed two victories. It is not known if Rayhall will stay with the team for the upcoming season.
The buyout also will effectively put an end to 8Stars semi-successful sportscar campaign. The team fielded entries in the IMSA WeatherTech United SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2013-14.
