Lloyd joins, Estep and Clunie return to championship-winning team

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Canadian junior open-wheel formula racing team Exclusive Autosport is excited to reveal the trio of drivers who will join the Chris Griffis Memorial Test under the team’s awning in USF2000.



The test, to be held this weekend (October 8th and 9th) on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, features the first on-track appearance of the new Tatuus USF-17 chassis that will make its competition debut at the beginning of the 2017 USF2000 season.



“It is truly an honour to have Exclusive Autosport enter the Cooper Tires Powered by Mazda USF2000 Championship with the new Tatuus chassis,” says Exclusive Autosport team principal Michael Duncalfe. “I have coached drivers in USF2000 in the past, however to be here with my team is very special. We have worked very hard over the past four seasons to establish Exclusive Autosport as a dominant force in both Canadian and USA F1600 by winning 15 championships. I believe I can bring a strong program to USF2000.



“Our three talented drivers and our dedicated crew can’t wait to get on track at IMS and begin our development of the Tatuus chassis. Ultimately this will be our first outing with the new car and our goals are to learn and make gains every session.”



Joining Exclusive Autosport for this critical first outing in the USF-17 will be one driver with a winning USF2000 record and two who have an established history of success with the team.



Jordan Lloyd, 20 years old, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, landed in the Mazda Road to Indy after winning the Australian Formula 4 Championship in 2015.. This year, in his first full season of USF2000 competition, he scored one win, four podium finishes, and a pole position on his way to finishing 4th in points.



“At the end of this year we knew the new car was coming out, which left it open to a lot of new teams wanting to enter the competition,” Lloyd says. “We looked through what teams were thinking of joining and did some research. Exclusive Autosport has a good background with what they’ve done up in Canada. It feels very professional.



“I have high expectations for this weekend. Hopefully we’re at the pointy end of the field and raise some eyebrows.”



Trenton Estep, 16 years old, of San Antonio, Texas, lands at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test fresh off working with Exclusive Autosport to secure the F1600 Super Series Championship and the title plus rookie of the year honours in the Quebec, Canada based Formula Tour 1600 series. By virtue of winning 12 of 15 races in Formula Tour 1600, Estep will also compete in the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires Scholarship Shootout on December 6th and 7th at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to win a $200,000 Mazda scholarship that could see him earn an entry into the 2017 USF2000 championship.



“I’ve been able to have an awesome relationship with Michael Duncalfe and the rest of the guys on my team,” Estep says. “All the teams are on a level playing field as they test the new car. I think we’ve had a really good season with Exclusive Autosport so far and showed what we can do together. I’m hopeful we can carry that over to USF2000.”



Jayson Clunie, 47 years old, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, will enter the USF2000 Chris Griffis Memorial Test in the National Class. Clunie will drive Exclusive Autosport’s Spectrum 014z F2000 car, bolstering the team’s position as the North American Spectrum factory team and distributor. Clunie made his debut in the F2000 Pro category in U.S.-based competition earlier this season.



“Michael and I and everyone at Exclusive have been close for a long time, and I’m looking forward to sharing in their excitement for getting involved in USF2000,” Clunie says. “I feel like I was there when the team started, and I’m really encouraged to see the team grow and continue to have these opportunities to race with them.



“The crew has always been very professional, do a great job with the car setup, and provide the drivers with everything they need to go and do what we’re supposed to do. They’re able to have a friendly, productive work environment while at the same time being aggressive and competitive.”



The entire Mazda Road to Indy will take part in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test this Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To view the full weekend schedule of activities, click here.

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About Exclusive Autosport

Formed in 2013 and based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Exclusive Autosport has quickly forged a reputation as being among North America’s premier junior formula outfits. Success came quickly under Michael Duncalfe’s leadership with notable achievements including the 2015 F1600 Formula F Championship and back-to-back driver titles in 2013 and 2014 in the Canadian Toyo Tires F1600 A-Class Championship (Ontario) and the Formula Tour 1600 Championship (Quebec).



Exclusive Management Inc. is the official North American Importer and Distributor for Spectrum Chassis, designed and produced by Borland Racing Developments in Australia.