Expanded 16-Race Season Announced For 2016 Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series View email in your browser



Pirelli Formula Lites® Championship Series Releases Expanded 2016 Schedule



-- Eight Weekend, 16-Race Campaign To Include Stops At Road Atlanta and Homestead-Miami Speedway -- (February 18, 2015) -- As the long cold days of winter make way to the promise of spring, the newly renamed Pirelli Formula Lites® Championship Series today released its 2016 racing schedule in preparation for its second SCCA Pro season. The news comes just days after Formula Lites organizers announced that the high-tech,open-wheel series has secured title sponsorship from renowned international tire manufacturer Pirelli.



For 2016, series' participants can look forward to an expanded schedule that features a 16-race championship season comprised of eight separate race weekends. From the first weekend of May through the second weekend of October, Pirelli Formula Lites racers will compete in seven states at a variety of world-class professional and boutique tracks. In last year's inaugural season, the Honda-powered Formula Lites FL-15 cars began the series’ legacy with six races -- a year that witnessed 16-year-old Brazilian Vini Papareli claim the first annual “Justin Wilson Series Champion” trophy. Located in Braselton, Georgia, in May the legendary 2.54-mile Road Atlanta circuit will host the first race weekend of the 2016 Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series. Built in 1970, Road Atlanta has been a formidable road racing challenge for decades. “Any race series promoter will tell you one of the most crucial elements in long-term success is putting together great event schedules,” shared series Co-Managing Partner Dennis McCormack. “ There needs to be just the right blend of sustainability and growth, especially when new teams and drivers are an important cornerstone to your business model. We feel our new 2016 Pirelli Formula Lites schedule offers that ideal balance.”



The picturesque and challenging 2.54-mile circuit of Road Atlanta will play host to two stops on the 2016 Pirelli Formula Lites tour, including the season kick-off on May 6-7. Known as one of the most demanding race tracks in North America, Road Atlanta’s long history incorporates professional sports car racing of all kinds, including international competition via its annual “Petit LeMans” endurance event. On September 17-18 the series’ will return to Road Atlanta for the penultimate round of Formula Lites competition.



A trip to southern Florida and Homestead-Miami Speedway offers a showcase for the final round of racing on the 2016 Pirelli Formula Lites schedule. Home to the NASCAR Sprint Cup series come November, Homestead-Miami Speedway combines some of the circuit’s high-banked oval as part of a 2.21-mile road circuit housed within the facility's carefully-groomed 600 acres. On October 8-9, the high banks of Florida's Homestead-Miami Speedway will be part of the Pirelli Formula Lites series final 2016 race weekend. Home to a late-season NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, the circuit also features a challenging 2.21-mile road course laid out within the oval's infield. (Photo courtesy motorsport.com) The Pirelli Formula Lites Championship series will also make its first appearance at Brainerd International Raceway (Brainerd, Minn.) and Autobahn Country Club (Joliet, Ill.), while returning for a second year to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (Thompson, Conn.), New Jersey Motorsports Park (Millville, NJ.), and MSR Houston (Angleton, Tex.).



Taking a successful page from its 2015 playbook, this season Pirelli Formula Lights will incorporate other SCCA Pro events into action-packed race weekends, including three appearances with the American sedan-based Trans-Am Series (New Jersey, Brainerd and Homestead-Miami). The SCCA’s new F4 open-wheel series will also enjoy first-year exposure at Formula Lites weekends at New Jersey, Road Atlanta (September race) and Homestead-Miami.



"We have worked hard to fulfill the wishes of our teams, drivers and corporate partners in organizing a Formula Lites schedule that is world-class but also financially viable," explained Co-Managing Partner Ryan Arciero. “With the help of many people at all eight of this season's venues, we are proud to have delivered a schedule that really builds upon the successes of last year. 2016 is going to be really fun for all of us.” The high-speed finess of Formula Lite's open-wheel racing will be juxtaposed against the raw V-8 power of SCCA Pro Trans-Am competition at three weekends in 2016. It was a highly popular combination during the 2015 Formula Lites appearance at New Jersey Motorsports Park. An innovative open-wheel concept, the “Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series” enjoyed a successful inaugural year in 2015 thanks to the support of a pioneering group of teams and racers -- along with an enviable long list of top-tier corporate partners. The Crawford Composites FL-15 chassis performed flawlessly all season long. Pirelli’s enhanced commitment to Formula Lites® came after engine supplier Honda Performance Development (HPD) announced their support of an upgraded powerplant at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show.



. Updates and news on the Formula Lites series can be found at www.formulalites.com # # #



2016 Pirelli Formula LItes Championship Series Schedule

May 6-7 Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia

May 20-21 Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Thompson, Connecticut

June 11-12 New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, New Jersey

July 2-3 Brainerd International Raceway Brainerd, Minnesota

Aug. 20-21 Autobahn Country Club Juliet, Illinois

Sept. 10-11 MSR Houston Angleton, Texas

Sept. 17-18 Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia

Oct. 8-9 Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida

About Formula Lites



Founded by Dennis McCormack and Ryan Arciero, the Formula Lites® series is comprised of an eight-weekend, 16-race season and is based on a now-proven, Crawford Composites-sourced FL-15 chassis. For 2016, the carbon fiber monocoque houses a Honda powerplant and a six-speed sequential gearbox featuring pneumatic paddle shifters. The high tech, Formula Lites® perfected approach to open-wheel racing will once again enjoy support and technical partnerships with Pirelli, Honda/HPD, Crawford Composites, PFC Brakes, Eibach Springs, Bosch, Impact Race Products and Bruce High Performance Transporters.



About Pirelli



Founded in 1872, Pirelli is among the largest global tire makers, and focuses its business on the high end, premium product segment where it is a world leader. Present in over 160 countries, Pirelli has 22 manufacturing sites and employs approximately 38,000 people around the world. Successfully competing in motorsports since 1907, Pirelli is currently the exclusive supplier of the Formula 1 championship, the Superbike world championship, and many other championships around the world.