Toronto, Ont. (July 16, 2014) –Some racers never get the opportunity to race in front of their hometown fans. This weekend, Zack Meyer will take to the track on the biggest motorsports stage in all of Canada, racing in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition on the streets of Toronto as part of the Honda Indy Toronto.
Meyer will take his #2 TMR/DAMIS PARTNERS III/Innisfil Indy Karting/Xtreme Coil Drilling car to the streets where he grew up with the aim of impressing everyone who has supported his dream career.
Meyer, 21, from Innisfil, Ont., returns to a street circuit for the first time since the Grand Prix of Long Beach, backed by the confidence acquired during the last road course event on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. In Indianapolis, Meyer posted his season-best finish of fourth in the first race of the doubleheader weekend with a masterful display of his driving talents during a tricky wet/dry race.
“Based on how we performed at Indy, I think Toronto is going to be a really good weekend and it could even result in my first podium,” Meyer explained. “Any race is just as important but it sure does feel good to be a Canadian in the field and living only 20 minutes from the track itself. Representing Toronto is amazing.”
Racing in your hometown brings added pressure, but Meyer feels prepared to handle whatever is thrown at him over the course of the event. “There’s always pressure every time you get into the car, but once the helmet is on it doesn’t matter where you are you just have to do your best. Before the helmet goes on, sure there is a bit more pressure. I just can’t wait to have all of my family and friends there and to race in my backyard. Hopefully I can put on a good show, race well, score some valuable points, and end up on the podium.”
Even though it’s been seven weeks since Meyer last competed, he knows on Friday there won’t be much rust to shake off. “I’ve been training and staying fit in the go-kart at Innisfil Indy Karting, so I should be ready to go when practice starts on Friday. Then it’s time to keep pushing.”
The Grand Prix of Toronto is the ninth of fourteen races on the 2014 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires schedule. The sole Canadian racing in Indy Lights will have two practice sessions, qualifying, and then the 45-lap Grand Prix of Toronto on tap this week. The Grand Prix of Toronto is slated to take the green flag at 10:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday. The television broadcast of the Grand Prix of Toronto will air on a tape-delayed basis on NBC Sports Network immediately following the conclusion of the second race of the Honda Indy Toronto at 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday.
You can learn more about Zack Meyer by visiting ZackMeyer.ca, and you can also follow Zack on Twitter @ZackMeyer66 and Instagram @ZackMeyer66. If you are interested in supporting an up-and-coming Canadian racer in the Mazda Road to Indy, you may directly contact Zack Meyer to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Grand Prix of Toronto Fast Facts
The Track: 1.75-mile, 11-turn street course
The Race: 45 laps, 79 miles on Sunday, July 20
Social Media Hashtags: #2inTO, #MRTI, #TeamCooperTire, #R2IndyTV, #keeppushingZM
TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Network – Tape Delayed, 6 p.m. EDT, Sunday, July 20
Radio Broadcast: Live on IMS Radio Network on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, IndyCar.com, IndyCarRadio.com, and the INDYCAR app from Verizon, Sunday, 10:45 a.m. EDT
Schedule:
Friday Practice, 3:00-3:35 p.m. EDT
Saturday Practice, 8:15-9:00 a.m. EDT
Qualifying, 1:30-2:05 p.m. EDT
Sunday Grand Prix of Toronto, 10:45-11:45 a.m. EDT
About Zack Meyer: A homegrown racer from Toronto, Ont., Meyer began his racing career in karting at Innisfil Indy Karting. Meyer’s racing career blossomed under the tutelage of his driver coach and manager, Joe Launi. With both the support of his mother and Launi, Meyer went on to become one of the top karters for the ultra-competitive GP Racing Karts team, participating in and winning numerous KZ2 Shifter Kart events. Meyer claimed the championship for the Brian Stewart BSRKC-F125/ICC Shifter class in both 2009 and 2010, only to follow those up by claiming the championship in the KZ2 Class in the Florida Winter Tour in 2011 and 2012. Meyer made his debut in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in 2012 with JDC MotorSports before moving to the series full-time in 2013. Meyer posted a best finish of fourth in his home race, the Honda Indy Toronto, on his way to finishing the year as the highest-placed JDC MotorSports driver in the championship with sixth in the championship standings. For 2014, Meyer steps up to the top rung on the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, with race-winning Team Moore Racing.
From: Bart Ewer
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