SCCA Formula Enterprise standout Scott Rettich will compete in the 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda’s national class with Alliance Autosport, team officials announced.

Rettich will drive the No. 71 Formula Enterprises Alliance Autosport entry, the same car that he has established a strong record of success in Formula Enterprises competition.

Rettich has won two Formula Enterprises SCCA National Championships, the SCCA Pro Racing Formula Enterprises Championship in 2011, the Formula Enterprises SCCA Triple Crown in 2010, and the Formula Enterprises SCCA Super Sweep in 2010 and 2011.  

Rettich has also won multiple championships in sports racers and has been competing in Grand-Am Rolex GT events as well.  

"I am very excited to enter the USF2000 Series," Rettich said.  "The series has many great venues on the schedule and I am really looking forward to competing at INDYCAR and ALMS events.  I really enjoy racing in front of large crowds.  We have a few new things to learn with the Cooper tires, but I am confident that the Alliance Autosport crew can continue to give me a winning car.  I would like to thank Mazda, Dan Anderson, and SCCA Enterprises for allowing Formula Enterprises into the USF2000 National class.  I would also like to thank PDI Communication Systems, Springboro Car Wash, and Red Line Oil for their continual support of my racing career.”

Afterburner Autosport joins USF2000 grid
Minnesota-based Afterburner Autosport announced plans to contest the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda.

As part of an expansion of race operations, the Minnesota-based squad will field a multi-car effort in the Mazda Road to Indy series this season. 

Under the guidance of team principal Tim Walsh and team manager Brian Tomasi, Afterburner Autosport has quickly evolved into a premier Formula 2000-based team. Building on the success of two SCCA Formula Continental National Championship titles and several pro F2000 podium finishes, Afterburner will take the next step toward its goal of becoming one of the leading junior formula car squads in North America by competing in the 2012 edition of the USF2000 Championship. 

The squad is not only focused on challenging for championship honors, but also helping train and develop the next stars of the sport, and will run three Van Diemen Mazda entries throughout the 13-race campaign.
"We are very excited about racing in the USF2000 Championship in 2012 and joining the Mazda Road to Indy program," Walsh said. "The goal right from day one will be to challenge for top honors, and we believe have all the tools to do that."

The driver line-up is currently in final negotiations and an experienced crew of engineers and mechanics is being assembled to position this program as a player in the series beginning with the season opener at Sebring in March.

"Afterburner Autosport is ready to take the next step this season," added Tomasi. "With the drivers and equipment that we have assembled this year we should come out fighting."