Belardi Auto Racing, which won the 2014 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires team and driver championship, announced that Juan Piedrahita hsas joined the team to contest the 2015 season that begins with a doubleheader March 28-29 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Piedrahita, a native of Bogota, Colombia, competed in Indy Lights in 2014, capping the season with top-five finishes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Sonoma Raceway. He competed in Star Mazda in 2010 and finished seventh in the USF2000 championship in 2011. Piedrahita recorded five top-five finishes in the 2012 Pro Mazda season and followed with six top fives in the 2013 Pro Mazda season.

“I am very excited to come back to Indy Lights for another year,” Piedrahita said. “I’m very grateful that Brian Belardi has given me this opportunity, and it looks like I have some big shoes to fill, those of my friend, (2014 series champion) Gabby Chaves. In regards to the new Dallara, I can’t wait to drive it. The new car is very similar to the DW12 and it will help us in preparation for the next step.” 

Felix Serralles also will drive one of the Belardi Auto Racing entries.

“I have a great deal of excitement for the new year, and like any team owner who’s won a championship, I just want more,” team owner Brian Belardi said. “Juan has been such a steady driver throughout his Mazda Road to Indy career and I’m really excited to see what he’ll be able to do in our car this season. We expect that he’ll make huge gains in his second year in the series. Yes, it’s a brand new car, but he’s been to the tracks now and is accustomed to the higher speeds from Pro Mazda.”

The team will participate in an Open Test on Jan. 26-27 on the 2.21-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway road course and Jan. 29 on the 1.5-mile oval. Additional information on Belardi Auto Racing can be obtained at BelardiAutoRacing.com.