USF2000 Standout McKenna Moves Up

Indianapolis, Feb. 9, 2001: Team GDT announced it has signed Irish racer Patrick McKenna to compete in the 2011 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear.

McKenna, 23, was runner-up in the 2010 USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda and was voted Dunlop Motorsport Ireland "Young Racing Driver of the Year" for the second consecutive year.

He will join drivers J.W. Roberts and Carlos Conde as the team aims to expand on its championship-winning effort in 2010. Team owner/driver Roberts won the Star Mazda Expert Series championship for drivers age 30-44 and Conde won the Master Series championship for drivers 45 and older.

"I am really looking forward to taking the next step on the Mazda Road to Indy with a championship-caliber organization like Team GDT," McKenna said. "The team proved what they were capable of in 2010 and they have a very accomplished group of people in place for 2011. Everyone is extremely motivated for the coming season and I can't wait to get working with the guys. 2010 was a strong year for me in USF2000 and I am confident I can build on from that in Star Mazda this season. I just want to thank everyone who's helped make it happen."

McKenna, a native of Dublin who now lives in Indianapolis, scored two wins (Lucas Oil Raceway, where he won from the pole, and New Jersey Motorsports Park) and six podium finishes last year. His resume also includes the 2008 All-Ireland/Northern Irish Formula Ford Champion and the prestigious Martin Donnelly Trophy.

He also is a college graduate, having studied manufacturing engineering at the Dublin Institute of Technology.

"As a team owner I am very pleased to have a driver of Patrick's talent on board," Roberts said. "He has shown last year what he can do by finishing second in the points in the USF2000. I expect big things this year. I am very excited to start the 2011 and go for an overall championship. I expect to see him on the podium many times standing next to myself this year."

As part of Team GDT's "championship upgrade," engineer Eric Purcell also has been added. Purcell, who engineered John Edward's Star Mazda Championship-winning car for AIM Autosport in 2008, is an MIT-trained engineer with more than 30 years of experience in Europe and the U.S. as a driver, engineer and team manager. His experience includes road courses, street circuits and ovals, as well as such series as Formula BMW, Formula Atlantic and Indy Lights. He also had a major role in the early development of the Formula Mazda series.

Adding to the championship mix at Team GDT for 2011 will be team manager Paul Mata and driver coach and nutrition/lifestyle consultant Chuck West, a championship-winning open-wheel driver - including the 1992 Star Mazda Championship -- and founder of the championship-winning Worldspeed Motorsports team.

"I'm very excited to have Patrick on board for 2011 season," Mata said. "With Eric Purcell as our engineer I expect Patrick to be a front-runner from the get go. In my discussions with Patrick over the last month he displayed the exactly the attitude we are looking for; he's confident, but with the willingness to learn more. Which was exactly what we are looking for at GDT."