On Thursday, Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) announced that the organization has tapped Argentine star Agustín Canapino to compete full-time in the NTT IndyCar Series for the organization in 2023.
Canapino will pilot a second entry for Juncos Hollinger Racing, No. 78, in 2023, while serving as a teammate to Callum Illot, who will contest his second full-time season with the organization.
“For me, this is a great opportunity, so I am very grateful to Ricardo Juncos, Brad Hollinger, the Circuit of Termas de Río Hondo, and all the sponsors that are making this possible,” said Canapino. “I’m going to do my best in every moment to get the best possible results. I’m going in with my mindset of learning and going step-by-step, but I’m also focused on evolving throughout the season. The goal is to finish the races, get to know the car, and the circuits – especially the ovals.”
The 32-year-old is one of Argentina’s most successful drivers, and is set to set into the NTT IndyCar Series after securing 15 national championships in his homeland – winning multiple titles in the Super TC2000, Top Race V6, and Turismo Carretera categories. Canapino has also enjoyed a successful relationship with Chevrolet during his career and will continue that relationship with JHR.
In fact, the newly-dubbed IndyCar driver has experience with Juncos Hollinger Racing, having competed for the organization in 2019 in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring, as part of the team’s Cadillac DPi entry.
Canapino got the opportunity to get his first taste of the current-generation IndyCar car, when he completed a private test with JHR in October at Sebring International Raceway.
“INDYCAR is the most competitive and difficult category in the world, and the cars are the most demanding and require the maximum effort and preparation on my part,” Canapino said. “I am happy to take on this challenge, and I’m motivated to perform well and repay those that have trusted me with this opportunity.”
With the addition of Canapino to the second entry for Juncos Hollinger Racing, the NTT IndyCar Series is set to have 27 full-time driver-team pairings for the 2023 season, the most the series has had since 2011.
“To be able to communicate this news today is incredible for me and my team,” said Ricardo Juncos, JHR founder and team principal. “It has been more than 20 years since I came to North American motorsports. It has been a long road of uninterrupted hard work in which I have been fulfilling different dreams, and to see this particular one becoming a reality is truly incredible.
“After a complete analysis of each of the driver options we had to drive our No. 78 car, we have made the decision that Agustín Canapino is the right choice. Both Brad (Hollinger) and I have full confidence in his ability.
“With a very successful racing career in Argentina behind him, he exceeded all expectations when he trained at Sebring and he’s confirmed that talent with what we’ve seen in his driving since.”
In 2022, Juncos Hollinger Racing competed with Callum Ilott full-time in the No. 77 Chevrolet, scoring a pair of top-10 results at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course, and Portland, as well as a front row start in the season-finale at Laguna Seca.
“Callum demonstrated significant potential during his inaugural 2022 campaign as he surprised the field with his strong pace while learning every track. Partnering Agustín with Callum gives Juncos Hollinger Racing an extremely talented and proven driver lineup. Agustin brings an unparalleled level of success in multiple race series to the team. His ability to adapt is exceptional and the significant experience he has accumulated winning multiple championships will complement Callum and the team nicely. We look forward to competing at the tip of the arrow this year with the goal of multiple podiums.”
Having brought Argentina and IndyCar closer together in the last couple of months, Juncos Hollinger Racing announced a brand-new collaboration between the organization and “Visit Argentina”, in order to promote the country to motorsports fans in North America throughout the 203 campaign.
“I want to thank the main collaboration of INPROTUR (National Bureau of Tourism Promotion), which is the entity that promotes Argentina throughout the world and who, from the very first moment, believed in this project,” Juncos said. “Representing my country permanently and promoting tourism in Argentina throughout the INDYCAR SERIES, including at the famous Indy 500, fills me with pride and is another dream come true.”
Agustín Canapino will make his NTT IndyCar Series debut in the season-opening event on the Streets of St. Petersburg, on March 5th, 2023.
