Newman Wachs Racing signs Castro for 2017

Newman Wachs Racing announced today it has signed Andre Castro for the upcoming season, after a successful initial test with the team last October.

NWR team manager Brian Halahan said: “We ran Andre in our first test at Indy last October, and we had some success with him right from the start.  He was fast and he worked well with the team, so I feel we can build on that and have him running strong as soon as he is back in the Newman Wachs car.  

“I think Andre and Dakota will make good teammates and push each other to the front.”

NWR was set up in 2006 by Eddie Wachs and his friend and rival from the Can-Am days, the late Hollywood icon Paul Newman. It is based out of Chicago, Ill., and went on hiatus immediately after steering John Edwards to the final Atlantic Series championship title in 2009. This season marks its return to open-wheel competition, as the USF2000 series introduces the new Tatuus USF-17 Mazda.

Castro was born in New York City of Colombian parents, and switched from karting to racecars just last year. In the Skip Barber Racing Series, he accumulated three wins, six poles, and ten podiums.

He said: “I am thrilled to be a part of Newman Wachs’ return to open-wheel racing. After working with the team closely in the weeks leading up to the Chris Griffis Memorial test at Indy last fall, I saw that the team was incredibly serious about coming back and winning straight out of the gate.

“At the test itself, I was able to work with engineer Alan O’Leary extremely well, and by the end of the final day, me – a rookie driver and a returning team – managed to be on top of the time sheets.”

“With all the extensive behind-the-scenes work and fine-tuning that Brian and the whole team have undertaken since then, I have no doubt that we will be able to compete for wins from the very first race in St. Petersburg. I know I have a steep learning curve ahead of me, but I look forward to the challenge and I cannot wait to get going.”