After a long offseason, Neil Alberico finally has a home for the 2018 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires season opener. The 25-year-old Californian will join Team Pelfrey for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg doubleheader.

“I would like to thank Rising Star Racing  and Team Pelfrey for granting me this opportunity,” Alberico said. “I have been working hard over the course of the offseason, both in the United States and in the Philippines, to generate support and awareness for my career and the sport of open-wheel racing. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the next step in my career as a professional driver in the premier sport of open-wheel racing in North America.”

Alberico will be competing in his third season of Indy Lights and his seventh on the Mazda Road to Indy. He will be joined at Team Pelfrey by longtime sponsor Rising Star Racing, whose founder and CEO Art Wilmes has worked tirelessly to help Alberico find the funding that would land him a drive for the season.

“Simply, I want to win races and Team Pelfrey has granted me the opportunity to do, just that,” said Alberico, who recorded a podium finish while racing for Carlin in the first St. Pete race in 2017. “It gives me confidence to know that Team Pelfrey has faith in my ability to be competitive and to win while racing in the Grand Prix of St. Pete.”

Team Pelfrey team manager Gary Neal said the team is encouraged by the addition of Alberico.

“It is going to be fantastic to have Neil in a Team Pelfrey Indy Lights car at St. Petersburg,” Neal said. “Having watched Neil’s progress over the last two seasons, I expect to be at the sharp end of the field and I can’t wait to get him back on track.”