American auto racing team
Velocity Racing Development , also competing as VRD Racing in select championships, is an auto racing team from the United States. The team competes in the USF Pro Championships in the United States and the GB3 Championship in Europe, previously in collaboration with Arden Motorsport .[ 1] Dawsonville, Georgia near Atlanta Motorsports Park and was founded by British engineer Dan Mitchell.[ 2]
History
Velocity Racing Development was founded in 2019 by British engineer Dan Mitchell, following an engineering role with Team Benik and driver Kyle Kirkwood in 2018.[ 2] 2019 F3 Americas Championship and the 2019 Formula 4 United States Championship .[ 3] [ 4]
In 2020, VRD driver Hunter Yeany won the Formula 4 United States Championship , marking the team's first drivers' title.[ 5] [ 6]
In 2021, VRD expanded its operation into the Road to Indy , entering into the 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship and the 2021 USF2000 Championship .[ 7] [ 8] 2021 Formula 4 United States teams' championship, marking VRD's first championship.
VRD added another series to their program in the form of the 2022 USF Juniors , the inaugural season of the series.[ 9] Sam Corry and Nikita Johnson would finish second and third in the drivers standings, while VRD won the teams' championship.[ 10] [ 11]
The following year saw continued expansion of VRD's operations with the team entering the 2023 GB3 Championship and the 2023 GB4 Championship . VRD entered a partnership with established British racing team Arden International to field cars in both championships.[ 12] [ 13] [ 14]
In 2024, the team made the decision to leave the Formula Regional Americas and F4 United States championships. In the 2024 USF Juniors, VRD driver Max Taylor won the drivers' championship, marking the team's second drivers' title.[ 15] 2024 USF Juniors teams' championship.[ 16]
In 2025, VRD elected to part ways with Arden International and enter the 2025 GB3 Championship on its own, under the name VRD Racing .[ 17]
Current series results
USF2000 Championship
† D'Orlando drove for Exclusive Autosport from round 14 onwards.
‡ Schrage drove for Exclusive Autosport until round 7.
USF Pro 2000 Championship
USF Juniors
GB3 Championship
† Hedley drove for Rodin Motorsport and Chris Dittmann Racing from round 4 onwards.
GB4 Championship
Year
Car
Drivers
Races
Wins
Poles
F/Laps
Podiums
Points
D.C.
T.C.
2018
Ligier JS F4
17
0
0
0
0
12
19th
10th
Sabré Cook
5
0
0
0
0
0
39th
2019
Ligier JS F4
16
0
0
0
0
48
11th
6th
Michael d'Orlando
11
0
0
0
1
40
14th
6
0
0
0
0
11
20th
2020
Ligier JS F4
Hunter Yeany
15
7
1
6
14
285
1st
2nd
Erik Evans
13
1
0
0
3
101
6th
15
0
0
0
1
70
9th
Kyffin Simpson
9
0
0
0
0
14
18th
2021
Ligier JS F4
16
5
0
4
7
184
3rd
1st
Nico Christodoulou
16
3
1
4
10
174.5
4th
17
0
0
0
1
40
11th
Erik Evans
5
0
0
0
0
32
14th
3
0
0
0
0
0
NC
2022
Ligier JS F4
18
4
0
4
8
196
3rd
2nd
15
2
1
2
4
129
6th
6
1
0
1
2
68
9th
3
0
1
1
2
38
12th
12
0
0
0
1
18
16th
2023
Ligier JS F4
3
2
0
1
2
50
10th
7th
Max Taylor
3
0
0
0
0
4
25th
6
0
0
0
0
2
28th
† Shared results with other teams
† Cleck drove for Speed Factory in round 6.
Timeline
References
^ Whitfield, Steve (January 19, 2023). "Christodoulou to continue racing in GB3 with Arden VRD" . Formula Scout . Retrieved April 2, 2024 . ^ a b Gascoigne, Roger (January 24, 2024). "Dan Mitchell: The British expat aiming to forge America's future F1 stars" . Formula Scout . Retrieved April 2, 2024 . ^ Greenway, Amy (November 21, 2018). "Velocity Racing Development Signs Mathias Soler-Obel for F3 Americas Program" . FR Americas Championship . Retrieved February 23, 2025 . ^ Greenway, Amy (February 5, 2019). "Ricco Shlaimoun Joins Velocity Racing Development F3 Americas Program" . FR Americas Championship . Retrieved February 23, 2025 . ^ Greenway, Amy (October 4, 2020). "NEWS FLASH: Two for Blanco at Homestead, Yeany Clinches Provisional Championship" . F4 U.S. Championships . Retrieved February 23, 2025 . ^ Greenway, Amy (October 28, 2020). "Hunter Yeany Becomes Youngest F4 Champion in the World" . F4 U.S. Championships . Retrieved February 23, 2025 . ^ "Velocity Racing Development Enters Road to Indy with Three Car Effort" . www.usf2000.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "Road to Indy News and Notes" . www.usf2000.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "Nikita Johnson to Campaign the All-New USF Juniors with VRD Racing" . www.usfjuniors.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "2022 USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 16" (PDF) . usfjuniors.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "VRD Racing Claims Inaugural USF Juniors Team Championship" . www.usfjuniors.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "Arden Motorsport GB3 Squad Strengthens Ties with USA's VRD Racing" . www.gb-3.net . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "2023 USF2000 PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 18" (PDF) . usf2000.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "2023 USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 16" (PDF) . usfjuniors.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "McNeilly Bags Two Wins as Taylor Clinches Title" . www.usfjuniors.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "2024 USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY CONTINENTAL TIRE PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 16" (PDF) . usfjuniors.com . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .^ "VRD Racing Confirms GB3 Championship Plans for 2025" . www.gb-3.net . Retrieved February 23, 2025 .
External links
