Zanella Racing opened its 2026 USF2000 Championship Presented by Continental campaign in impressive fashion this past weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg, competing alongside the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In their first career USF2000 start as a team, the team’s sole driver, Leonardo Escorpioni, secured a pair of third-place podium finishes across the two-race weekend, marking a strong start to his rookie season in USF2000.
Escorpioni, the reigning USF Juniors Championship title holder, continued to showcase the racecraft and composure that earned him last year’s crown. Making the step up to the highly competitive USF2000 category, the young driver demonstrated maturity beyond his experience, battling at the front of the field and delivering consistent, calculated performances on the tight and technical street circuit.
From the opening practice sessions, Escorpioni showed pace, qualifying inside the top contenders and converting both starts into hard-fought podium finishes. Navigating the unforgiving concrete walls and ever-evolving track conditions, he maintained focus under pressure to bring home valuable championship points for the team. Additionally, when the final checkered flag flew, it was Zanella Racing and Escorpioni who scored the fastest lap of the weekend in their series debut.
“Leonardo proved exactly why he is a champion,” explained Team Owner Jose Zanella, who praised both the driver and crew following the successful weekend. “Stepping up into USF2000 is no small task, especially on a street circuit like St. Petersburg. For the team, it was our very first race in this class, and I think we proved we have what it takes to compete all the way up the ladder. To come away with two podium finishes in his first event at this level speaks volumes about his talent, preparation, and race intelligence. I am incredibly proud of the entire team for executing at such a high level.”
The double podium performance positions Escorpioni as an early championship contender and reinforces Zanella Racing’s commitment to developing top-tier talent through the USF ladder system.
With momentum firmly on their side, Zanella Racing looks to continue building on a strong start as the season progresses. Next up for the team will be Carolina Motorsports Park, April 16-19, where Zanella Racing’s USF Juniors drivers will contest their second event of the 2026 season.
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Photo Credit: RTD Media