Michael d'Orlando

ROAD TO INDY – COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP

Michael d’Orlando is one of the United States’ top motorsports talents making his mark on the open wheel car racing scene around North America. After a nine year career in karting, working his way up to the world championship level, Michael made his move into race cars in 2018.

The 20-year-old American from Hartsdale, NY began kart racing at the age of six, at Oakland Valley Race Park in Cuddebackville, NY. He earned an extensive resume at the national and international level, including multiple championship titles. The culmination of his karting career was capped off as a factory team driver for the world-renowned Birel ART racing team based in Italy.

Michael transitioned from karts to cars, in a limited capacity, in 2018 when he competed in only four events of the Road to Indy Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship series. In 2019, he competed in only four events in the F4 United States Championship series.

Finally making the move to a full-season of competition in 2020, Michael joined Indianapolis-based Cape Motorsports, the most decorated race team in the Road to Indy. His first season was drastically delayed and condensed due the COVID-19 pandemic, but ultimately his results earned him 4th place overall in the 2020 USF2000 Drivers’ Championship, including his first victory, just slightly behind the highly experienced top-3 competitors. In 2021, Michael was a front-runner in almost all weekend events, bringing home 3 wins, 5 pole positions, 8 podiums and 2 USF2000 qualifying track records, ultimately earning the 2021 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Vice-Champion title.

Michael continued to develop his skills and gain valuable experience under the continued direction of Cape Motorsports by returning to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship in 2022. He finished an impressive season with 14 top-five finishes, eight podiums including four wins, five pole positions, three fastest race laps, tied for the most races lead, and the driver with the most laps lead all season, including a weekend sweep of the Lucas Oil Freedom 75 oval race for the second year in a row. These accomplishments earned him the 2022 Cooper Tires USF2000 Champion title, with a scholarship worth $406,925 to advance up a step to the Indy Pro 2000 series in 2023. At this time, Michael and his d’Orlando Enterprises LLC partners continue their efforts to try to develop the remaining budgets required to prepare for and compete in Indy Pro 2000 next year.

Career Highlights:

2022 Road to Indy Cooper Tires USF2000 Champion
2021 Road to Indy Cooper Tires USF2000 Vice Champion
2020 Road To Indy Fourth Overall Driver Championship
2017 Top-15 CIK FIA World Championships, Kristianstad, Sweden
Factory Team Driver for Birel ART racing team, Lissone, Italy
2014 Nominated #1 cadet driver in North America by both Kart360.com and KartRank.com
SuperKarts! USA Pro Tour Vice-Champion
Florida Winter Tour Vice-Champion
2x Florida Winter Tour Champion
2x US Rotax Grand Nationals Vice-Champion
US Rotax Grand National Mini MAX
2x Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Grand Finals Team USA member

MICHAEL D'ORLANDO TAKES THE BATTLE TO PORTLAND TO EARN USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
September 19, 2022

In one of the most exciting and intense championship finales in series history, Michael d’Orlando may have been the underdog heading into the triple-header weekend at Portland International Raceway, but when the dust settled he stood on the top step of the podium and center stage as the 2022 Cooper Tires USF2000 Champion!

MICHAEL D'ORLANDO CONTINUES WINNING MOMENTUM AT MID-OHIO
July 13, 2022

It's another successful venture for Michael d’Orlando in a triple-header weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. The 20-year-old Hartsdale, NY native brought home his fourth and fifth pole positions, his seventh podium and his third victory of the season. The drivers’ championship fight is tight as he shifts focus to the streets of Toronto this weekend, with only five race events remaining on the calendar for this year. Things are really heating up as the series heads north of the border for the first time since 2018.