Michael d'Orlando

ROAD TO INDY – COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP

Born: March 6, 2002
Height: 6' 4"

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 19-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. With such limited experience, he caught the attention of many, with two top-6 finishes in USF2000 and a podium at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX, in front of a packed stadium with fans for the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix.

For the 2020 season, which was drastically delayed and condensed due the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael returned to the Road to Indy Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship series, for his first full season of car racing. Under the direction and support of Indianapolis-based Cape Motorsports race team, one of the most accredited race teams in the Road to Indy, the partnership resulted in five podium appearances, including his maiden victory in open-wheel car racing. This success earned him 4th place overall in the Drivers’ Championship, just slightly behind of the highly experienced top-3 competitors.

For his first two full seasons of car competition in 2020 and 2021, Michael joined Indianapolis-based Cape Motorsports, one of the most accredited race teams in the Road to Indy. The 2021 season was drastically delayed and condensed due the COVID-19 pandemic, but ultimately his results earned him 4th place overall in the 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 series’ 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 returns to the Cooper Tires USF 2000 Championship in 2022, under the continued direction of Cape Motorsports, in pursuit of the championship scholarship to continue up the Road to Indy ladder towards a career in INDYCAR.

Career Highlights:

2021 Road to Indy’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship – Vice Champion in Driver Championship (3 victories, 8 podium appearances, 5 pole positions, 2 qualifying track records)
2020 Road To Indy Fourth Overall Driver Championship (1 victory, 5 podium appearances)
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

2022 SEASON REVVING UP FOR THE D'ORLANDO DUO
April 23, 2022

After what seems now to be a tease for a season start in St Pete back in February, Michael and Nicholas d’Orlando are preparing for a very busy cross-country tour of racing action beginning this weekend. Nicholas starts his venture in the pre-step to the highly regarded Road to Indy (RTI) driver development program at the opening rounds of the USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires series at Ozarks International Raceway in Gravois Mills, MO. A few short days later, the action continues with a monumental weekend for the d'Orlando Brothers, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL, where both boys will be on track.

MICHAEL D'ORLANDO KICKS OFF 2022 IN THE SUNSHINE CITY
March 8, 2022

Michael d’Orlando returned to racing action just over a week ago to kick off the 2022 season, in the support of the NTT IndyCar Series premier event, the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg. d’Orlando continues his partnership with Cape Motorsports for his third year in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. The Grand Prix was d’Orlando’s fourth appearance on the tricky St. Petersburg street-circuit and he was looking to start the season off with solid results.