Reece Gold and Matteo Nannini will drive for Juncos Hollinger Racing in the the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone season, as the title-winning team returns to the development series.
A former two-time winner of the INDY NXT title, JHR is returning to the primary INDYCAR feeder series after a year pushing for success in other racing categories.
The team made headlines in 2022 through the outstanding performances of rookie Callum Ilott in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, while also engineering Gold to a runner-up finish in the Indy Pro 2000 championship, with the team also becoming the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 team champions.
JHR is re-entering INDY NXT hoping to add to the team’s impressive record of two driver championships, 18 wins, 30 podiums and 16 pole positions in the championship.
The driver pairing of Gold and Nannini blends U.S. and European racing experience.
Gold, an 18-year-old Miami native who will drive the No. 76 Ticket Clinic car, joins the INDY NXT grid after spending the last two seasons in the Indy Pro 2000 series, where he scored five wins, 14 podiums and seven pole positions.
“I am happy to be staying with Juncos Hollinger racing for INDY NXT in 2023,” Gold said. “I have had two great seasons with JHR in Indy Pro 2000, with this past season being our best, picking up four wins and second in the championship. We have already shown great progress in testing for 2023, and I am looking forward to the season. Thank you to The Ticket Clinic and everyone at Juncos Hollinger Racing for their support.”
Italian-Argentinian Nannini will compete in U.S. single-seater racing for the first time in 2023 after impressing JHR officials during the Chris Griffis Memorial Test in fall 2021 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Nannini, 19, will drive the team’s No. 75 car.
Nannini previously competed in the FIA’s Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships, winning races and earning podium finishes in F3. He’s also the former F4 UAE champion.
“I am very excited to have confirmed with Juncos Hollinger Racing after the positive tests last year,” Nannini said. “It's a great opportunity to be able to race in America, and I don't want to waste it. I have great respect for (team co-owner) Ricardo (Juncos), and I'm sure we could do great things together. INDY NXT is the best springboard to continue my journey toward INDYCAR. I thank the people who are helping me, especially my business partner, for making this possible.”
The first round of the season will take place Sunday, March 5 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
“I’m really excited to welcome back Reece Gold, after two years with us in Indy Pro,” team co-owner Ricardo Juncos said. “We now feel like a family. He’s a very young, talented driver with a bright future ahead of him. We’ve already done a few preseason tests with him, and he is showing a good pace and good speed, so we are looking forward to a very successful year with him.
“We’ve also signed the talented young driver Matteo Nannini, who comes with a lot of experience in Europe, after racing in F3 and F2. He tested with us in October 2021, so we have some experience with him in the car. Between Reece and Matteo, I think we are going to have a very solid lineup of drivers to come back into INDY NXT to continue our past successes.”
Said team co-owner Brad Hollinger: “We are so excited to announce Reece and Matteo into our driver lineup for 2023. Having Reece back for another season is great news for the team, and we know he can carry on the momentum and promise he showed last year to capitalize on some great results. Introducing Matteo, another great young driver, to the team will help us achieve great results in a highly competitive field. I want to thank both of them for the commitment to our growing team, and I can’t wait to see what the 2023 season holds for us.”