Velocity Racing Development

{{Short description|American auto racing team}}

{{Motor racing team|name={{flagicon|USA}} Velocity Racing Development|logo=250px|founded=2019|principal=Dan Mitchell|founders=Dan Mitchell|current series=USF Pro 2000 Championship
GB3 Championship
USF2000 Championship
USF Juniors|former series=GB4 Championship
Formula 4 United States Championship
Formula Regional Americas Championship|website=https://vrd-racing.com/|driver titles=USF Juniors:
2024: Max Taylor
Formula 4 United States Championship:
2020: Hunter Yeany|team titles=USF Juniors:
2022, 2024
Formula 4 United States Championship:
2021|current drivers=USF Pro 2000 Championship:
{{flagicon|USA}} 84. Frankie Mossman
{{flagicon|USA}} 88. Max Taylor
GB3 Championship:
{{flagicon|THA}} 8. Enzo Tarnvanichkul
{{flagicon|GER}} 33. Hugo Schwarze
USF2000 Championship:
{{flagicon|USA}} 2. Thomas Schrage
{{flagicon|USA}} 19. Christian Cameron
{{flagicon|USA}} 25. Teddy Musella
USF Juniors:
{{flagicon|BRA}} 10. João Vergara
{{flagicon|ISR}} 77. Matan Achituv
{{flagicon|USA}} 99. Ryan Giannetta|base=Dawsonville, Georgia, United States}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Whitfield |first=Steve |date=2023-01-19 |title=Christodoulou to continue racing in GB3 with Arden VRD |url=https://formulascout.com/christodoulou-to-continue-racing-in-gb3-with-arden-vrd/103004 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}} The team is based in Dawsonville, Georgia near Atlanta Motorsports Park and was founded by British engineer Dan Mitchell.{{Cite web |last=Gascoigne |first=Roger |date=2024-01-24 |title=Dan Mitchell: The British expat aiming to forge America's future F1 stars |url=https://formulascout.com/dan-mitchell-the-british-expat-aiming-to-forge-americas-future-f1-stars/114218 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}

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. VRD made its competitive debut in the 2019 F3 Americas Championship and the 2019 Formula 4 United States Championship.{{Cite web |last=Greenway |first=Amy |date=2018-11-21 |title=Velocity Racing Development Signs Mathias Soler-Obel for F3 Americas Program |url=https://www.framericas.com/articles/2010760-velocity-racing-development-signs-mathias-soler-obel-for-f3-americas-program |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=FR Americas Championship |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Greenway |first=Amy |date=2019-02-05 |title=Ricco Shlaimoun Joins Velocity Racing Development F3 Americas Program |url=https://www.framericas.com/articles/2011420-ricco-shlaimoun-joins-velocity-racing-development-f3-americas-program |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=FR Americas Championship |language=en}} The team finished second in the F3 Americas teams' championship in its first year of competition.

In 2020, VRD driver Hunter Yeany won the Formula 4 United States Championship, marking the team's first drivers' title.{{Cite web |last=Greenway |first=Amy |date=2020-10-04 |title=NEWS FLASH: Two for Blanco at Homestead, Yeany Clinches Provisional Championship |url=https://www.f4uschampionship.com/articles/2014310-news-flash-two-for-blanco-at-homestead-yeany-clinches-provisional-championship |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=F4 U.S. Championships |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Greenway |first=Amy |date=2020-10-28 |title=Hunter Yeany Becomes Youngest F4 Champion in the World |url=https://www.f4uschampionship.com/articles/2014431-hunter-yeany-becomes-youngest-f4-champion-in-the-world |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=F4 U.S. Championships |language=en}}

In 2021, VRD expanded it's operation into the Road to Indy, entering into the 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship and the 2021 USF2000 Championship.{{Cite web |title=Velocity Racing Development Enters Road to Indy with Three Car Effort |url=https://www.usf2000.com/news/velocity-racing-development-enters-road-to-indy-with-three-car-effort |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.usf2000.com}}{{Cite web |title=Road to Indy News and Notes |url=https://www.usf2000.com/news/road-to-indy-news-and-notes |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.usf2000.com}} At the end of year, the team would win the 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.{{Cite web |title=Nikita Johnson to Campaign the All-New USF Juniors with VRD Racing |url=https://www.usfjuniors.com/news/nikita-johnson-to-campaign-the-all-new-usf-juniors-with-vrd-racing |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.usfjuniors.com}} Drivers Sam Corry and Nikita Johnson would finish second and third in the drivers standings, while VRD won the teams' championship.{{Cite web |title=2022 USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 16 |url=https://www.usfjuniors.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/usf-junior-points-after-round-16.pdf?sfvrsn=c8177ce5_0 |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=usfjuniors.com}}{{Cite web |title=VRD Racing Claims Inaugural USF Juniors Team Championship |url=https://www.usfjuniors.com/news/vrd-racing-claims-inaugural-usf-juniors-team-championship |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.usfjuniors.com}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Arden Motorsport GB3 Squad Strengthens Ties with USA’s VRD Racing |url=https://www.gb-3.net/news/2023/jan/17/arden-motorsport-gb3-squad-strengthens-ties-with-usas-vrd-racing |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.gb-3.net}} 2023 was a successful year for the team, finishing third in the USF2000, USF Juniors, and GB3 teams' championships.{{Cite web |title=2023 USF2000 PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 18 |url=https://www.usf2000.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/usf2000-points-after-round-1896cbe37d339f6ec495b1ff0000570f88.pdf?sfvrsn=5a548d31_0 |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=usf2000.com}}{{Cite web |title=2023 USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 16 |url=https://www.usfjuniors.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/usf-juniors-points-after-round-16.pdf?sfvrsn=31b7fe5_0 |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=usfjuniors.com}}

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.{{Cite web |title=McNeilly Bags Two Wins as Taylor Clinches Title |url=https://www.usfjuniors.com/news/mcneilly-bags-two-wins-as-taylor-clinches-title |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.usfjuniors.com}} VRD would also win the 2024 USF Juniors teams' championship.{{Cite web |title=2024 USF JUNIORS PRESENTED BY CONTINENTAL TIRE PROVISIONAL POINT STANDINGS - After Round 16 |url=https://www.usfjuniors.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/usf-juniors-points-after-round-161452342f8d4765b8b2f6ff0000cf2672.pdf?sfvrsn=661551e5_0 |access-date=February 23, 2025 |website=usfjuniors.com}}

In 2025, VRD elected to part ways with Arden International and enter the 2025 GB3 Championship on its own, under the name VRD Racing.{{Cite web |title=VRD Racing Confirms GB3 Championship Plans for 2025 |url=https://www.gb-3.net/news/2024/oct/1/vrd-racing-confirms-gb3-championship-plans-for-2025 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.gb-3.net}}

Current series results

= USF2000 Championship =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
Year

! Car

! Drivers

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! D.C.

! T.C.

2021

|Tatuus USF-17

|{{flagicon|USA}} Erik Evans

|12

|0

|0

|0

|0

|54

|22nd

|12th

rowspan="5" |2022

| rowspan="5" |Tatuus USF-22

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Alex Quinn

|3

|3

|0

|2

|3

|93

|17th

| rowspan="5" | 5th

{{flagicon|USA}} Nikita Johnson

|8

|0

|0

|1

|1

|85

|18th

{{flagicon|SWE}} Viktor Andersson

|12

|0

|0

|0

|0

|81

|19th

{{flagicon|USA}} Nicholas d'Orlando

|10

|0

|0

|1

|0

|77

|20th

{{flagicon|USA}} Ethan Ho

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|27

|25th

rowspan="7" |2023

| rowspan="7" |Tatuus USF-22

|{{flagicon|USA}} Nikita Johnson

|18

|1

|2

|2

|8

|344

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd

| rowspan="7" style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Corry

|18

|1

|0

|0

|3

|222

|7th

{{flagicon|USA}} Danny Dyszelski

|13

|0

|0

|1

|0

|141

|13th

{{flagicon|USA}} Gordon Scully

|18

|0

|0

|0

|0

|133

|15th

{{flagicon|USA}} Max Taylor

|11

|0

|0

|0

|0

|86

|18th

{{flagicon|USA}} Zack Ping

|12

|0

|0

|0

|0

|60

|19th

{{Flagicon|CAN}} Nico Christodoulou

|2

|1

|0

|1

|1

|48

|21st

rowspan="5" |2024

| rowspan="5" |Tatuus USF-22

|{{flagicon|USA}} Max Taylor

|18

|4

|1

|2

|8

|343

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

| rowspan="5" style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

{{Flagicon|USA}} Thomas Schrage‡

|15

|0

|3

|2

|2

|156

|12th

{{Flagicon|CAN}} Nico Christodoulou

|7

|1

|0

|1

|1

|92

|19th

{{flagicon|AUS}} Xavier Kokai

|10

|0

|0

|0

|0

|80

|20th

{{flagicon|USA}} Cole Kleck

|5

|0

|0

|0

|0

|19

|25th

rowspan="4" |2025

| rowspan="4" |Tatuus USF-22

|{{flagicon|USA}} Thomas Schrage

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| rowspan="4" |

{{flagicon|USA}} Christian Cameron

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

{{flagicon|USA}} Teddy Musella

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

{{flagicon|USA}} Ryan Giannetta

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

D'Orlando drove for Exclusive Autosport from round 14 onwards.

‡ Schrage drove for Exclusive Autosport until round 7.

= USF Pro 2000 Championship =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
Year

! Car

! Drivers

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! D.C.

! T.C.

2021

|Tatuus PM-18

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Hunter Yeany

|8

|0

|0

|0

|0

|79

|14th

|9th

2023

|Tatuus IP-22

|{{flagicon|USA}} Nikita Johnson

|5

|2

|0

|2

|4

|118

|17th

|8th

rowspan="4" |2024

| rowspan="4" |Tatuus IP-22

|{{flagicon|USA}} Nikita Johnson

|18

|8

|7

|8

|10

|355

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd

| rowspan="4" style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

{{flagicon|CAN}} Nico Christodoulou

|5

|0

|0

|0

|0

|48

|23rd

{{flagicon|USA}} Shawn Rashid

|4

|0

|0

|0

|0

|19

|27th

{{flagicon|USA}} Noah Ping

|2

|0

|0

|0

|0

|17

|28th

rowspan="3" |2025

| rowspan="3" |Tatuus IP-22

|{{flagicon|VIE}} Owen Tangavelou

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| rowspan="3" |

{{flagicon|USA}} Max Taylor

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

{{flagicon|USA}} Frankie Mossman

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

= USF Juniors =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
Year

! Car

! Drivers

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! D.C.

!T.C.

rowspan="4" |2022

| rowspan="4" |Ligier JS F4

|{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Corry

|16

|3

|3

|2

|11

|369

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd

| rowspan="4" style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st

{{flagicon|USA}} Nikita Johnson

|16

|3

|2

|5

|10

|352

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

{{flagicon|USA}} Alessandro de Tullio

|15

|5

|0

|5

|9

|314

|4th

{{flagicon|USA}} Noah Ping

|4

|0

|0

|0

|0

|46

|20th

rowspan="4" |2023

| rowspan="4" |Tatuus JR-23

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jimmie Lockhart

|16

|2

|0

|1

|5

|292

|4th

| rowspan="4" style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

{{flagicon|USA}} Max Taylor

|16

|1

|0

|2

|3

|236

|6th

{{flagicon|USA}} Ethan Barker

|16

|0

|0

|0

|0

|228

|7th

{{flagicon|USA}} Hudson Schwartz

|13

|0

|1

|1

|3

|208

|8th

rowspan="4" |2024

| rowspan="4" |Tatuus JR-23

|{{flagicon|USA}} Max Taylor

|15

|3

|3

|3

|9

|329

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st

| rowspan="4" style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st

{{flagicon|USA}} Sebastian Wheldon

|16

|4

|2

|4

|9

|308

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

{{flagicon|USA}} Christian Cameron

|16

|0

|0

|0

|0

|135

|10th

{{flagicon|USA}} Michael Suco

|16

|0

|0

|0

|0

|75

|21st

rowspan="3" |2025

| rowspan="3" |Tatuus JR-23

|{{flagicon|BRA}} João Vergara

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| rowspan="3" |

{{flagicon|ISR}} Matan Achituv

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

{{flagicon|USA}} Oliver Wheldon

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

=GB3 Championship=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
Year

! Car

! Drivers

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! D.C.

! T.C.

rowspan="3" |2023

| rowspan="3" |Tatuus-Cosworth MSV-022

|{{flagicon|GBR}} James Hedley

|23

|2

|0

|0

|3

|347

|6th

| rowspan="3" style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

{{Flagicon|CAN}} Nico Christodoulou

|23

|0

|0

|1

|3

|261

|8th

{{flagicon|USA}} Noah Ping

|23

|2

|0

|0

|3

|204

|12th

rowspan="4" |2024

| rowspan="4" |Tatuus-Cosworth MSV-022

|{{flagicon|USA}} Noah Ping

|23

|0

|0

|1

|2

|211

|10th

| rowspan="4" |5th

{{flagicon|USA}} Nikita Johnson

|18

|2

|0

|1

|2

|193

|11th

{{flagicon|GBR}} James Hedley

|14

|0

|0

|0

|2

|151

|15th

{{flagicon|USA}} Shawn Rashid

|23

|0

|0

|0

|1

|125

|17th

rowspan="2" |2025

| rowspan="2" |Tatuus-Cosworth MSV-025

|{{Flagicon|THA}} Enzo Tarnvanichkul

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| rowspan="2" |

{{flagicon|DEU}} Hugo Schwarze

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

† Hedley drove for Rodin Motorsport and Chris Dittmann Racing from round 4 onwards.

Former series results

=GB4 Championship=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
Year

! Car

! Drivers

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! D.C.

! T.C.

rowspan="2" |2023

| rowspan="2" |Tatuus F4-T014

|{{flagicon|USA}} Zack Ping

|8

|0

|0

|0

|0

|74

|16th

| rowspan="2" |8th

{{flagicon|USA}} Erik Evans

|2

|0

|0

|0

|0

|22

|22nd

2024

|Tatuus F4-T014

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ava Dobson

|6

|0

|0

|0

|0

|40

|17th

|8th

= Formula 4 United States Championship =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
Year

! Car

! Drivers

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! D.C.

! T.C.

rowspan="2" |2018

| rowspan="2" |Ligier JS F4

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Oliver Clarke

|17

|0

|0

|0

|0

|12

|19th

| rowspan="2" |10th

{{flagicon|USA}} Sabré Cook

|5

|0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|39th

rowspan="3" |2019

| rowspan="3" |Ligier JS F4

|{{flagicon|CAN}} Ryan MacDermid†

|16

|0

|0

|0

|0

|48

|11th

| rowspan="3" |6th

{{flagicon|USA}} Michael d'Orlando

|11

|0

|0

|0

|1

|40

|14th

{{flagicon|GBR}} Oliver Clarke

|6

|0

|0

|0

|0

|11

|20th

rowspan="4" |2020

| rowspan="4" |Ligier JS F4

|{{flagicon|USA}} Hunter Yeany

|15

|7

|1

|6

|14

|285

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st

| rowspan="4" style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd

{{flagicon|USA}} Erik Evans

|13

|1

|0

|0

|3

|101

|6th

{{flagicon|USA}} Nick Persing†

|15

|0

|0

|0

|1

|70

|9th

{{flagicon|BAR}} Kyffin Simpson

|9

|0

|0

|0

|0

|14

|18th

rowspan="5" |2021

| rowspan="5" |Ligier JS F4

|{{Flagicon|USA}} Jason Alder

|16

|5

|0

|4

|7

|184

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

| rowspan="5" style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st

{{Flagicon|CAN}} Nico Christodoulou

|16

|3

|1

|4

|10

|174.5

|4th

{{flagicon|USA}} Hayden Bowlsbey†

|17

|0

|0

|0

|1

|40

|11th

{{flagicon|USA}} Erik Evans

|5

|0

|0

|0

|0

|32

|14th

{{flagicon|USA}} Nick Persing

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|NC

rowspan="5" |2022

| rowspan="5" |Ligier JS F4

|{{flagicon|USA}} Noah Ping

|18

|4

|0

|4

|8

|196

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

| rowspan="5" style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd

{{flagicon|USA}} Matthew Christensen

|15

|2

|1

|2

|4

|129

|6th

{{flagicon|USA}} Nicholas Rivers

|6

|1

|0

|1

|2

|68

|9th

{{flagicon|USA}} Jacob Loomis

|3

|0

|1

|1

|2

|38

|12th

{{flagicon|USA}} Ethan Barker†

|12

|0

|0

|0

|1

|18

|16th

rowspan="3" |2023

| rowspan="3" |Ligier JS F4

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jimmie Lockhart

|3

|2

|0

|1

|2

|50

|10th

| rowspan="3" |7th

{{flagicon|USA}} Max Taylor

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|4

|25th

{{flagicon|USA}} Cole Kleck†

|6

|0

|0

|0

|0

|2

|28th

† Shared results with other teams

= Formula Regional Americas Championship =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
Year

! Car

! Drivers

! Races

! Wins

! Poles

! F/Laps

! Podiums

! Points

! D.C.

! T.C.

rowspan="4" |2019

| rowspan="4" |Ligier JS F3

|{{flagicon|COL}} Mathias Soler-Obel

|16

|1

|1

|2

|6

|161

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|3rd

| rowspan="4" style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd

{{flagicon|USA}} Parker Locke

|16

|0

|0

|0

|1

|61

|10th

{{flagicon|USA}} Dominic Cicero

|11

|0

|0

|0

|0

|28

|14th

{{flagicon|CAN}} Antonio Serravalle

|2

|0

|0

|0

|0

|8

|16th

rowspan="3" |2020

| rowspan="3" |Ligier JS F3

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Matt Round-Garrido

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|12

|16th

| rowspan="3" |7th

{{flagicon|COL}} Mathias Soler-Obel

|5

|0

|0

|0

|0

|9

|17th

{{flagicon|USA}} Hunter Yeany

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|0

|NC

rowspan="5" |2021

| rowspan="5" |Ligier JS F3

|{{flagicon|USA}} Nick Persing

|12

|0

|0

|0

|1

|67

|11th

| rowspan="5" |4th

{{flagicon|USA}} Hunter Yeany

|12

|0

|1

|0

|0

|67

|12th

{{Flagicon|USA}} Jason Alder

|3

|1

|0

|0

|1

|41

|14th

{{Flagicon|USA}} Arias Deukmedjian

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|13

|18th

{{flagicon|GBR}} Matt Round-Garrido

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|10

|19th

rowspan="2" |2022

| rowspan="2" |Ligier JS F3

|{{Flagicon|CAN}} Nico Christodoulou

|6

|0

|0

|0

|0

|44

|9th

| rowspan="2" |4th

{{Flagicon|BOL}} Rodrigo Gutiérrez

|12

|0

|0

|0

|0

|35

|10th

rowspan="2" |2023

| rowspan="2" |Ligier JS F3

|{{flagicon|USA}} Cole Kleck†

|6

|0

|0

|0

|1

|51

|10th

| rowspan="2" |7th

{{Flagicon|BOL}} Rodrigo Gutiérrez

|3

|0

|0

|0

|0

|14

|16th

† Cleck drove for Speed Factory in round 6.

Timeline

class="wikitable" border="1" style="font-size:85%;"

! colspan="2" |Current series

USF2000 Championship

|2021–present

USF Pro 2000 Championship

|2021, 2023–present

USF Juniors

|2022–present

GB3 Championship

|2023–present

colspan="2" |Former series
GB4 Championship

|2023–2024

Formula 4 United States Championship

|2018–2023

Formula Regional Americas Championship

|2019–2023

References

{{Reflist}}