Britain's Louis Foster crowned 2022 Indy Pro Champion
Louis Foster has crowned a sensational first season in America by winning the prestigious Indy Pro 2000 Championship in his rookie year with Exclusive Autosport after victory in Portland.
Foster, 19, has won on road courses, street circuits and ovals this season, and wrapped up the title early in Portland with two races still remaining.
Despite the intense pressure of the championship being decided, Foster was able to put his car on pole position in the first race of the weekend in Oregon.
Despite a messy first corner from many drivers, Foster held his lead after a tight battle with rival Reece Gold, who stalked him throughout.
Gold closed in on multiple occasions but Foster was able to extend his lead each time to win the race and secure the title after a gruelling 30 laps.
I can’t begin to describe how I feel right now, to win this title is absolutely incredible,” said Foster, who is backed by Copart, a global leader in online auto auctions, and Florida-based luxury Italian garden umbrella brand Poggesi. I have to say a huge thanks to the Exclusive Autosport team and all my backers for their support.
“I came out to America in 2022 with the goal of one day reaching IndyCar and winning this championship gives me the scholarship to step up and race in Indy Lights, the next step on my career path. The racing out here is incredible and I don’t think this championship gets the credit it deserves back home, but my team and I know what a challenge this series has been.
“Thanks to the Indy Pro 2000 Championship and the competitors I raced against this year for creating a brilliant series. To win on an oval and a street course at the first time of asking are memories that will live on with me through my career and I’m grateful to have them.
“Putting it on pole for this race really helped, as Turn 1 can be really tricky here and there are usually incidents on starts and restarts as we saw today.
“After getting through the first corner it was about managing the lead and looking after the tyres in this long race, which we were able to do.
“Now we’ll have a quick celebration, but we’re not done this weekend and there are more races for us to target.”
Foster has won five races, has five poles and 12 podiums in the season with two races still to go.
He had come to America off the back of a runner-up finish in the Euroformula Open Championship, and before that he had top threes in every car series he raced in, including British F4, British F3 and Ginetta Juniors.
