TWG Motorsports and Cadillac Components 1 Group CEO Dan Towriss says Colton Herta’s swap to Components 2 exhibits respect to the completely different challenges of racing based mostly in Europe.
Herta is leaving IndyCar to race in F2 in 2026 alongside a Cadillac F1 Group take a look at driver function, with the Californian needing to attain six Tremendous License factors to satisfy the necessities to race in F1. Whereas F2 presents extra factors than IndyCar, Towriss (pictured above) instructed RACER the variations in racing in IndyCar and F1 imply Herta will profit from the time within the feeder collection to realize additional expertise.
“I feel this is also a nod to exhibiting respect to European open-wheel racing,” Towriss stated. “I feel we have seen plenty of instances somebody says, ‘Oh, nicely, you are the IndyCar champion and now you are going to transfer over to Components 1.’ And it is like that entitlement strategy hasn’t labored up to now. Every little thing must be earned and every collection is completely different.
“So I feel the truth that Colton is viewing it the best way that he’s and exhibiting that respect coming in, I feel that is the precise means for an American driver to come back in, actually for us on the Cadillac Components 1 facet.”
Whereas Herta’s future F2 group has but to be totally finalized, Towriss has confirmed the 25-year-old will be a part of the collection and he believes it represents a distinct strategy to serving to an American expertise attain F1 and finally achieve success.
“It actually looks as if an apparent path from that standpoint, by way of simply the data that is wanted to really feel the automobiles, figuring out the tires and the tracks,” Towriss stated. “I suppose at what level they arrive over, whether or not they should come over proper after karting or at a later stage.
“Traditionally we have had this drawback that if drivers from the U.S. depart too early they clearly have realized the collection, however then type of the U.S. followers do not know who they’re. So how do you place that the place the U.S. followers know who they’re? They’ve created a physique of labor within the U.S. and now have this chance to race in Components 1. So we have now that chance with Colton, with what he’ll do, however that is distinctive and never simple to come back by.”
It’s not simply on the TWG facet of the group that Herta has impressed, both, with group principal Graeme Lowdon saying the nine-time IndyCar race winner has all the attributes to succeed due to the best way he’ll go in regards to the transition into F2.
“From the primary contact that I’ve had with Colton, one of many issues that actually impressed me was he has a humble strategy,” Lowdon added to RACER. “The perfect individuals at all the pieces at all times have that humble strategy as a result of they’ve a perception of their capability – and that got here throughout actually strongly – however there is no illusions as nicely.
“He is aware of that if he does Components 2 racing for no matter purpose, whether or not it is to study tires or to get used to one thing or no matter, he is aware of that the competitors there might be completely excessive by way of expertise and all the pieces. And I like that folks have respect for the competitors.
“Simply the entire means he is approached it, I could not fault in any respect. And it provides us an terrible lot of confidence within the group as nicely. No person involves this group entitled in any means, form or type. The group’s at all times the largest factor and it simply provides me plenty of confidence for the longer term relationship and the contribution that he could make to the group.”
