Michael d'Orlando (R)

Nationality: American

Languages spoken: English

Height/weight: 6’4” / 170 lbs.

Education:  University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Current sports played: I enjoy playing basketball in the university rec center with my friends here. And I spend a lot of time boxing as training and have grown to be quite good at it

Hobbies:  Outside of racing I am a college student at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Although, I do not do any extracurricular activities thru the school I am involved in a large group of car enthusiasts, and we spend many nights driving the streets together and having meets. As a car enthusiast I own and modify my 2013 Subaru WRX hatchback

Driver training preferences:  I prefer boxing at UFC Gym in Mamaroneck, NY.  Boxing is a very rigorous workout and I also do strength and conditioning work with a trainer.  UFC provides me use of their gym and trainers as a form of sponsorship for the last three years and counting. I also attend PitFit as their workout program is rigorous but amazing

The one talent I wish I had: I wish I could dance better because whenever I attempt to, I look like an overcooked piece of spaghetti

An interesting note about me: As much as I love racing, racing motorcycles is something I would not do. I prefer to stay on four wheels

Racing goal: To become a fulltime, professional driver in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Racing hero: Daniel Ricciardo. He may not be the world’s best racing driver with 100 wins like Lewis Hamilton but he’s great. He always seems super happy and super personable and that is something that I want to embody in my professional racing career.

Career results:

2022

• Won the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship with four wins, five poles, eight podium finishes, most laps led during the season (138) and tied for most races led (six)
• Earned a scholarship valued at $406,925 to graduate into the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in 2023

2021

• Finished a hard-fought second in his sophomore Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season, capturing three victories, five poles and eight podiums

2020

• Finished fourth in his first full Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season with a victory at Mid-Ohio, five podiums and 10 top-five finishes

2019

• Competed in four F4 US Championship Powered by Honda race weekends, with a podium at COTA and five top 10s

2018

• Competed in four Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship race weekends with three top 10s and a best finish of sixth at Road America

2017

• Competed in the WSK Super Master series championships as a factory driver for Birel ART team based in Italy.  Transitioned later in the year to race cars with some testing and one F2000 race weekend with a second-place result. 

2016

• Won the Florida Winter Tour Rotax Junior MAX Championship
• Earned a spot on Team USA for the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals
• Vice Champion in the US Rotax Grand Nationals and in the Florida Winter Tour TaG Cadet class
• Started racing in Europe in the CIK-FIA European Championships as a factory driver with Italy’s Birel ART

2015

• Began racing in the junior karting ranks and had multiple podium finishes

2014

• In 17 karting events, earned six victories and 13 top-five finishes… was named the number one cadet driver in North America
• Won the Florida Winter Tour TaG Cadet championship
• Finished second in the US Rotax Grand National Mini MAX and SuperKarts USA Pro Tour TaG Cadet championships
• ekartingnews.com Driver of the Month of January

2013

• Won the US Rotax Grand National Mini MAX championship
• Earned a spot on Team USA for the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals Micro & Mini invitational
• Finished second in the Florida Winter Tour in TaG Cadet

2009-2012

• Began racing karts at the age of 6

2011

• Began racing karts at the age of 6 at Oakland Valley Race Park in Cuddebackville, NY