Drivers
Our DRIVERS
Past, present and future
Team Drivers
Nate Cicero
Nate Cicero is a very talented racing driver from Pound Ridge New York. He is a national karting champion. He won Mazda scholarships for both Spec MX5 and MX5 Cup. In 2023 he was crowned rookie of the year in MX5 Cup. In 2024 he proved his consistency with multiple wins and podiums, and just narrowly missing out on a championship. In 2025 he joins Saito Motorsports Group, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this journey together. Nate is not only impressive on the track but just as impressive off of it. He has an unmatched work ethic not only in the car, but he works hard for everyone he is involved with from his team to his sponsors.
Ethan Goulart
Ethan Goulart is a young racing driver from Shelton, CT. He is one of the most promising young drivers in the United States right now. Ethan made his GR Cup debut in 2024 and also became the youngest SCCA national champion with his win at the Runoffs in Road America in the Spec Miata class. He was a shootout finalist in 2024, narrowly missing out on the shootout. In 2025, he won all four races in Spec Miata that he participated in and joined us for Daytona. In his first-ever MX5 Cup race, he finished second, starting from 19th position in mixed conditions, while intensely battling some of the best drivers in the country. We are thrilled to work with Ethan and look forward to what is to come.
Clayton Ketcher
Clayton Ketcher, a student at Columbia University studying economics and German. Clayton grew up in Sacramento California. Clayton has been a 2 time Mazda shootout finalist in 2021 and 2022, and in 2022 competed in both the West-Coast and National Spec MX-5 Championships. In 2022 he finished runner-up in the Spec MX-5 national championship, and won the West-Coast Spec MX-5. Clayton has also competed with Saito Motorsports Group in Mazda MX-5 Cup in 2023 on the Watkins Glen race weekend.
Ben Keating
Ben Keating is an accomplished American racing driver renowned for his prowess in endurance and GT racing. With a career spanning numerous years, Keating has consistently excelled in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and the 12 Hours of Sebring, earning him a reputation for his skill, consistency, and teamwork. His versatile abilities behind the wheel and his entrepreneurial ventures in the automotive industry make him a prominent figure in motorsport. Keating’s dedication to achieving success on the world stage and his collaborative spirit continue to shine as he continues to pursue victory in the world’s most challenging races. Saito Motorsports is pleased to announce Ben Keating will be competing with us at Petit Le Mans on October 11-13.
Michael Carter
Michael Carter is a graduate of Georgia Tech with a major in finance and minor in engineering. The winner of the 2018 Mazda Road to 24 Shootout, Rookie of the year in 2019, Carter won the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup in 2020 and was Championship runner up in 2021.
Michael Carter’s racing life started in quarter midgets, even before he was old enough to race. His father, Mickey Carter, a very successful racer and car builder, painted a track in the parking lot of his auto repair business so he could practice. When Micheal Carter turned 5, he was racing in places like New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Salisbury N.C. – Next came a dirt oval car built from a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Carter, with his racing skills and sound judgment, dominated in that form of racing where he was also able to master car control.
Saito Motorsport Group team is proud to announce Michael Carter as the driver for the Idemitsu MX5 Cup race at VIR presented by BF Goodrich tires on August 26-28
Tyler Gonzalez
Tyler Gonzalez, hailing from St. Cloud, FL, is a remarkably talented 19-year-old racing prodigy who has taken the motorsports world by storm. Starting his journey in karting and swiftly progressing through the ranks, Tyler’s racing prowess has been evident from the beginning. His journey led him to conquer the Spec Miata series, where he secured numerous victories before making a seamless transition to the MX-5 Cup. Notably, Tyler’s versatility as a driver became even more evident as he ventured into the Toyota GR Cup, where he dominated the competition to clinch the championship in its inaugural season. Alongside his GR Cup achievements, Tyler has also excelled in the highly competitive Perelli GT4 America and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR class, further solidifying his status as a rising star in the world of motorsports. With his impressive track record and boundless potential, Tyler Gonzalez is undoubtedly a name to watch in the racing world.