Rahal Letterman Lanigan announced on Monday that it has hired Steve Eriksen to fill team’s newly-formed chief operating officer position, tasking him with overseeing all racing operations and reporting directly to the team’s owners.
Eriksen will manage both arms of the team, covering both IMSA and IndyCar by calling on his vast 30 years of experience in various forms of motorsports.
The engineer has spent most of his professional career working up the ranks of HPD, supporting race teams, including RLL, trackside and working his way all the way up to vice president and COO of the works engine program.
Eriksen worked with Chip Ganassi Racing for a time as well, leading that team’s Cadillac DPi effort in 2021 and 2022 before being recruited to move to RLL for this upcoming season.
“When Bobby [Rahal] and Mike [Lanigan] approached me about a newly-created COO position within RLL, I felt it was an excellent match for my skill set and came at an exciting time in North American motorsports with the coming electrification of both IndyCar and IMSA LMDh sports cars,” said Eriksen in a press release.
“I’m passionate about both of these forms of motorsport and excited to continue to be a part of these series as competition unfolds in the coming years.
“I feel like I have come full circle as I worked with the Rahal team in my first year in motorsport and joining the organization in its exciting new phase is personally very gratifying.”
RLL recently moved into its new racing headquarters in Zionsville, which houses both programs at the same facility. Eriksen will be able to utilize the new shop to work closely with both squads as he gets to work ahead of the upcoming season.
The first race under his watch is coming in just a couple weeks’ time with the team’s pair of BMW LMDh prototypes competing for the overall win at the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona on January 28-29.
“Having known Steve since the beginning of the Honda Indy car program, I’ve had the opportunity to have many sporting and business discussions with him over the years and have always respected his approach,” said RLL co-owner Bobby Rahal.
“Steve is highly respected amongst those within the sanctioning organizations as well as the competitors and I’m pleased that we are able to bring him into our organization as the COO. His extensive, high-level experience with both IndyCar and IMSA will be a tremendous benefit to the company.”
