News Releases
IRVINE, Calif. (September 20, 2016) – Two of the biggest club racing events in the country are taking place simultaneously this weekend and Mazda Motorsports presence will be strong at both. The 2016 SCCA National Championships Presented by Garmin VIRB returns to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the first time since 2005. Meanwhile, the NASA Eastern States Championships presented by Toyo Tires is making its first championship visit to Watkins Glen International.
Spec Miata is the most popular club racing class within both organizations, and will have full fields at both championships. Mazda racers will also be well represented in multiple open classes. Within the SCCA, Mazda racers are entered in B-Spec, EP, FA, Formula Mazda, FP, GT2, GT3, GTL, P1, STL, STU, T3, T4, and Spec Miata. In NASA competition, Mazda racers will be competing in NP01, PTD, PTE, ST3, Spec Miata and multiple time-trial classes.
John Doonan, director of motorsports, Mazda North American Operations, said, “On a weekend like this I wish I could clone myself as I don’t want to miss any of the races. Luckily, we have a great team to support our racers and we’ll be well represented at both Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen. Race fans know that club racing often produces some of the best racing anywhere and these championships bring out the best-of-the-best within the grassroots world.”
Winning a championship at either event is a major accomplishment. Winning in a Mazda is particularly rewarding as Mazda continues to pay out more contingency prize money to SCCA and NASA racers than any other car company. Mazda champions are also eligible for the coveted $100,000 Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24) Scholarship. This is a post-season shootout where a promising club racer will be awarded a scholarship to compete in the 2017 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires.
Detailed information on the events can be found online: SCCA National Championships and NASA Eastern States Championships. Both events will feature live streaming during the race weekend.
Mazda Motorsports Club Racing Facts:
- Mazda Motorsports has more grassroots road racers than any other car company. Per the most recent SCCA records, 55 percent of all SCCA entries are Mazda’s throughout 2015.
- The single biggest class of racing is Spec Miata with over 3,000 cars having been built.
- Mazda continues to pay more contingency prize money to SCCA and NASA racers than any other car company. Details on the program can be found at MazdaMotorsports.com
- Mazda is showcasing a few club racers in a video titled “The Driver In All Of Us” that is being shown in cinemas nationwide.
About Mazda Motorsports
Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.
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Contact:
Dean Case, Mazda Motorsports (310) 318-4582, mazdaspeed@MazdaUSA.com
Jade Gurss, Mazda Motorsports (317) 517-4121, MazdaMotorsports@icloud.com
