News Releases

2017 Mazda Motorsports Pirelli World Challenge Mid-Season Review
Global MX-5 Cup Car Leading the Charge in TCA

IRVINE, Calif. (June 6, 2017) –  The 2017 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Championships have reached the halfway point in the season, and Mazda racers are off to a strong start.  The Touring Car A (TCA) class has seen the series debut of the fourth-generation MX-5 Cup race car, and it has scored five wins from the first six races. In total, Mazda racers have earned 16 of 18 podium positions in the TCA class and are leading the drivers, team, and manufacturers championships after six of 12 races.

S.A.C. Racing Teammates Elivan Goulart and Matt Fassnacht have been setting the pace, chased by Dean Copeland (Copeland Motorsports) and Eric Powell (Tech Sport Racing).

  • Fassnacht opened the season with a perfect birthday weekend at VIR scoring two poles, and two wins, to take the early points lead. He backed up the wins with a second and three third-places for a total of six podium finishes from the first six races.
  • Defending TCA Champion Goulart finished second, fourth, second, and second, before breaking through for a pair of wins at Lime Rock Park. Goulart is the points leader among drivers.
  • Copeland scored a win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and has scored a second, fourth, and a pair of fifths.
  • Powell has scored a pair of podium finishes and has not been lower than sixth in any race.

“Thanks to all of the Mazda teams for a great start to 2017.  Seeing the Global Cup car debut in PWC has been a fantastic addition for our customers,” said David Cook, business development manager, Mazda Motorsports. “We expect a great battle for the championship in the second half of the year and can’t wait to see who will be crowned as champion when we get to Mazda Raceway in October.”

Mazda Paddock Notes:

  • In the TC class both John Weisberg (BERG Racing) and Patrick Gallagher (Hooverspeed) have challenged for podium positions, but have been frustrated by minor issues.
  • In TCB, Ted Sahley and Blake Thompson have been learning the ropes in their series debuts competing with Mazda2’s.
  • Hale Motorsports initiated an engineering intern program with a third-year engineering student from Smith College joining the team at Lime Rock Park.

The Remaining 2017 Pirelli World Challenge (TC/TCA/TCB) Race Schedule:

Aug 11-13 – Utah Motorsports Campus – Tooele, Utah
Sept 1-3 – Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas
Oct 13-15 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, California

Each event is a double-header, with two races per weekend, for a 12-race season.

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.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

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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