News Releases
IRVINE, Calif. (October 11, 2018) – The recently-concluded Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup championship once again showcased the unmatched value and competition that the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup platform provides in North American racing.
After a season that saw 2,467 passes for position during twelve races which were won by six different drivers, Nikko Reger from Houston, Texas claimed the season championship and the $200,000 Mazda career advancement scholarship. Reger edged Bryan Ortiz, from San Juan, Puerto Rico and Selin Rollan from Orlando, Florida for the title. Six drivers remained in contention for the championship in the final weekend of the season with an average of twenty-eight drivers taking part in each race.
As the 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 has received an upgraded engine with a horsepower increase from 155 to 181, the Global MX-5 Cup will also receive a host of enhancements with the new engine at the center of the changes.
The upgrades for the 2019 Global MX-5 Cup include:
- The new 181-horsepower, 7,500 RPM engine SKYACTIV® 2.0L 4-cylinder engine
- Bosch Motorsport ECU
- Improvements to transmission, cooling and electronic systems
Pricing for the 2019 Global MX-5 Cup will be $68,000 and is available exclusively from Long Road Racing. Current owners of a Global MX-5 Cup will be able to purchase upgrade kits for their cars from Mazda Motorsports.
“The newest Global MX-5 Cup follows the lead of the recent enhancements made to the Mazda MX-5,” said John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports. “Our customers can expect a faster, more cost-effective, reliable car that will provide many seasons of racing enjoyment. Everyone at Mazda is anticipating the 30thanniversary of the Mazda Miata, the world’s most popular sports car, in 2019 and the level of competition in the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup is a testament to the work that the designers and engineers at Mazda put into this car.”
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 (#MRT24) 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 Mazda Team Joest. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas are road raced on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.
Mazda North American Operations
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 nearly 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.
Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA
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Contact:
Tim Olson, Mazda North American Operations, 949-727-6551
Efrain Olivares, Mazda Motorsports, 818-254-7196
