News Releases

Mazda Team Joest Adds Ryan Hunter-Reay for Mid-Ohio
Indycar Champion and Indianapolis 500 Winner Joins Jonathan Bomarito in Debut Race for Mazda

IRVINE, Calif. (April 26, 2019) – Mazda Team Joest will welcome one of America’s top IndyCar drivers to the team as Ryan Hunter-Reay will compete for Mazda at the Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio, May 3-5, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Hunter-Reay, the 2012 NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, will partner with Jonathan Bomarito in the No. 55 Mazda RT24-P. Bomarito’s regular teammate, Harry Tincknell, will return for the rest of the season at the Detroit Grand Prix.

The previous race, the Grand Prix of Long Beach, saw a strong run for the No. 77 Mazda RT24-P of Oliver Jarvis and Tristan Nunez. Both Nunez and Jarvis led the race before finishing in fourth position. The 2018 version of the Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio saw Mazda Team Joest record its first podium, with Jarvis and Nunez finishing in third place. Mid-Ohio was also the circuit where Mazda scored its first American Le Mans Series class victory in 2005 in the LMP2 class, and where in 2010 it scored its first overall victory.

QUOTES

JOHN DOONAN, DIRECTOR, MAZDA MOTORSPORTS

“Mid-Ohio has been a special place over the years for Mazda.  Many Mazdas have visited the top step of the podium there, but a couple of our Mid-Ohio success stories are extra special.  In May 2005 we scored our very first American Le Mans Series class win there and then in August 2010 we scored our first overall American Le Mans Series win there.  We want nothing more than to make this visit to Mid-Ohio another ‘first’ by putting the RT24-Ps on the podium and in victory lane.  Both cars were quick at Mid-Ohio last year and we have been competitive in every session of 2019.  We are constantly in pursuit of our first (hopefully of many) DPi victories and I sure hope it comes next weekend.

“We are pleased to have Ryan Hunter-Reay join us in the No. 55 Mazda RT24-P car.  This will be the first time a former Indy 500 Champion has been aboard a Mazda at the top level and based on his experience at Mid-Ohio, his experience working with Multimatic previously, and the opportunity he and Jonathan had to drive together a few years back made him a natural fit.”

NO. 55 MAZDA RT24-P

JONATHAN BOMARITO

“I am really looking forward to Mid-Ohio. Our No. 55 Mazda RT24-P was very quick last year, and we again have the chance for a great result. Mid-Ohio is a tough course on its own, and when you add two classes of GT cars to share the track with, things get interesting really quickly to say the least. I’m sure the fans will have a great race to watch. I am also looking forward to sharing the car with Ryan. He is always fast at Mid-Ohio and he will be a great fill in for Harry while he is at Spa.”

RYAN HUNTER-REAY

“Mazda has really put a lot into their program, and Mazda Team Joest have taken a big step up this season. The car is obviously very fast and I’m excited to race it at Mid-Ohio. Jonathan is a good friend and we’ve been teammates in the past, so it will be great to share the No. 55 Mazda RT24-P with him and fight for a win. I’ve driven race wining Daytona Prototypes in IMSA for a long time, the Prototype field is as strong and deep as it has ever been, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it again this season.”

NO. 77 MAZDA RT24-P

OLIVER JARVIS

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the No. 77 Mazda RT24-P at Mid-Ohio. We were right in the thick of the battle at Long Beach, and Mid-Ohio was one of our strongest tracks last season, so I feel we are in a really good position heading into the weekend. I expect we’ll have another big battle on our hands, but we are as motivated and determined as ever to deliver that first win for Mazda.”

TRISTAN NUNEZ

“I’m excited to get back to Mid-Ohio! We should do very well there – we had great pace there last year, and I think this year with the Michelin tires we should be in very good shape. And because we are coming off of a competitive run at Long Beach, I’m even more eager to get the race weekend underway.”

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 race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and Mazda Motorsports 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 700 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.

# # #

Contact:
Tim Olson, Mazda North American Operations, 949-727-6551
Efrain Olivares, Mazda Motorsports, 818-254-7196