Mazda Once Again Tops the Charts at Americas Largest Club Racing Event
September 23, 2013 (Elkhart Lake, Wisc.) There is no single event that better represents Mazda Motorsports than the annual SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Marking their 50th anniversary this year, the celebration was extra special. After a week of competition with over 700 racers competing in 28 classes at Road America, Mazda retained their position as the leader in grassroots road-racing.
“Mazda is a grassroots company. If we only competed in one arena, it would be club racing. This is racing in the purest sense with great battles on the track and wonderful friendships in the paddock. To break our all-time SCCA Runoffs record of Mazda-powered entries was fantastic. We’re also thrilled to break our own record for biggest race in Runoffs history with 67 racers taking the green flag in Spec Miata. Next year, we’ll help the SCCA launch the next 50 years when the Runoffs come to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca,” noted John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports, Mazda North American Operations,
Mazda Stats:
• 201 entries – 28% of all cars at the competition, more than any other automaker.
• The Spec Miata race, with 67 cars taking the green flag was the largest race in SCCA Runoffs history. The previous record was 60 cars in Spec Miata in 2010.
• Five race wins, 17 podium finishes, and eight pole positions.
• Podium finishes in nine of the 13 classes with Mazda competitors
• More contingency paid than any other automaker – $46,250
The 2013 Mazda-powered SCCA National Runoffs Champions are as follows:
• Rob Warkocki – Mazda RX-7 – GT-3
• Rob Huffmaster – Mazda RX-8 – STL
• Jim Drago – Spec Miata
• Darryl Wills Formula Mazda
• Scott Rettich – Formula Enterprise-Mazda
These drivers are now eligible for the Mazda Club Racer Shootout. The shootout is the single largest prize in club racing. Since 2006 Mazda has annually promoted one talented club racer to the professional ranks. The $75,000 prize funds a drive in the 2014 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup.
The 2013 ‘Season of Finales’ continues with:
Grand-Am Championship Weekend
September 26-28 @ Lime Rock Park (Lime Rock, Connecticut)
• Rolex Grand-Am (season finale)
• Continental Tire Challenge (season finale)
NASA Club Races
September 27-28 @ Sonoma Raceway (Sonoma, California)
• California NASA Teen Challenge Spec Miata (season finale)
Oak Tree Grand Prix
October 3-5 @ Virginia International Raceway (Alton, Virginia)
• American Le Mans
The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston
October 4-6 @ Reliant Park (Houston, Texas)
• Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires (season finale)
• Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda (season finale)
• Pirelli World Challenge (season finale)
Skip Barber Racing School Weekend
October 15-19 @ Lime Rock Park (Lime Rock, Connecticut)
• Skip Barber Summer MAZDASPEED Challenge Series
• Skip Barber Summer Formula Series
Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda
October 16-19 @ Road Atlanta (Braselton, Georgia)
• American Le Mans (season finale)
• SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup (season finale)
• Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda (season finale)
About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports, and MAZDASPEED
Mazda is the number-one brand for road-racers across North America among both club racers and professionals. Thousands of Mazda powered grassroots racers compete in various classes with the SCCA and NASA highlighted by Spec Miata, the world’s largest spec class with over 2,500 cars built. In 2006 Mazda Motorsports established the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder to assist racers in moving up through the ranks. In 2010 this was expanded to include the Mazda Road to Indy. Key to Mazda’s success is strategic partnerships with the Skip Barber Racing School and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Mazda Motorsports is managed by Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). MNAO is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., 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.
Consumer information can be found at www.mazdausa.com, with press information at www.mazdausamedia.com. Racers and fans can follow the action on facebook (Mazda Motorsports).