Veteran of Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge moves to championship team for 2015 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich® Tires.
The pieces for the 2015 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich® Tires are falling into place. ALARA Racing has announced that 20-year old Lafayette, La., native and University of Louisiana at Lafayette marketing student Sarah Montgomery will be joining the team for the coming season.
After competing for several years in Spec Miata, Montgomery spent 2014 learning the tracks and cars in the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge and capped off the year winning three pole positions and scoring three podium finishes in the Barber Pro Winter Challenge. She will be sponsored by The Lemons of Love cancer patient support organization and Lafayette Travel, her home city’s visitors commission.
“I’m really a grassroots racer, raising money from the ground up,” says Montgomery. “The hard work and support I have received from people to get this opportunity is nothing short of amazing. And then to drive for ALARA Racing, a team I’ve been hanging around with for years, is really a dream come true.
“ALARA Racing is a team that is used to winning championships,” she continues. “They win because the people are fantastic and you just know the equipment, engineers, and mechanics, basically everything, will be the best in the business. I can’t wait to get on the track and keep the tradition going.”
Hailing from the heart of Cajun country, Montgomery is anticipating one special race weekend in April when the series makes its first visit to NOLA Motorsports Park with the inaugural Indy Car Grand Prix of Louisiana. “It’s only a hundred or so miles from the house,” says the red-haired Ragin’ Cajun. “I have a feeling I’ll have a few ‘Sarah’ supporters there!”
Mazda’s three-time “Team of the Year” and the series’ reigning champions, ALARA Racing is also the MX-5 Cup’s longest standing team, having been preparing cars and winning since the first season in 2006. As back-to-back champions, ALARA Racing’s technical team has been responsible for countless poles, track records, race fast laps, and victories.
“We’re really pleased to have Sarah join the team this year,” says team principal Ara Malkhassian. “She has always shown raw talent behind the wheel in testing. With the hard work she puts in every time she is in the car, she is maturing into an excellent racer. She brings positive energy and enthusiasm to the team.”
The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich® Tires begins its 12-race season at Sebring International Raceway on March 18-21. For more information about ALARA Racing, which offers a variety of customer programs, see alararacing.com. Follow Sarah’s progress, get full schedules, merchandise and more at www.sarahracing.com.
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