40 Mazda-powered open-wheel racers take to streets surrounding Exhibition Place in Toronto
IRVINE, Calif. (July 13, 2018) – This weekend, the three Mazda Road to Indy series take to the 1.746-mile temporary circuit around Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario in support of this weekend’s Verizon IndyCar Series race. 40 drivers in the Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and USF2000 championships are contending not only for race victories, but for their share of the $3.5 million in Mazda scholarships that will be awarded at the end of the season to move up to the next step of the ladder, culminating in an entry to the Indianapolis 500.
All three MRTI races will contest a pair of doubleheader races this weekend, and Sunday’s Indy Lights race will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network on Monday, July 16 at 6:00 PM EDT.
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
With four victories each, the Indy Lights championship has become a two-driver battle between Colton Herta and Patricio O’Ward. O’Ward claimed a dominant victory at last weekend’s race at Iowa, which allowed him to close to within eight points of the championship leader, Herta. Third in the championship is Santi Urrutia, who has claimed one victory this season. Another driver with one victory to his name this season is Mazda Scholarship driver Victor Franzoni, who captured his first Indy Lights victory at Road America.
Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
Canadian Parker Thompson has established a healthy lead in the Pro Mazda championship. Winning the last two races at the Indianapolis Grand Prix as well as Lucas Oil Raceway have helped him to increase his championship lead to 46 points over Rinus Veekay and Carlos Cunha, who sits a further three points behind. At the previous two rounds at Road America, it was David Malukas who swept the weekend with two victories, his first two in the championship.
Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda
With five wins out of seven races, Kyle Kirkwood has built a massive lead in the USF2000 championship. The only other driver to win this season, Alex Baron, is second in the title chase with Kaylen Frederick occupying the third spot.