With only the SCCA Runoffs to go, several Mazda racers lead the national points chase in their classes
The national points chase in SCCA Hoosier Super Tour competition is determined by the best six finishes in Hoosier Super Tour events, plus the Runoffs. With all of the Super Tour events concluded, several Mazda drivers are leading the points heading into the 2018 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Sonoma Raceway.
Leading off with the spec classes, Todd Vanacore was one of the first to roll out the updated Van Diemen Mazda to run in Formula Enterprises 2. With that new car, he leads the points thanks to a win at VIR and two at Watkins Glen. Two other drivers got three weekends in FE2 and are very close in the points – Rhett Barkau, four points behind with 124; and Thomas Burt with 121. James Libecco has a big lead in FE, 128 points to Scott Rettich’s 100. And in Formula Mazda, Bryce Cornet won six races, plus a pair of seconds at the June Sprints, to lead the points, 150 to 131 over Brad Yake.
The margin in Spec Miata is razor thin, with Chris Haldeman leading Michael Carter by only a single point, 139 to 138, so whoever finishes ahead at the Runoffs at Sonoma will be the points champion. Should some misfortune befall these two, Tyler Kicera (121 points), Preston Pardus (114) and Danny Steyn will be ready to capitalize.
Speaking of Steyn, he’s also had a stellar year racing his NC Miata in Super Touring Lite and leads the points with four wins, a second and a third in his top-six finishes.
“Since we started with our STL program two years ago, we have run into a variety of issues,” Steyn explains. “So, this season I have never given any thought to the points or the championship – I was so focused on resolving our issues. Fortunately, we turned the corner at Road America, and won both races at each of the back-to-back events, the June Sprints and Watkins Glen. And those 100 points just put us in to the lead in the STL championship, by one point over my good friend Nick Leverone.”
Leverone has three wins and three seconds in his NB Miata, so he’s in the thick of the fight with 138 points to Steyn’s 139. Amy Mills is a bit further back with 104. So, of Steyn and Leverone, whichever comes out on top at Sonoma will take the national points.
“There is a friendly rivalry between Mazda and Honda in the STL class, and we all have our eye on the prize at Sonoma,” Steyn adds. “[Sonoma Raceway] really suits my driving style, and my MX-5 was built for that type of track, so I am pretty confident that I can mix it up with the best in California. And who knows, I might even be able to come away with enough points to secure the championship – and if I am really lucky, the Runoffs title as well.”
Touring 4 is led by two Mazda racers competing on opposite ends of the country in different models. Ross Murray has accumulated 146 points in his RX-8 with wins at COTA, Buttonwillow and Portland. Gresham Wagner has four wins in his MX-5, doubling up at Sebring and Mid-Ohio, to trail Murray by eight points. Murray brings the West Coaster’s edge to Sonoma – he had a second and a first at the Majors race at the California track – in addition to a couple of national championships under his belt, so things look pretty good for him.
Miata driver Charlie Campbell is the only F Production racer in the country to make three Super Tour events, so he has 132 points to Eric Prill’s 100, earned with four wins in four races. A similar situation exists in GT-3, with Jeff Dernehl being the only driver to get six races, each of which he won. Nobody in GT-Lite made more than two weekends, so Larry Svaton is in a tie for first in that class with two wins and two seconds.
The top four drivers in Formula Atlantic were all driving Star Pro Mazda race cars, with Paul Ravaris leading Larry Howard by a single point, 131 to 130. Then there’s a trio of Mazda-powered cars at the top of Prototype 1, the top two being Elan DP02s separated by four points. Darryl Shoff leads Bryan Putt 131 to 127, with Jacek Mucha and his jms016cp Mazda at 114.
Those at the top of the points will have a few months to enjoy that situation before the 2018 Runoffs, which take place at Sonoma Raceway on Oct. 16-21.
Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour
Mazda Points Leaders at the end of the regular season
Class: Driver; Hometown; Car; wins
FA: Paul Ravaris; Aledo, Texas; Star Pro Formula Mazda; 2
FE: James Libecco; Solon, Ohio; Van Diemen FE Mazda; 2
FE2: Todd Vanacore; Ormond Beach, Fla.; Van Diemen FE2 Mazda; 3
FM: Bryce Cornet; Norman, Okla.; Star Formula Mazda; 6
FP: Charlie Campbell; Corry, Pa.; Miata; 3
GT-3: Jeff Dernehl; Roswell, Ga.; RX-7; 6
GTL: Larry Svaton; Alvin, Texas; Miata; 2
P1: Darryl Shoff; Reading, Pa.; Elan DP02 Mazda; 2
SM: Chris Haldeman; McKinney, Texas; Miata; 4
STL: Danny Steyn; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 2007 MX-5
T4: Ross Murray; Marina Del Rey, Calif; 6