Hoosier Super Tour heads to Road Atlanta

The third round of the 2019 SCCA championship takes place at the historic Georgia track this weekend

The newly renamed Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta hosts the third round of the SCCA Hoosier Super Tour this weekend after stops at Sebring and Circuit of the Americas. The 2.54-mile, 12-turn track is a favorite of racers, and the entry list is strong.

Mazda racers will be able to enjoy the support of Mazda Motorsports at the event, including the presence of the parts trailer and Mazda Motorsports staff like Josh Smith on hand to answer questions. They’ll also be able to enjoy a barbecue lunch on Saturday, courtesy of Mazda. 

And judging by the large contingent of Mazda racers entered in the event, that lunch may be crowded. The sizable entry list includes one of the largest contingents of Touring 4 cars seen so far this season, with nine out of a dozen early entries being Mazdas. Among those are six NC MX-5s, the drivers of which may be able to enjoy enhanced contingency prizes thanks to Mazda Motorsports’ initiatives to help support competitors in third-generation Miatas. Mike Burke will be on hand in his 2007 NC fielded by Panic Motorsports, joined by Thomas Hart, who won both Majors races at the track in 2018. Jonathon McLendon, Tim Mullen, Steve Strickland, Tiger Tari and Carter Weedon are also entered in NC MX-5s. The RX-8 is well represented also, with entries from Raymond and Stephen Blethen and Time Mullen.

In that same field will be nearly 20 Mazda Super Touring Lite cars, ranging from second-generation Miatas and RX-7s to three of the best-prepared NC MX-5s in the country. Naturally, 2018 STL SCCA National Champion Danny Steyn will be there with his MX-5, as will Hugh and Craig McHaffie. Speaking of well prepared, Alan Cross is entered with his beautiful RX-8.

Many of the cars and drivers in STL are Spec Miata racers looking for extra track time. The 46-car SM field itself reads like a Who’s Who of East Coast Spec Miata drivers. Marc Cefalo, Jim Drago, Peter Ensor, Tyler Gonzalez, Tyler Kicera, Nick Leverone, Preston Pardus and Steyn are among the entries. Steyn won on Sunday at last year’s Road Atlanta Majors, so he’s certainly capable of doing it again. Michael Carter was the Saturday winner, but he’s busy preparing for his rookie season in the Idemitsu Global Maza MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich as the Mazda Road to 24 scholarship winner.

Mazda is well represented in the P1 field, led by Jacek Mucha and his jms016cp Mazda, based on a Swift Formula Atlantic. Jim Downing will be there, of course, since Road Atlanta is the Georgian’s home track. Mucha took both races last year over Downing. Other notables in Elan DP02s include Chip Romer, Todd Slusher and Jean-Luc Liverato.

Hoosier Super Tour drivers enjoy an elevated experience and a supercharged atmosphere thanks to segmented timing and scoring, live broadcasts with two static cameras and announcers streamed at SCCA.com, and the chance to earn points toward the Hoosier Super Tour championship.