SCCA Northeast Conference road race and ProSolo competition are in full swing
With the Mazda Team Joest drivers fresh off their double podium finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Mid-Ohio and having the week off, it was the Sports Car Club of America Northeast Conference road racers providing the excitement in the world of Mazda Motorsports. Pittsburgh International Race Complex hosted the third U.S. Majors tour event in the Northeast, and Mazda racers were there in force.
Several Mazda drivers scored double victories over the course of the two-day event. In Formula Enterprises and FE2, it was Justin Huffman and Scott Rettich banking wins on both Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, Marc Cefalo completed the sweep for Mazda spec classes at his home track.
In production-based race cars, Mason Workman was a double winner in F Production in a Miata and Owen Schefer swept Touring 4 for the weekend in an RX-8. And while John Weisberg didn’t sweep Super Touring Under, he did score the pole, win the race and set a new track record on Saturday in his third-generation MX-5.
The prior weekend, SCCA ProSolo competitors were competing at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. That event saw interesting weather with rain early on Saturday and an overnight downpour that caused the cancellation of the Sunday runs and Challenge rounds.
The 21-driver Street Touring Sport class was part of the lucky ones who competed in dry conditions for all of their runs. Rich DiMarco wasn’t the early leader in his Miata, but cones in the late runs for his competition opened the door and he won by 0.961sec.
Other Mazda class winners that weekend include Darrin DiSimo in C Street (2019 Miata); Mark Dudek in Street Touring Roadster (2017 Miata); and Billy Davis in Street 2 (1999 Miata).
With the Sunday cancellation, year-end Challenge points were awarded based on Challenge qualifying. Darren DiSimo won C Street by a commanding 1.674sec margin to take the top qualifier honors and Super Challenge win. Billy Davis was third thanks to the Street 2 win.
Northeast Conference SCCA U.S. Majors Tour
Pittsburgh International Race Complex
May 11-12, 2019
Saturday Mazda Winners
F Production: Mason Workman; Canal Winchester, Penn.; Miata
Spec Miata: Marc Cefalo; Swoyersville, Penn.
Formula Enterprises 2: Scott Rettich; Columbus, Ohio
Formula Enterprises: Justin Huffman; Herndon, Va.
Super Touring Under: John Weisberg; Webster, N.Y.; Mazda MX-5
Touring 4: Owen Schefer; Warrenton, Va.; Mazda RX-8
Sunday Mazda Winners
F Production: Mason Workman; Canal Winchester, Penn.; Miata
Spec Miata: Marc Cefalo; Swoyersville, Penn.; Miata
Formula Enterprises 2: Scott Rettich; Columbus, Ohio
Formula Enterprises: Justin Huffman; Herndon, Va.
Touring 4: Owen Schefer; Warrenton, Va.; Mazda RX-8