8 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

Mazda Motorsports and Andersen Promotions Reach Agreement for INDYCAR to Sanction MX-5 Cup Series

 

2017 Battery Tender Mazda Global MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires Schedule to Include Four INDYCAR Weekends

 

IRVINE, Calif. (October 28, 2016) – Mazda Motorsports and Andersen Promotions announced today that the parties have reached an agreement for INDYCAR to sanction the Mazda MX-5 Cup series beginning with the 2017 season. The Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires is the signature spec series for the Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24), the sports car counterpart to the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires (#MRTI).

 
In both programs, series champions earn a Mazda Motorsports scholarship to advance their racing careers. The MX-5 Cup season champion earns a $200,000 scholarship. New for 2017, the MX-5 Cup Rookie-of-the-Year will earn a $50,000 scholarship. In total, MX-5 Cup pays more than half-a-million dollars in prize money and scholarships.

 
“This sanctioning agreement with INDYCAR for the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires is based upon our long and productive relationship with Dan Andersen, Andersen Promotions and INDYCAR,” said John Doonan, director of motorsports at Mazda North American Operations. “We have worked closely with them to grow the Mazda Road to Indy into the finest open-wheel ladder in the world. Now, we are striving to grow this series, which is the first step of our sports car ladder known as the Mazda Road to 24. In only one year, we have sold more than 120 of the newest generation of MX-5 Cup cars and have seen starting fields of up to 40 cars. By teaming with INDYCAR, we believe the series will thrive. Mazda strives to provide value to our customers, and to present our race teams with this race schedule today is a big step forward. They will have the opportunity to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, plus other iconic circuits in the U.S. and Canada.”

 
In 2017 the MX-5 Cup will consist of a 12-race schedule held on a total of six event weekends, plus the second annual Global MX-5 Cup Invitational, a non-points-paying event for Mazda racers from around the world.  Four of those event weekends will be held during Verizon IndyCar Series events –

Barber Motorsports Park (April 20-23),

Road America (June 23-25),

Toronto (July 14-16) and

Watkins Glen International (September 1-3).

The series will also compete on the road course of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the SVRA event (June 15-17) and twice at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (Sept. 22-24 and the Global Invitational, Oct. 13-15).

 
“The Mazda MX-5 Cup race car is such a terrific package and the MX-5 Cup championship already has shown what great racing this car and its drivers can provide,” said Dan Andersen, CEO of Andersen Promotions, which will oversee operational aspects of the series. “Andersen Promotions is very excited to expand its Mazda involvement and move into the Mazda Road to 24 sports car ladder to complement what the Mazda Road to Indy open-wheel ladder has already accomplished. We are all about developing drivers for careers in racing, and we expect to bring our experience to MX-5 Cup and enhance the training that drivers receive to better enable them to climb the sports car ladder. INDYCAR is the best sanctioning body and has such exciting events on its calendar, and I can’t wait to add MX-5 Cup to some of these weekends and wave the Mazda flag even more.”

 
The MX-5 Cup series is considered the best value in sports car racing. The cars are sold as a ready-to-race, turnkey package for $58,900. Because of the parity of the cars, the racing is always close, hard-fought and great fun for fans (see video). The series is entering its twelfth season of action.

 
“When Mazda approached us regarding MX-5 Cup, we felt it would be a great opportunity for INDYCAR to expand upon what we’re already doing with our involvement in the Mazda Road to Indy,” said Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations. “This agreement also allows us to enhance our overall platform with Mazda Motorsports and Andersen Promotions, who have been great partners of INDYCAR.”

[Johnny D]

I was wondering if Mazda wanted to pick up were Toyota left off. Maybe this is a bigger possibility.

 

https://en.wikipedia.../Celebrity_Race

 

J~

[RacerJason99]

I was wondering if Mazda wanted to pick up were Toyota left off. Maybe this is a bigger possibility.

 

https://en.wikipedia.../Celebrity_Race

 

J~

 

Seems unlikely. That was an extremely costly event to put on, both from the standpoint of the manufacturer owned cars and the event cost. Rumors seem to be once the Toyota contract is up for GPLB it could become a Honda event - but I don't think we will see the return of the Celebrity race.   

 

[Johnny D]

Ok, well at least our guys (Mx-5cup) will be out there in Long Beach, right ?

 

Maybe not looking at the schdule.

 

J~

[Bench Racer]

Maybe IndyCar can learn from the MX-5 Cup Series and the SCCA Spec Miata races that folks enjoy viewing W2W racing and not ingle file parades.

[Johnny D]

Well how do you go wheel to wheel at 200 and not have people ending up doing a lawn dart in the fence or in field ?

 

J~

[Bench Racer]

Well how do you go wheel to wheel at 200 and not have people ending up doing a lawn dart in the fence or in field ?

 

J~

The philosophy on how to answer your question is so very simple, slow the Fing cars down so the drivers are ably to react when the down force is affected and the drivers reactions can't be quick enough to control the cars. Remember a couple short years ago on the left coast when a driver was killed because the speeds were WAY TO FAST FOR ALL DRIVERS. I was in a joint for lunch today and a Lucas Oil late model dirt race was on the boob tube, looked like a 1/3 mile track, GREAT RACING at maybe an average speed of 100 mph.  

[Johnny D]

Sweet, Grassroots Indy car racing on 1/3 mile dirt track.    

 

J~

[Bench Racer]

Sweet, Grassroots Indy car racing on 1/3 mile dirt track.  

 

J~

You been around long enough to understand, asphalts fer getten there and dirts fer racing on.