24 replies to this topic

[Bench Racer]

The six-race Heritage Cup championship will take place at Savannah’s Roebling Road (March 1-4), Road Atlanta (March 28-31), Auto Club Speedway (April 27-19), Road America (May 17-20), Mid-Ohio (June 21-24), and Virginia International Raceway (20-23). SVRA officials see the Roebling Road weekend as particularly strategic as it includes a driver’s school where new competitors – such as the Miata drivers – can accelerate the process of earning their licenses and quickly move into wheel-to-wheel competition.

[Johnny D]

So just the 6, no others ?    I saw John Doonan comments

 

Savannah’s Roebling Road (March 1-4),

Road Atlanta (March 28-31),

Auto Club Speedway (April 27-19),

Road America (May 17-20),

Mid-Ohio (June 21-24), and

Virginia International Raceway (20-23).

[Johnny D]

Mazda’s Miata Heritage Cup Returns to SVRA for 2018 Season
October 18, 2017 by SVRA

 

New Entry Point For Vintage Racers Expands To Seven SVRA Weekends

 

The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) and Mazda, one of the most formidable manufacturer brands in all motorsports, announced that the popular Mazda Miata Heritage Cup championship will return for a second season in 2018. The cars are first generation 1.6 to 1.8-liter spec Miatas of 1990 to 1997 vintage and will compete in a six-race points championship with an additional non-championship event at the October 5-7 “Slaying the Dragon” Hill Climb in Robbinsville, North Carolina.

 

“We are thrilled to continue to grow this strategic relationship with Mazda,” said Tony Parella, SVRA President and CEO. “It was clear to me this year that the Miata drivers were all about prepping their cars to car show quality, but also racing them hard. The Mazda Miata Heritage Cup is working exactly as we hoped by opening vintage racing to young drivers with a price point more affordable than just about any category of serious auto racing.”

 

Parella, who competed in the April SVRA Miata race at Auto Club Speedway, stresses how racy and fun the Miatas are. He also notes that numerous vintage garages across America offer aspiring drivers car rental and crew service agreements as low as $2,000 for a weekend.

 

The six-race Heritage Cup championship will take place at Savannah’s Roebling Road (March 1-4), Road Atlanta (March 28-31), Auto Club Speedway (April 27-19), Road America (May 17-20), Mid-Ohio (June 21-24), and Virginia International Raceway (20-23). SVRA officials see the Roebling Road weekend as particularly strategic as it includes a driver’s school where new competitors – such as the Miata drivers – can accelerate the process of earning their licenses and quickly move into wheel-to-wheel competition.

 

“We are pleased to support SVRA again in 2018,” said John Doonan, director for Mazda North American Operations. “Mazda Motorsports has a long history dating back to the 1960’s, so it is only fitting that the Miata has a special championship in America’s premier vintage series. The Miata is a well-proven, time-tested racing platform and cars are widely available as well as parts. The racing this year was terrific and the drivers really enjoyed it.”

 

The Miata races were well received by SVRA racers in 2017. The Mid-Ohio and VIR events had more than 20 entries and SVRA officials expect even larger fields in 2018. Mazda Miatas run their own standalone races, not mixing with other classes. The competition is intense and tight, but in the five 2017 races there was never any contact between the racers. There was only one yellow for a mechanical problem. Mazda Motorsports will provide the Heritage Cup trophy for the 2018 season championship, as they did this year. The company is also extending an entry fee discount for the races.

 

Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

[Pat Mcg]

"the company is also extending an entry fee discount for the races"...    ...  

[Johnny D]

SVRA Gears Up for another year of Miata Heritage Cup

 

Series for first-generation Miatas on vintage racing weekends will have a championship and look at growth over its inaugural season

 

After a successful launch in 2017 that saw steadily growing fields of 1990-’97 NA Miatas, the SVRA Mazda Miata Heritage Cup will return for a second season. There will be a six-race championship, plus a non-points event at the Slaying the Dragon Hillclimb.

 

“We are thrilled to continue to grow this strategic relationship with Mazda,” says Tony Parella, SVRA President and CEO. “It was clear to me this year that the Miata drivers were all about prepping their cars to car show quality, but also racing them hard. The Mazda Miata Heritage Cup is working exactly as we hoped by opening vintage racing to young drivers with a price point more affordable than just about any category of serious auto racing.”

 

Bret de Pedro, principal of RP Performance, both raced and supported customers at the final round of the 2017 Heritage Cup at VIRginia International Raceway and is looking forward to more in 2018.

 

“I drove myself – and I don’t usually drive very often. It’s as much fun as I’ve had in a long time,” says de Pedro. “The cost is beneficial to most of these people; we end up paying less than we would for a regular test day for four full days of racing. Plus you’re there with a lot of cool cars and you get to spectate and walk through the paddock and enjoy some of the nice vintage stuff that they get out there.”

 

De Pedro says he expects to take cars to several events this year, including VIR, Road Atlanta, Road America and Mid-Ohio. The series begins at Roebling Road near Savannah, Ga., on Feb. 14-16. That weekend will include a driver’s school for new racers. After that, the six-race Heritage Cup championship will go to Road Atlanta (March 28-31), Auto Club Speedway (April 27-29), Road America (May 17-20), Mid-Ohio (June 21-24), and VIRginia International Raceway (Sept. 20-23). When the regular season is done, the Heritage Cup will be included in the non-points event at the Oct. 5-7 “Slaying the Dragon” Hill Climb in Robbinsville, N.C.

 

“We are pleased to support SVRA again in 2018,” says John Doonan, Director of Motorsports for Mazda North American Operations. “Mazda Motorsports has a long history dating back to the 1960s, so it is only fitting that the Miata has a special championship in America’s premier vintage series. The Miata is a well-proven, time-tested racing platform and cars are widely available, as well as parts. The racing this year was terrific and the drivers really enjoyed it.”

 

For de Pedro, he expects the class to grow based on the positive feedback from those who competed in 2017.

 

“A lot of people were disappointed they didn’t make it [to an event last year],” he says. “But after we got back and talked about it, a lot of people were really sorry they missed it.”