Mazda's 'global' MX-5 Cup begins in September
Inaugural race opens up one-make series to competitors outside AmericaMazda's one-make race series for the MX-5 will attract drivers from around the world for the first time, at an invitational event in September.
The MX-5 Cup series (or to use its formal title, the 2016 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires) is a US-only affair, but on the weekend of September 9-11 Mazda will run the MX-5 Cup Invitational – a 'non-points' event that will run in parallel to the main series. Drivers from Europe, Asia and North America – in a field of 20 – will take part in the premiere races, which will be held at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at Monterey in California.
Motor sport is big business for Mazda in America. On the same weekend – a Mazda-exclusive three-day thriller – Laguna Seca will also play host to the Mazda Road to Indy and the Mazda Road to 24 events. Mazda describes the latter category as the "sports car counterpart" to the Road to Indy, for open-wheelers. Champions will score a Mazda scholarship to further their race careers.
The MX-5 Cup series is worth US$200,000 to the winner, in the form of a scholarship. Cars supplied by Mazda for the series are 'turnkey' vehicles ready to race.
"When we launched the 2016 car and series, we included 'Global' for a reason," said John Doonan, director of motorsports, Mazda North American Operations.
"Mazda affiliates and racers from abroad have wanted to get involved in what had previously been North American exclusive. We can't wait to have our overseas friends join us at our home track for what we hope will be the first of many such events in the years to come.
"Combining the weekend with our Mazda Road to Indy and Mazda Road to 24 championships means that we'll likely have more than 100 Mazda-powered race cars on one weekend.
"With all cars being as identical as possible, it's a perfect showcase for racers to prove that no matter if you are on the highway, or on the track, driving matters."
The Global Cup will be run as two heats, each of 45 minutes duration. Mazda will decide the champion on the basis of the points aggregate for the two heats, and award the winner time in the Multimatic 'Driver in the Loop' simulator as preparation for a one-day test in the Mazda Prototype that runs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Tickets for the event are available through a dedicated website, and tune in for the live, online broadcast to watch motoring.com.au competing.
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