2011 FCC NASA National Champions are Eligible for MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder Program
Sonoma, CA
April 6th, 2011
The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder is proving to be the springboard for many aspiring racers to advance - just ask Conor Daly and Brad Rampelberg where they would be today without Mazda. Mazda powered FCC NASA National Champions now have the opportunity to win a Mazda factory supported ride in the 2012 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup.
"Mazda has supported grassroots racing for decades, and the FCC presented by Goodyear is proud to be powered exclusively by Mazda engines," stated FCC Series Official Ben Hettema. "Thanks to Mazda many club racers have moved up through the ranks and into professional racing of every kind." The MX-5 Cup series champion also gets promoted via the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Ladder. 2010 MX-5 Cup Champion Brad Rampelberg is currently racing a MAZDASPEED3 in the 2011 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Challenge.
The heart of MAZDASPEED is in supporting club racers. There are over 9,000 Mazda customers who compete in club racing with the Sports Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sports Association (NASA). More than a few of them have aspirations of racing professionally.
For 2011, the competition will be held in two stages with a presentation portion used to select the finalists for the on-track session. The competition measures all aspects of a driver:
- Fast lap times
- Consistency
- Technical feedback & knowledge
- The ability to write a winning sponsorship proposal
- PR & media skills
The Prize: A factory supported ride in the 2012 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup
Value: $50,000+
Eligibility: Any Mazda powered National Champion from a recognized organization where Mazda pays contingency and minimal entries per class are achieved. This includes The SCCA, NASA and Skip Barber. All Formula Car Challenge NASA National Champions in FM, FS2.0, and PFM are eligible (each class must have at least 5 starters for that class champion to be eligible)
Exclusions: Racers are eligible to compete in as many shootouts as they qualify for, but cannot return after winning a shootout. Racers are also limited to one ladder prize per year.
The judges: Judges will be composed of a committee of motorsports professionals including team owners/managers, engineers, drivers, and journalists.
Additional MAZDASPEED Awards: For 2011 Mazdaspeed has offered over $26,000 in contingency prize money for the FCC presented by Goodyear NASA National Championships at Mid-Ohio.
About Mazda: On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the largest road- racing class in the world is Spec Miata, with more than 2,500 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America's racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing circuits, the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing, and the Mazda Road to Indy.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
About the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup: Stepping up in place of the former MAZDASPEED Miata Cup, the SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup made its debut in 2006. Featuring identical Mazda MX-5s on spec BF Goodrich tires, MX-5 Cup gives drivers the opportunity to compete in equal equipment on high-profile weekends. The MX-5 Cup has become one of the best shows in motorsports today.
Competitive and Cost Effective Racing
Compete at the Indy GP, and Win Races & Championships for less than $15k a season? It's been done...
With its three categories the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear offers competitive racing for a wide range of budgets. "One of our regular FM race winners told us that he never spends more than $15,000 per season including tires, entries, travel and accommodations," stated Series Official Ben Hettema. "This is a guy who has won a lot of races and championships in the FM class, but of course he is doing all the labor and transport himself."
Drivers looking for an "Arrive & Drive" program should contact their local region head as each region has unique opportunities. "We have an all inclusive 10 race program in the new FormulaSPEED2.0 for less than $40k," noted World Speed Motorsports Operations Manager Mark Milazzo. "I don't know anywhere you can race this level of car at these types of events for anything close to this budget."
The Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear has low operating costs compared to most national series. Even the FCC arrive and drive programs are a small percentage of the costs of racing in the upper levels of open wheel racing in North America. "The cost savings come from a limited amount of travel, and much lower entry fees," added Hettema.
The series has support from Goodyear Racing tires, and Mazda USA. In 2010 Goodyear presented FCC drivers with more than $50,000 in tire awards, and Mazda put up nearly $30k for the FCC NASA National Championships. Goodyear and Mazda are on board in 2011 for the same prize packages and the Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear NASA National Champions will now also have an opportunity to win a 2012 Mazda factory supported ride through the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder.
The Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear is GROWING!
4 Regions hosting races all over the country
The Formula Car Challenge presented by Goodyear has been taking over the nation. Last season the series held events at Infineon Raceway, MSR-Houston, Texas World Speedway, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Road Atlanta, Roebling Road, Grattan Raceway, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Virginia International Raceway, Blackhawk Farms, Texas Motor Speedway, Eagles Canyon, Miller Motorsports Park, and Road America.
Two of the 2010 FCC events had 35 cars on the grid making them the largest open wheel races in the country. "We had two events last year with that many cars, and we expect the same number of racers for the 2011 season," noted Series Official Ben Hettema.
The West Coast Region is partnered with Goodyear, Mazda USA, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development, Red Line Oil, and NASA Pro Racing.
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WORLD SPEED INCORPORATED
29687 Arnold Drive
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