MAZDASPEED MOTORSPORTS NEWS

Closed Thanksgiving and Day After

2008-11-24T22:44:00Z

MAZDASPEED Motorsports will be closed on Thanksgiving and the day after, Thursday and Friday November 27th and 28th. Orders will NOT ship on these two days.

Happy Thanksgiving.

All New 2010 Mazda3 Revealed

2008-11-20T16:33:54Z

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Every last pulse-racing detail of the all-new 2010 MAZDA3 4-Door was revealed November 19th at the 2008 LA Auto Show. New improvements to Mazda's globally best-selling compact^‡ include class-leading technology, distinctive design and signature thrilling performance that sets it far apart from the common compact. It is also one of Mazda's most economical cars, making the thrill even more rewarding.

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TOTALLY REDESIGNED INTERIOR
The completely redesigned, sporty interior features a smooth, sculpted cockpit that gives it a larger, more stylish feeling with proper focus on the driver. Blue LED lighting welcomes you as you enter the MAZDA3. Available leather-trimmed seats with an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory and 5-level variable heated front seats, so your ride's always just how you like it.

New available advancements include Bluetooth^® hands-free phone and audio capability*, dual-zone automatic climate control, a compact navigation system and a 10-speaker Bose^® Centerpoint^® Surround System with AudioPilot^®. The newly-added available Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System with push-button ignition start brings a whole other level of cool, convenient access, unique among competing compacts.

MORE POWERFUL AND BETTER FUEL ECONOMY
Not to be outdone, the new available 2.5L engine on the s trim is now more powerful and smoother than its 2.3L predecessor. The 2.5L engine delivers an impressive 167 horsepower, 168 lb-ft of torque** and a new 6-speed manual transmission or available 5-speed Sport automatic transmission with manual-shift mode.

The i-trim is more fuel efficient -- earning up to 33 mpg highway^†, but is nonetheless powerful. Its robust 2.0L engine delivers 148 horsepower, 135 lb-ft of torque** and a choice of either a newly-available
5-speed Sport automatic transmission with manual-shift mode or 5-speed manual transmission.

NEWLY-AGGRESSIVE EXTERIOR
The MAZDA3's stunning good looks brings bold style to a category not known for it. Taking key design cues from the Nagare concept vehicle, the new design features a strong, dynamic exterior characterized by long, sweeping lines that elongate the vehicle and a bold, aggressive stance that pushes the width while also bringing it visually lower to the ground.

Its aerodynamic curves are set off with low-slung fog lights and available Self-leveling Bi-Xenon High-Intensity-Discharge (HID) headlights complete with an Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) that peers around corners as you maneuver. Available rain-sensing windshield wipers, dual body-color power heated mirrors with side marker turn-signal lights and newly-designed 16-inch or available 17-inch alloy wheels that accent its long lines. While available chrome dual exhaust outlets and LED taillights leave a bold, unmistakable impression, completing the visual feast that is the 2010 MAZDA3's bold new design.

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES
Safety features on the new 2010 MAZDA3 are top-of-the-line. On every trim you'll find advanced dual front air bags, side air bags and side air curtains^†^†, as well as a Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. New standard active front headrests tilt forward to protect your head during rear impact. While available Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)^‡^‡ and Traction Control System (TCS) help keep the MAZDA3 under control during aggressive maneuvers.

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* The Bluetooth^® system functions only with select manufactured devices. Please consult www.MazdaUSA.com/bluetooth for device compatibility.
^† EPA-estimated mileage. Actual results may vary.
^‡ Currently Mazda's top selling model globally, with one of the highest production volumes of any single model in Japan.
** Power figures are lower in Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) states, see specs for details.
^†^† Always wear your seat belt and secure children in the rear seats in appropriate child restraints.
^‡^‡ Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is an electronic system to help the driver maintain control under adverse conditions. It is not a substitute for safe driving practices. Factors including speed, road conditions and driver steering input can all affect whether DSC will be effective in preventing loss of control. Please see the Owner's Manual for further details.

Global Debut of MAZDA3 - Live Webcast

2008-11-19T15:58:20Z

Mazda delivers yet another exhilarating driving experience with the all-new 2010 MAZDA3. Fully redesigned, the 2010 MAZDA3 features advances in performance, fuel economy and safety. Add in a more powerful, yet quieter drive, aggressive design and a load of sophisticated amenities not usually found in the compact segment, and the all-new MAZDA3 delivers everything you could ask for in a compact sports sedan.

The 2010 MAZDA3 will be making its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19th at 12:20 P.M. PST. We'd like to invite you to participate in this event via our live reveal webcast. To make sure you don't miss the unveiling - click on the link, bookmark the site, and be sure to return to http://www.mazda3reveal.com/ on November 19th.

MAZDASPEED: Promotion From Within

2008-11-19T14:08:07Z

Photo caption: Left to Right: Sylvain Tremblay, Ben Devlin, Jonathan Bomarito, Joel Miller, Jason Saini, and Nick Ham

MAZDASPEED Ladder Drivers Try Out for Rolex 24 At Daytona

November 18, 2008 (Irvine, Calif.). Sylvain Tremblay has a "good problem". He is seeking to lead the SpeedSource Castrol Mazda RX-8 team to a repeat win at the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Sylvain is searching for a fourth driver to join the team of Tremblay, Nick Ham, and David Haskell. While every team owner has a stack of driver resumes to consider, Tremblay has a list of several dozen who have all won with Mazda power in the past year.

]]> MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder last week in Daytona.

Jonathan Bomarito -- 2008 Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Runner-up
Ben Devlin - 2007 & 2008 Driver of the B-K Motorsports Mazda powered ALMS LMP2 entry.
Joel Miller -- 2007 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda Champion & 2008 Star Mazda Presented by Goodyear Runner-Up
Jason Saini - 2007 SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion & 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Rookie of the Year

An announcement will be made later this year as to the final SpeedSource driver line-up for the Daytona season opener.

SpeedSource was not the only Mazda team testing at Daytona and not the only team testing Mazda ladder grads. Racers Edge had 2007 Star Mazda champion Dane Cameron in their car while the HyperSport team had SPEED World Challenge Tri-Point Motorsports MAZDA6 driver Charles Espenlaub. Beginning their preparations for their debut season in GrandAm GT was the Yellow Dragon Mazda RX-8 team.

Quotes:

Sylvain Tremblay, Owner/Driver SpeedSource : "It was an excellent test for the SpeedSource team. Thanks to great preparation by the crew our car ran flawless for two days. The new Pirelli tires for 2009 coupled with the added weight and reduced redline for the RX-8 did just what GrandAm wanted in terms of slowing our lap times. I'm really proud of all four drivers who tested with us. All four did an amazing job in adapting to the car. Each demonstrated the talent and the hunger to win that we'll need in January. This will be a very difficult choice to make."

John Doonan, Manager MAZDASPEED Motorsports Team Development: "With four Mazda spec series to draw from, we are extremely fortunate to have a very deep talent pool. For everyone at Mazda it's very special that we can promote from within and reward those drivers who have invested their careers in series that we support."

Jason Saini: "What an amazing opportunity - the chance to drive at such a historic place, in preparation for such a historic event is just another dream come true thanks to the Mazda ladder system. A few years ago, I was figuring out how to get my Spec Miata to the track, and now I'm sharing the track with DaMatta, Fittipaldi, Busch and others - and sharing a car with Tremblay, Ham and Haskell who delivered such an emotional with for Mazda last year. I can't express how excited and I am, and how impressed I was with the car and operation. SpeedSource is a truly professional team with a talented crew and I was proud to be with them for this test. Getting to drive in the 24 hour would be a fairy tale for me, a lifetime fan of sports-car racing that has always dreamed of running at Daytona! I honestly can't see how any aspiring racer wouldn't choose to race a Mazda with the program they have put in place."

Joel Miller: "With this being my first time in a sports car and on the Daytona circuit, 10 laps was not a lot of time which made for a quick learning curve. Once I figured out the braking capabilities and overall balance I was getting comfortable with each lap. In the end I was able to be consistent and show well. I have to give many thanks to Sylvain Tremblay and the entire SpeedSource crew for helping me get up to speed in the RX-8. Mazda has again given me a great opportunity to further my career with the help of all the people in the MAZDASPEED organization, and I am happy to be in the Mazda family."

Ben Devlin: "It was 2001 when I last raced at Daytona and I had almost forgotten how unique this circuit is. I'm very grateful to everyone at SpeedSource and Mazda who made this test possible. I really enjoyed my run in the RX8 although it's a while since I've driven a GT car I found it really responsive and very soon settled into a rhythm. It was a pleasure to work with the guys at SpeedSource who run a totally professional and focused outfit and it's easy to see why they have won so many races. I'll look forward to another opportunity to test what is obviously a car capable of repeating the success of last year."

Jonathan Bomarito: "I would like to thank everyone at Mazda and the SpeedSource racing team for giving up-and-coming drivers a chance. Mazda has been instrumental in getting many drivers to the top levels of motorsport and I am honored to be a part of that. SpeedSource did an amazing job outlining and preparing us for the test and it was a lot of fun to be a part of their team for the past couple of days."

Jon Mirachi, Owner/Team Manager, Racers Edge Motorsports: "Our test went well. Since this was our first opportunity to try them, our main focus was on testing the new 2009 spec Pirelli tires. Our goal was to understand how to extract both maximum performance and maximum tire life from the new tires. We made great progress the first day and the detailed, analytical feedback from Dane Cameron was a huge contribution to that progress. He was able to evaluate the changes we tried to the set-up within only a couple laps and then provide accurate feedback to the engineers."

Dane Cameron: "The test went very well both days, the second day was tough with the bad weather but still very productive. More teams were at this test compared to October so it gave us a good reference for pace so we know we have some work to do to beat the Porsches. The Racers Edge Team have been great to work with and the RX-8 has been a blast to drive so its been fun to work in a new discipline."

Joe Foster, Co-Owner/Co-Driver, HyperSport: "We had a successful test with the Hyper Sport #40 Mazda RX-8 GT. The car ran trouble free as usual and we ran through a range of settings in an attempt to come to grips with the 2009-spec Pirelli tire. Myself and Charles (Espenlaub) had similar feedback on the tire and our engineer Kirt Wightman made big progress on the set up. We have a huge amount of data to sift through in the next few weeks and I'm sure we'll come back in January with plenty more to try."

Jack Smith, Team Principal, Yellow Dragon Motorsports LLC: "The Yellow Dragon Motorsports team is very satisfied with its first test days at Daytona. The car performed well and demonstrated its capacity to run an acceptable lap time. Our crew worked together very professionally and demonstrated the confidence that significant racing experience brings to the program. We appreciate the support that Mazda and SpeedSource have shown for our racing program and we look forward to a competitive 2009 season."

About Mazda:

Mazda is the brand of choice for road-racers across North America. More than 9,000 grassroots racers compete in various classes with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). Racers who are years away from earning a driver's license can now begin their professional motorsports careers in the Mazda family. A driver can begin in karts and progress through the Skip Barber series, Club Racing Formula Mazda, professional Star Mazda and finally to Formula Atlantic, all with Mazda. No other car company has ever connected the dots this way.

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, 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 1,500 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, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.

E Production and Touring 3 National Championships Races on SPEED Wednesday

2008-11-18T23:10:44Z

TOPEKA, Kan. (Nov. 18, 2008) - Two more SCCA National Championship races will air on SPEED, Wednesday, Nov. 19.

At noon (EST), two-time F Production Champion Jesse Prather starts his first E Production National Championship race from third in the No. 34 Prather Racing/Moss Motors Mazda Miata. After making quick work of polesitter Greg Ira in the No. 2 CU Yacht Charter Datsun 240-Z, Prather sets his sights on then-leader and defending EP Champion Thomas Thrash. A quintessential Runoffs battle ensues as Prather and the No. 67 Lucas Racing/Mazda/Goodyear Mazda RX-7 of Thrash exchange the lead with each lap until one driver succumbs to the pressure. Turn on SPEED to find out who!

2009 SCCA Pro Racing Rulebook Now Available Online

2008-11-13T22:20:57Z

TOPEKA, Kan. (Nov. 13, 2008) - The latest edition of the 2009 SCCA Pro Racing Rulebook, containing regulations for SCCA World Challenge, SCCA Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup and Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, is now available on the SCCA Pro Racing Web site.

The PRR has undergone major revisions for 2009. In addition to the new World Challenge Touring Car rules which have been reworked to cut costs for teams, each section has undergone an extensive review by the SCCA Pro Racing technical department to provide clear and concise language. The book has also been re-sized to a 4.25" by 9" format, making it considerably more portable.

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The 2009 PRR can be found online at www.sccapro.com. Hard copies will be available in early December.

About SCCA Pro Racing

A wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America, Inc., SCCA Pro Racing Ltd. is a leading sanctioning body for motor sports events in the United States. A member of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS), SCCA Pro Racing operates and sanctions the SCCA World Challenge Championships, the SCCA Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, as well as provides sanctioning and various operational services for other racing series. For more information, please visit www.sccapro.com.

SCCA Runoffs Programming Begins Nov 12 on SPEED

2008-11-11T21:58:08Z

By Erin Cechal - SCCA

TOPEKA, Kan. (Nov. 11, 2008) - Television programming for the 2008 SCCA National Championship Runoffs begins this Wednesday, Nov. 12, on SPEED with the Touring 2 and Formula Mazda National Championship races.

Attached image: Frank Futrelle's No. 97 Formula Mazda.
Credit: Mark Weber

]]> Four-time SCCA National Champion Don Knowles leads the Touring 2 field to the green flag at noon (EST). Knowles times the start perfectly in his No. 35 Phoenix/Hoosier/Hawk/iRacing.com Pontiac and by the race's halfway point has opened up a substantial lead on second-place Bill Ziegler. That gap would be erased with only a handful of laps remaining, however, as Ziegler had set up his No. 05 Swisher/Hoosier/Phoenix Pontiac Solstice to come in late in the race. Pay close attention because the T2 title will come down to the final lap and what you see on the track is not what's recorded in the results book.

Next at 1 p.m. (EST), it's Formula Mazda. The field immediately goes three-wide on the start, with Frank Futrelle's No. 97 Meco Inc. of Augusta Formula Mazda coming out on top. To win his first-ever National Championship, Futrelle will have to keep the No. 6 sloneracing.com/GoPro/Molecule Formula Mazda of Jamie Slone at bay. One of the two will make a mistake, allowing the other to cruise to victory. Tune into SPEED on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to find out which.

For a full 2008 SCCA National Championship Runoffs TV schedule visit the Runoffs event page at www.scca.com/runoffs.

World Challenge Begins 2009 at Sebring, Ends at Mazda Raceway

2008-10-31T20:53:13Z

By Erin Cechal - SCCA

TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 31, 2008) - WC Vision and SCCA Pro Racing have released more than half of the planned 2009 SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships schedule. The 2009 season will return to many familiar fan favorites and is framed by a season opener at Sebring International Raceway and finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. ]]> Since 2002, the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships have begun in Sebring, Fla., which is exactly where they will commence in 2009, as part of the American Le Mans Series' prestigious Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring event, March 18 - 21.

The SCCA SPEED GT teams will then head west to California for another world-famous race: the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. For the fourth-consecutive year, the SCCA SPEED GT Championship will race on the streets of Long Beach, joining the Indy Racing League along with the American Le Mans Series.

SCCA SPEED World Challenge will also return to the hills of Connecticut and Lime Rock Park to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, May 22 - 25, with Grand-Am. An SCCA SPEED Touring Car-only event in recent years, the SCCA SPEED GT field will come along for the ride in 2009.

In August, SPEED World Challenge will visit two classic Midwest road courses: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America. The series will once again take part in a full bill of racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Aug. 7 - 9, on the combined Indy Racing League/American Le Mans Series weekend. The SPEED World Challenge paddock will make a short trip north to Wisconsin with the American Le Mans Series the following weekend, Aug. 14 - 16, to pace the beautiful Road America circuit.

The shores of Northern California beckon, Oct. 9 -11, as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca returns to the 2009 SPEED World Challenge calendar to host the season finale. Both races will take place Sunday, following Saturday's American Le Mans Series finale.

"We're quite proud of how the schedule is shaping up for 2009," said WC Vision Co-Chairman Bob Woodhouse along with Co-Chair Peter Cunningham, who added "We'd love to list more of the exciting venues we have planned for next year, but we respect the contract process and will wait until all details are in place."

SCCA Pro Racing President and CEO Robert Wildberger agreed that the 2009 SPEED World Challenge schedule was exactly what the fans and teams are looking for.

"Both WC Vision and the SCCA Pro staff put in a tremendous effort to build the 2009 SPEED World Challenge schedule," Wildberger said. "What I see coming together is a perfect mix of classic road racing venues and blockbuster weekends. This schedule will make for great racing for the fans and give tremendous exposure to sponsors."

The remainder of the planned 10-round SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge schedule for 2009 will be released shortly. Keep checking www.world-challenge.com for the latest news.

Provisional 2009 SCCA SPEED World Challenge Schedule

Date	Venue	With
Mar 18 - 20	Sebring International Raceway	ALMS
	Sebring, Fla.
April 17 - 19	Grand Prix of Long Beach (GT Only)	IRL/ALMS
	Long Beach, Calif.
May 22 - 25	Lime Rock Park	Grand-Am
	Lime Rock, Conn.
Aug. 7 - 9	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	IRL/ALMS
	Lexington, Ohio
Aug. 14 - 16	Road America	ALMS
	Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Oct. 9 - 11	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca	ALMS
	Monterey, Calif.

Divided into two separate series and races (SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED Touring Car), the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships are America's top production car-based series. SCCA SPEED World Challenge events are a maximum of 50 minutes in length, feature standing starts and the world's most popular manufacturers racing head-to-head. For more information see www.world-challenge.com.

New Parts

2008-10-29T17:21:40Z

We have started a new section of our news pages dedicated specifically to the announcement of new parts.

Click on the New Parts link in the menu or click here.

2008 NASA Championships Super Unlimited/Super Touring 1 Video Release

2008-10-22T14:44:32Z

RICHMOND, CA - October 21, 2008. The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) is pleased to present the second video production from the 2008 NASA Championship created by Speedcast Productions. This second feature will chronicle the exciting action that took place in the Super Unlimited and Super Touring 1 classes at the 2008 NASA Championship presented by Toyo Tires.

The Super Unlimited/Super Touring 1 video production was sponsored by Pfadt Race Engineering and Toyo Tires.

The Super Unlimited and Super Touring 1 class race video production is now available on the NASA Championships website at
Please watch this website for further video production releases in the coming weeks.

2008 NASA Championships Spec Miata Video Release

2008-10-22T14:40:05Z

RICHMOND, CA - October 13, 2008. The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) is pleased to present the first of the 2008 NASA Championship video productions created by Speedcast Productions. The first feature will chronicle the exciting action that took place in the Spec Miata National Championship race at the 2008 NASA Championship presented by Toyo Tires.

The Spec Miata video production was sponsored by Mothers Car Care Products, Toyo Tires, and Mazda. The Spec Miata race was also presented by Mothers Car Care Products.

The Spec Miata Class race video production is now available on the NASA Championships website at http://nasachampionships.com/2008media.html. Please watch this website for further video production releases in the coming weeks.

Franck Wins Wild Monterey Race; Foss Earns MX-5 Cup Championship

2008-10-20T01:00:16Z

By Erin Cechal - SCCA

MONTEREY, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2008) - Christian Franck, of Simi Valley, Calif., survived a thrilling SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to earn his first-ever race win. Todd Buras, of Melbourne, Fla., and Robert Huffmaster, of Clarkston, Mich., completed the podium. Finishing fourth, Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, claimed the 2008 Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship.

Franck's wild ride began on the start, as he immediately shot past Huffmaster for fourth and found himself at the tail end of a four-car battle for the lead. Ahead of Franck, polesitter Foss was doing his best to hold off Brad Rampelberg and Buras. The constant side-by-side action in front of him allowed Franck to pick his spots, motoring past Buras on lap five and stealing second from Rampelberg a lap later.

Attached image: Christian Franck leads Todd Buras to the finish line at Mazda Raceway.
Credit: Juha Lievonen

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On lap 12, Franck made his move, pulling alongside Foss in Turn Two, but Foss had the right line for Turn Three and held his lead. Foss couldn't hold off Franck's No. 16 Alara Racing MX-5 in Turn Five though, where Franck took a solid hold on the race lead for the first time.

"I got a pretty good start," Franck said. "I moved up to fourth right away. I just sat there and tried to be patient and let everything work itself out for a few laps. I ended up just waiting and waiting and I finally got the lead."

His mirrors filled with Rampelberg's nose for three-consecutive laps straight, Franck would eventually make a mistake, sliding off course briefly at Turn 11 and falling to third behind Rampelberg and Foss.

Winning a race often involves a bit of luck, and that's exactly what came Franck's way shortly after his off. Not only did Foss spin in the Corkscrew on the following lap putting Franck in second, but a full-course caution came out on lap 18 for the No. 23 Team MER/Loth Endodontics MX-5, which had spun into the gravel at Turn Three.

On the lap 21 restart, Franck grabbed the lead from Rampelberg in Turn Five, only to have Rampelberg pull the same move on the following lap to retake the spot.

"I was very happy to see the caution," Franck said with a smile. "I was just a little worried about Todd Buras behind me. I figured he'd try to pass, but I was able to get by Rampelberg."
Race officials had taken issue with contact Rampelberg made with Franck in-between the lead exchange, and as the pair crossed the start-finish line to begin lap 24 of the 25-lap, 55.95-mile race, a black flag was displayed for Rampelberg.

While the white flag waved for Franck, Rampelberg hit pit lane. Keeping his focus, Franck carefully navigated the final 2.238 miles of the 11-turn course and crossed the finish line 1.269 seconds ahead of Buras. Seventeen year-old Franck became the fifth different winner of the 2008 MX-5 Cup season.

"I thought I threw it away in Turn 11," recalled Franck. "I just had a little hiccup, but I picked it back up because of the full-course caution and here I am now, the winner. I kept telling myself to keep calm and keep consistent and not worry about the guys behind me.

"After missing the last two races, I wanted to get a podium finish and I'm very happy to take the win."

Though he finished second in the No. 56 pancreaticcure.org MX-5 Cup, Buras spend much of the race fighting for the third and fourth, which gave him one of the best seats in the house.

"The racing was unbelievable in front of me," Buras said. "I had a great view of the racing. It's going to make for great TV."

The full-course yellow was just as beneficial for Buras as it was for Franck.

"It was fantastic to see the yellow come out. Early in the race, I couldn't get the car into a gear. I tried several gears and it just wouldn't do anything and then, all of a sudden, it just went into third. I've never had that happen."

The only driver with a mathematical shot at beating Foss for the Championship, Buras needed to win at Mazda Raceway coupled with a Foss DNF to overtake him. When Buras witnessed Foss' spin in the Corkscrew, which handed him third on lap 17, he began to wonder if the Title was still a possibility.

"When I saw Eric spin in the corkscrew, I thought 'I wonder where we are in the points right now? Maybe he'll get stuck in the gravel or blow up a tranny or something.' If he would have fallen out, then I probably would have tried a little harder for the first place finish. But, it didn't happen. Eric's done a great job all year. So, for me, it was second place again."

After dropping a spot to Franck on the start, Huffmaster began a lengthy battle with Eric Curran's No. 30 Hale Motorsports/Whelen Motorsports MX-5 for the fifth position.

"Eric Curran and I were running about the same pace," Huffmaster said. "We had a little battle--a little contact. I talked to him after the race and know he didn't do anything intentionally. It was a little frustrating at the moment but we got through it and we're okay. We had a good battle later on in the race too. It was a lot of fun.

"The full course yellow was a huge, huge break," Huffmaster added. "I knew Todd was right up there and we're fighting for second in points. I figured it would give me a shot at him at least to try to pass him and maybe pick up the runner-up position."

Passing Foss shortly after the restart and picking up an additional spot when Rampelberg hit pit lane for his penalty, Huffmaster's No. 27 Team MER/Huffmaster Co. MX-5 took the checkered flag in third, which is also where we ended the season in the point standings.

Foss may have just missed the podium, despite leading the first 11 laps, but a fourth-place finish was enough to secure the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," Foss, who also won the SCCA Spec Miata Championship last week at the Runoffs® said. "It's been an amazing week. Team MER and Autobarn Mazda have just been great all year. I can't than them enough. My teammates are just awesome. They helped me all year long.

"I was pushing really hard early. I really wanted to win here. I thought it would be a great way to cap off the year. But, I made a couple mistakes. The car was great, but I probably pushed too hard. Later in the race, I changed my mentality a little bit to be safe with the Championship in mind."

As the 2008 MX-5 Cup Champion, Foss has earned himself an SCCA Pro Racing SPEED Touring Car ride with Mazda next season.

"This is an amazing opportunity, to be able to race here and win the Championship and everything that it brings," Foss beemed.

Buras trailed Foss by 56 points in the final Championship standings (462 to 406). Huffmaster was third with 399 points, followed by Ryan Schimsk (308 points) and Ara Malkhassian (371 points).

SCCA SPEED GT driver Curran, of East Hampton, Mass., finished his first MX-5 Cup race fifth. He was followed across the line by Californian Ara Malkhassina, from Sonoma.

Mark Jenkins and Brad McAllister were seventh and eighth, respectively.

Ryan Schimsk recovered from an early run-in with the Turn Eight wall to finish ninth.

Barry Fromberg completed the top 10.

The SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup finale will air on DirecTV, Dish Network and regional cable sports networks the week of November 10. Check www.mx-5cup.com for broadcast times as well as full results from the 2008 season.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Results from Sunday's 25-lap, 55.95-mile SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Round Eight race, part of the 2008 Monterey Sports Car Championship Presented by Patron at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out (if any).
1. (5), Christian Franck, Simi Valley, Calif., MX-5, 25.
2. (2), Todd Buras, Melbourne, Fla., MX-5, 25, -1.269.
3. (4), Robert Huffmaster, Clarkston, Mich., MX-5, 25, -1.595.
4. (1), Eric Foss, Fort Worth, Texas, MX-5, 25, -2.072.
5. (9), Eric Curran, E. Hampton, Mass., MX-5, 25, -2.807.
6. (7), Ara Malkhassian, Sonoma, Calif., MX-5, 25, -3.532.
7. (8), Mark Jenkins, Fairview, Texas, MX-5, 25, -4.205.
8. (13), Brad McAllister, Portland, Ore., MX-5, 25, -5.340.
9. (3), Ryan Schimsk, Austin, Texas, MX-5, 25, -9.539.
10. (14), Barry Fromberg, Plano, Texas, MX-5, 25, -16.991.
11. (15), Harrison Williams, Houston, Texas, MX-5, 25, -15.545.
12. (21), James Rhoades, Dallas, Texas, MX-5, 25, -17.701.
13. (19), Donald Barnes, Chapel Hill, N.C., MX-5, 25, -16.217.
14. (24), Tim Probert, Houston, Texas, MX-5, 25, -21.730.
15. (26), Randy Hale_III, Haddam, Conn., MX-5, 25, -22.797.
16. (17), Steve Bottom, Newport Beach, Calif., MX-5, 25, -24.309.
17. (23), Laura Olson, Costa Mesa, Calif., MX-5, 25, -24.913.
18. (20), Christopher Rhoades, Dallas, Texas, MX-5, 25, -22.006.
19. (22), Brad Adams, New Orleans, La., MX-5, 25, -26.688.
20. (27), Sonny Whelen, Old Saybrook, Conn., MX-5, 25, -34.379.
21. (18), Forest Barber, Fort Worth, Texas, MX-5, 25, -26.105.
22. (16), Alison Malkhassian, Sonoma, Calif., MX-5, 25, -37.610.
23. (6), Brad Rampelberg, San Jose, Calif., MX-5, 24, -1 lap.
24. (10), Bobby Carter, Brentwood, Calif., MX-5, 22, -3 laps.
25. (25), Kim Ouye, Montery, Calif., MX-5, 22, -3 laps.
26. (12), Deborah Loth, Fort Worth, Texas, MX-5, 19, Crash.
27. (29), Kenny Kun Yin, Los Angeles, Calif., MX-5, 24, -1 lap.
28. (28), Carlos Tesler-Mabe, Vancouver, British Columbia, MX-5, 0, Crash.
29. (11), Robert Michaelian, Seal Beach, Calif., MX-5, 25, -6.578.

Time of race: 45 minutes, 0.115 seconds.
Average speed: 74.596 mph
Margin of victory: 1.269 Seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-11, #28 Eric Foss; laps 12-15, #16 Christian Franck; laps 16-20, #14 Brad Rampelberg; laps 21-21, #16 Christian Franck; laps 22-22, #14 Brad Rampelberg; laps 23-25, #16 Christian Franck
Hawk Hot Lap: #16 Christian Franck, 1:41.731 (79.197 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #28 Eric Foss, 1:41.184 (79.625 mph)
Cautions: One caution for three laps
Notes:
#19 Disqualified, Underweight
#00 2 position penalty - Pass Under yellow
#06 3 Position penalty, 2 race probation - Avoidable contact
#24 2 Position penalty - Pass Under yellow
#29 3 Position penalty - Avoidable contact
#59 3 position penalty - Avoidable contact

Final SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Point Standings
Pos., Driver, Points (Wins)
1, Eric Foss, 462 (2)
2, Todd Buras, 406
3, Robert Huffmaster, 399 (2)
4, Ryan Schimsk, 379 (1)
5, Ara Malkhassian, 371
6, Brad Rampelberg, 329 (2)
7, Christian Franck, 273 (1)
8, Robert Michaelian, 267
9, Randy Hale III, 228
10, Harrison Williams, 228
Note: Tie for ninth broken by highest race finish

Harris Wins First F Production National Championship

2008-10-14T16:13:50Z

TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 12, 2008) - Runoffs Rookie Rick Harris, of Derby, Kan., held off a hard-charging Steve Sargis, of Frankfort, Ill., by 0.483-second to capture his first F Production National Championship at the 45th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Heartland Park Topeka. Joe Walker, of Richland, Mich., finished third.

Attached image: F Production National Champion Rick Harris.
Credit: Al Craighead

]]>
"Going through Turns One, Two and Three, I got hit three times on the right side," Harris said. "Of course that is a little unsettling. But, I was in the middle of the race. I just held it together. I got a lot of counsel throughout the week on how I should do this race. I was just patient.

"I knew I was back in fourth place at that point. It took about two laps for me to be on Brian's [Linn] back wheel and he spun in front of me. Then I caught up to Eric [Prill] and were 'freight training' for a while. Then Eric had a problem with his car. I think the suspension broke on his car. I really did not know if I could run down Steve. I got up close to him and then he spun in 14. I did a hard brake check and went around him. With two laps to go, Steve got down inside of me going into one. I left him enough room, but it was the last lap and I was not going to give it to him. I probably pinched him a bit coming out of two and then just held on."

When Sargis spun on lap 11, he dropped to third. Undaunted by his spin, Sargis put his head down and passed Walker in the No. 5 Walker Racing Lotus Super 7 two laps later. At this point, Sargis was in second and was more than seven seconds behind race leader Harris. Over the final four laps, Sargis cut the lead down to under a second and even tried to take the race lead on the final lap. But, in the end, Harris proved to be too much for Sargis.

Walker did not get off to a good start. He dropped two positions at the start. But, much like Harris, he also benefitted from race attrition and moved up to third when Prill went out.

Mark Carpenter, of Burlington, Conn., finished fourth in the No. 38 Ream GGS Racing/Goodyear Acura Integra. Peter Morton, of Milford, Mich., put on an impressive drive. He started 10th in the No. 4 Creative Threads/Goodyear/DME Lotus Super 7 and finished fifth. Mike Halbrook, of Coppell, Texas, was the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing nine positions throughout the race.

The F Production race will air at noon (EST) Wednesday, Feb. 4 on SPEED.

The SCCA National Championship Runoffs® The Pinnacle of American Motorsports, will crown Sports Car Club of America's Club Racing National Champions for the 45th-consecutive year in 2008. The best amateur drivers from across North America will compete on Heartland Park Topeka's 2.5-mile road course in what is considered the "Olympics" of motorsports. This year's event began with four days of qualifying, Oct. 6-9, and is now concluding three days of National Championship racing, Oct. 10-12. Live timing, lap notes, results and photos are all available at www.scca.com/runoffs .

TOPEKA, Kan. - Provisional results from Sunday's F Production National Championship race, part of the 45th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Heartland Park Topeka with position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (2), Rick Harris, Derby, KS, Mazda Miata , 18.

2, (3), Steve Sargis, Frankfort, IL, Triumph Spitfire , 18.

3, (4), Joe Walker, Richland, MI, Lotus Super 7 , 18.

4, (6), Mark Carpenter, Burlington, CT, Acura Integra , 18.

5, (10), Peter Morton, Milford, MI, Lotus Super 7 , 18.

6, (9), Kent M Prather, Wakarusa, KS, MG A , 18.

7, (12), Gerald L Lamb, Oswego, IL, MG B , 18.

8, (7), F Robert Bramlage, Manhattan, KS, Mazda Miata , 18.

9, (5), Brian Linn, Hermosa Beach, CA, MG Midget , 18.

10, (13), John Walker, Richland, MI, MG B , 18.

11, (19), Mike Halbrook, Coppell, TX, Mazda Miata , 18.

12, (8), Luis Rivera, Angleton, TX, Mazda Miata , 17.

13, (18), Ronald H Davis, Auburn, KS, MG B , 17.

14, (21), Christopher Patrick, Derry, PA, Triumph Spitfire 1500 , 17.

15, (16), Charles W Horton, Hayward, CA, MG Midget , 16.

16, (20), Andrew M Wright, Murfreesboro, TN, Lotus Super 7 , 16.

17, (11), David B Headley, Cortez, CO, MG B , 12.

18, (14), John Steflik, Topeka, KS, Mazda Miata , 11.

DNF, (1), Eric Prill, Topeka, KS, Lotus Super 7 , 8.

DNF, (15), Charles R Udell, Chesterfield, MO, Mazda Miata , 6.

DNF, (17), Mark Weber, Saint Louis, MO, Austin-Healey Sprite , 5.

Time of Race: 32 minutes, 32.041 seconds

Margin of Victory: 0.435-second

Winner's average speed: 82.990 mph

Fastest race lap: Steve Sargis, 1:45.263, Record

Lap leaders: Laps 1-3, Eric Prill; laps 4-10, Steve Sargis; laps 11-18, Rick Harris

Sunoco Hard Charger: Mike Halbrook

MAZDA ANNOUNCES 2008 MX-5 CUP SHOOTOUT DETAILS

2008-10-13T17:16:58Z

-- Skip Barber and NASA Teen Champions Now Eligible to Win Shootout --

October 9, 2008 (Irvine, Calif.). The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder is proving to be the springboard for many aspiring racers to advance - just ask Raphael Matos and Jason Saini where they would be today without Mazda.

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. Over the past two years, Mazda has directly assisted club racers with the leap to the professional ranks.

]]> •   In 2007 Brad Rampelberg won the SCCA Runoffs in Spec Miata and he is currently chasing the 2008 Playboy MX-5 Cup having scored a win in only his third-ever pro race, and followed it up with a second win at the Miller Motorsports Park. Brad is currently sixth in points with one race to go.

The original MX-5 Cup shootout in late 2006 was open only to SCCA club racing champions. NASA was added to the mix for 2007, and for 2008, Mazda partner Skip Barber and a pair of NASA teen champions join the competition being eligible to compete.

The competition measures all aspects of a driver:
•   Fast lap times
•   Consistency
•   Technical feedback and knowledge
•   The ability to write a winning sponsorship proposal/business plan
•   PR and media skills

For 2008, the competition will be held in two stages with a preliminary written portion to select the finalists for the on-track session.

The Prize:   A factory supported ride in the 2009 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup

Value:       $50,000+

Eligible Racers: Anyone driving a Mazda or Mazda powered racecar to a championship within:

The 2008 SCCA National Runoffs

Winners to be crowned October 11-13 in Topeka, Kansas - With strong fields in both Spec Miata and Formula Mazda among the 100+ Mazda entries in the 25 classes, there will be at least two Mazda powered champions.

The 2008 NASA National Championships. Two championships were won with Mazda power

Todd Lamb - Spec Miata
Scott Shelton - Performance Touring D

The 2008 Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Cup series

Justin Pushitell

The NASA Spec Miata Teen Driving Champions

East - Dean Copeland
West - Two remaining races - season ends in October

It is anticipated that approximately eight to ten racers will be eligible for stage 1

The Competition:
Stage 1   -- Written sponsorship proposals/business plans will be judged. The purpose is to demonstrate to the judges that the racer has the business skills required to manage and grow a career beyond their one year MAZDASPEED sponsorship. The judges will select three to six drivers to progress to stage 2. The deadline for the eligible racers to submit their electronic PDF proposals is October 27th. The stage 2 finalists will be announced in early November.

Stage 2   -- Driving and technical exercises at Buttonwillow Raceway in California are scheduled for Tuesday, December 9.

Exclusions: Racers are eligible to compete in as many shootouts as they qualify for, but cannot return after winning a shootout, thus past shootout winners Andrew Caddell and Brad Rampelberg are not eligible for 2008. 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.

About Mazda:
Mazda is the brand of choice for road-racers across North America. More than 9,000 grassroots racers compete in various classes with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). Racers who are years away from earning a driver's license can now begin their professional motorsports careers in the Mazda family. A driver can begin in karts and progress through the Skip Barber series, Club Racing Formula Mazda, professional Star Mazda and finally to Formula Atlantic, all with Mazda. No other car company has ever connected the dots this way.

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, 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 1,500 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, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations 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, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

About 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 Kumho tires, MX-5 Cup gives drivers the opportunity to run on high-profile weekends in an economical, entry-level racing series. The 2008 MX-5 Cup schedule features eight races at prestigious events across North America, and with grids composed of roughly 30 cars at each race, MX-5 Cup has become one of the best shows in motorsports today. The season champion is awarded a factory supported Mazda ride in the series above. 2007 MX-5 Cup Champion Jason Saini is racing a MAZDA6 in the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship. Visit www.mx-5cup.com to learn more.

McClughan wins first Showroom Stock C National Championship

2008-10-11T15:27:22Z

TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 11, 2008) - Chicago Region SCCA Triple Crown® winner Joe McClughan, of New Braunfels, Texas, won a well-fought battle with two-time Runoffs Champion Joel Lipperini, of Pittston, Pa., to win his first Showroom Stock C National Championship at the 45th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Heartland Park Topeka. Lipperini finished second and Bill Hagerty, of Escondido, Calif., finished third.

Attached image: Showroom Stock C National Champion Joe McClughan.
Credit: Mark Weber

]]> MAZDASPEED/Hoosier Tires/mr/MREe Mazda 3s and led the first two laps until Lipperini passed McClughan in Turn Three for the lead. From there, McClughan spent the next 14 laps glued to the back of Lipperini's No. 81 RaceLabz.com/Hankook/RaceShopper Honda Civic Si.

After going through several turns side-to-side on lap 15, McClughan finally made a gutsy move in Turn Eight, passing Lipperini for the race lead. Undaunted, Lipperini made one last attempt in Turn Nine to retake the lead, but did not have enough. McClughan won by 8.434-seconds.

"I knew Joel was running out of tires, because I was able to chase him down," McClughan said. "My Hoosiers had come in and were perfect. The car came right back to me where I wanted it. The lap before Joel feigned me on the right and I went outside on the left going through Turn Eight. Then, the next lap, I realized that if I could get inside of him going out of that last one, then it was going to change. I had a little more speed through there than he did.

"It was incredibly close, side-by-side racing. It's like Joel said, if it's with someone you trust, with someone you've run with before, it's not an issue. You know what's going to happen. You never turn your back on Joel Lipperini. Never. He will chase you down even with no tires on the car. I was driving as hard as I could the last two laps.

"'Wow' is all I can say. The Triple Crown is incredible, but to win the National Championship [that's great]. I've been wanting to do this since I was eight years-old. My dad finished second in D Sports Racer at Road Atlanta in 1972 and I've been trying to do this for him ever since, so this one's for my dad."

"When you trust the person next to you, you can run side-by-side," Lipperini said of McClughan's pass on him. "A little bit of banging here and there is all a part of racing. I knew he wasn't going to take me out and I certainly wasn't going to take him out. It was just good, hard racing."

Hagerty, driver of the No. 7 Hoosier Phoenix Performance Chevrolet Cobalt SS Coupe, challenged for the lead early in the race. In fact, he was within striking distance if McClughan and Lipperini had taken each other out. Unfortunately, halfway through the race, the race leaders put a considerable distance between themselves and Hagerty and he finished third.

"I was waiting for [Lipperini and McClughan] to hit each other and maybe take each other out," Hagerty said. "They out-qualified me and I think they had stronger cars then I did, so I was just biding my time.

"I probably had the best spotter that you could possibly have. John Heinricy was on my earphones. He was on the hill, telling me to bide my time and that they [Lipperini and McClughan] might take each other out. He kept saying 'keep your position, keep your line,' so that's what I was trying to do."

Two-time Runoffs Champion John Saucier, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Ian Stewart, of Orlando, Fla., finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Jeff Jensen, of Monument, Colo., was the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing two positions throughout the race. The Showroom Stock C race will air at 1 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, Dec. 17 on SPEED.

The SCCA National Championship Runoffs® The Pinnacle of American Motorsports, will crown Sports Car Club of America's Club Racing National Champions for the 45th-consecutive year in 2008. The best amateur drivers from across North America will compete on Heartland Park Topeka's 2.5-mile road course in what is considered the "Olympics" of motorsports. This year's event began with four days of qualifying, Oct. 6-9, and has now commenced three days of National Championship racing, Oct. 10-12. Live timing, lap notes, results and photos are all available at www.scca.com/runoffs .

1, (1), Joseph F McClughan, New Braunfels, TX, Mazda 3s VW, 18.

2, (2), Joel Lipperini, Pittston, PA, Honda Civic Si VW, 18.

3, (4), William Hagerty, Escondido, CA, Chevrolet Cobalt SS Coupe VW, 18.

4, (6), John R Saucier, Oklahoma City, OK, Mazda 3s VW, 18.

5, (7), Ian Stewart, Orlando, FL, Honda Civic Si VW, 18.

6, (3), Mark McCaughey, Sarasota, FL, Toyota Celica GT VW, 18.

7, (9), Larry Dulude, Litchfield, CT, Mazda 3s VW, 18.

8, (10), Samuel M Ryan, White Haven, PA, Honda Civic Si VW, 18.

9, (11), Brian Husting, Irvine, CA, Honda Civic Si VW, 18.

10, (12), Jeff Jensen, Monument, CO, Mazda 3s VW, 18.

11, (8), James F Place, San Antonio, TX, Chevrolet Cobalt SS Coupe VW, 18.

12, (15), Brian Bogert, Schnecksville, PA, Chrysler Neon ACR SOHC VW, 18.

13, (16), Steven Christopher, Olathe, KS, Honda Civic Si VW, 17.

14, (17), John Zabriski, Plains, PA, Chrysler Neon ACR SOHC VW, 17.

15, (14), Bill Seifert, Pleasant View, TN, Honda Civic Si VW, 17.

16, (13), Richard Clarke, Austin, TX, Mazda 3s VW, 16.

17, (5), Ali Naimi, Morgan Hill, CA, Mazda 3s VW, 14.

DNF, (11), Brian K Lindstrand, Lake Villa, IL, Prince LSR '05 Yamaha, 3.

Time of Race: 35 minutes, 35 minutes, 15.212 seconds

Margin of Victory: 8.434 seconds

Winner's average speed: 76.588 mph

Fastest race lap: #81 Lipperini; 1:56.103

Lap leaders: Laps 1 - 2, #36 McClughan; Laps 3 - 14 #81 Lipperini; Laps 15 - 18, #36 McClughan

Sunoco Hard Charger: #40 Jeff Jensen