Sebastian Landy got his racing start in karting, developed his skills in Spec Miata, became known in the Mazda MX-5 Cup, and now has progressed to the Audi Sport TT Cup. Landy, only 19 years old, is a full-time student at Babson College. He says, “my professors have been incredibly supportive trying to accommodate my absences and the impact they have on my studies but it certainly isn’t the ideal situation. It’s an added challenge that I have to work around in order to pursue a career in racing while also focusing on a college education.”
Running in the SCCA Pro Racing Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires over three seasons, Landy finished third in the season-ending standings of the highly-competitive race series in 2014. In that time, Landy compiled a record of eight podium finishes and 15 top-five finishes.
The TT Cup series has completed four races with eight remaining in the 2015 season. Sebastian is competing against drivers from all over the world, with the majority hailing from Europe.
When asked what he would suggest for young people dreaming of racing, he simple says, “Join the SCCA.” He goes on to say, “for me personally, joining the SCCA was a great way to get involved in motorsport for the first time. Your local SCCA Region can give you access to racetracks where you can get into the racing world and allow you to talk to people who will help you understand what it takes to actually get behind the wheel of a racing car.”
From the members and staff of SCCA, good luck Sebastian!
For the complete interview, visit Forbes.com
Here at the SCCA Track Night in America clubhouse, we get a lot of questions. For the record, we staunchly believe there are no dumb questions. So for driving enthusiasts asking if they should use their cars for autocross or a track event, our answer is: “That’s a stupid question!” (NOTE: Never said there weren’t stupid questions.)
Autocross “OR” take your car to the track? What kind of a question is that!? Do you choose between BBQ ribs “or” BBQ brisket? No, you get both. Potato salad “or” coleslaw? C’mon, man … BOTH! Can I get some cake and eat it too? Heck yeah you can! In America, we don’t pick this “or” that. We do it all, dangnabbit! And that goes double for driving adventures!
Don’t believe us? Perhaps Mindi, a talented 42-year-old with two SCCA National Solo Championships, would be more convincing. She recently participated in an SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack event. It was her first time on a real racecourse, and she used her autocross chariot which also serves as her mode of everyday transportation.
“I’m a longtime racing fan, and I’ve autocrossed since 1999. But I’d never been on an open track,” Mindi said. “SCCA Track Night in America was the perfect opportunity for me to have an adventure and become a little more comfortable with experiencing higher speeds in my car, which I hope will make me a faster autocrosser.”
“I was apprehensive at first on the track. It was a totally different experience from autocross. But as sessions went on, I figured things out and got a lot more comfortable,” Mindi recounted. “I learned to carry a lot more speed at certain places, and found where I could brake later for corners. I’d never been comfortable ‘catching’ a car at speed. So for me, SCCA Track Night in America was a great opportunity to practice my car control. Plus, it was a blast; just really, really fun.”
Autocrosses happen on weekends. SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack events take place on weekdays at nearly 20 race circuits across the country each month. No need to pick autocross “or” track time. You can do both in the same week! That’s America! … and SCCA Track Night in America.
