After an all-day evaluation of four young drivers at the Bondurant Main Track at Wild Horse Motorsports Park in Phoenix, Arizona, 18-year-old Michael Carter from Savannah, Georgia was selected as the winner of the 2018 Mazda Road to 24 Shootout.
With the $100,000 Mazda Motorsports scholarship awarded to Carter, he will compete in the 2019 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich. Carter, a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, took part in the Shootout along with Matthew Dirks, Hannah Grisham and Loni Unser.
“What a journey this has been,” said Carter. “The reason I started racing a Mazda was because of the Mazda Road to 24 Shootout. It was our one single goal all along and to finally accomplish that is surreal. The process begins next week of getting ready for next season, for the series test at Barber, and to put together a good season in the Global MX-5 Cup.”
To earn his invitation to the Mazda Road to 24 Shootout, Carter put together an impressive 2018 season in SCCA racing as he finished second in the SCCA Hoosier Super Tour Points Championship, won the Spec Miata Challenge and won in Spec Miata at the American Road Race of Champions.
“Each year, it is exciting to see the next batch of talent that is in the pipeline,” said John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports. “I heard something from Michael and his father that really hit a chord with me which was that they built a Spec Miata with the sole purpose of going up the Mazda Road to 24 ladder. That really speaks to the challenger spirit at Mazda, to why we have the Shootout, and to the family that we have at Mazda. Michael is the driver today who walks away with the scholarship, but we had four families come together here who have all gone racing together. For all of us at Mazda, it’s very rewarding to give these families a chance to go racing together. We look forward to watching Michael take the next step in his career in next season’s Global MX-5 Cup.”
Mazda Motorsports
Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24) 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. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.
Mazda North American Operations
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.
The 2019 Tire Rack SCCA® ProSolo® schedule has been altered due to an unexpected site restriction. The ProSolo series will still consist of 10 events. However, the opening Ft. Myers date has been dropped, and a new event in April has been added in Grenada, Mississippi.
ProSolo’s 2019 season now begins out west at Crows Landing in California — the largest concrete Solo site on the West Coast. The second ProSolo event then takes place just outside Los Angeles at Auto Club Speedway, a venue that features challenging elevation changes and on/off camber turns. And as usual, fantastic welcome parties are anticipated at both West Coast events. Then it’s back east for the Tire Rack Grenada ProSolo at Grenada Municipal Airport in April.
Three ProSolo events are planned in May, with the first taking place at MetLife Stadium with Manhattan’s skyline as a backdrop. Then it’s off to the Tire Rack Spring Nationals ProSolo in Lincoln, Nebraska, which is a “must run” event for those chasing a ProSolo series championship. Action then concludes in May with the Tire Rack Texas ProSolo that grows year after year, perhaps partially due to the magnificent hospitality and big BBQ gathering.
The series’ seventh round will be the Tire Rack Peru ProSolo in Indiana. This concrete site replaces Toledo Express Airport which is currently unavailable. However, if the Toledo site becomes available by mid-April, the event will likely relocate to Ohio.
June closes out at Arkansas Aeroplex with the Tire Rack Blytheville ProSolo, an event known for large, brisk courses on concrete that truly challenges drivers and delivers a heapin’-helpin’ of Southern hospitality. The series then switches back to the west again for the 13th Tire Rack Packwood ProSolo in Washington, one of the most picturesque locations on the ProSolo calendar — and features covered paddock spaces!
August opens in Oscoda, Michigan on a patch of concrete just a few miles from Lake Huron. It’s a great spot to end the regular season before it’s back to Lincoln, Nebraska for the Tire Rack ProSolo Finale at what many consider to be the best concrete site in the country.
The schedule is subject to change, but the complete 2019 Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo calendar rundown is as follows:
– March 29-31: Tire Rack Crows Landing ProSolo; Crows Landing, California
NASA Crows Landing Airport
– April 5-7: Tire Rack Fontana ProSolo; Fontana, California
Auto Club Speedway
– April 12-14: Tire Rack Grenada ProSolo; Grenada, Mississippi
Grenada Municipal Airport
– May 3-5: Tire Rack New Jersey ProSolo; East Rutherford, New Jersey
MetLife Stadium
– May 23-25: Tire Rack Spring Nationals ProSolo; Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln Airpark
– May 31-June 2: Tire Rack Texas ProSolo; Mineral Wells, Texas
Mineral Wells Airport
– June 14-16: Tire Rack Peru ProSolo; Peru, Indiana
Grissom Aeroplex
– June 28-30: Tire Rack Blytheville ProSolo; Gosnell, Arkansas
Arkansas Aeroplex
– July 19-21: Tire Rack Packwood ProSolo; Packwood, Washington
Former Hampton Lumber Mills Packwood
– August 2-4: Tire Rack Oscoda ProSolo; Oscoda Township, Michigan
Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport
– August 30-September 1: Tire Rack ProSolo Finale; Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln Airpark
During ProSolo events, drivers face off, side-by-side, at a “Christmas Tree” start before launching down a straightaway and into mirror image autocross courses. Three heats of class competition give drivers 12 total runs, six on each course. Like other Solo competitions, runs are timed to 1/1000th of a second and knocking a cone down means a two-second penalty added to a time.
Opening runs determine class rankings and set the qualifying order for the second part of the event which determines the overall winner. Top qualifiers enter single-elimination brackets and conduct runoffs until only one driver remains; The Top Eliminator. Additionally, the Ladies Challenge pits top female qualifiers against one another, while the Super Challenge features the top 32 Open Class competitors in a winner-take-all battle. There is even a Bonus Challenge where randomly selected, non-qualifying drivers can compete for prizes and bragging rights.
Competitors earn class and Challenge points throughout the season that count toward the Overall Ladies and Open ProSolo Championships. Class National Championships and Overall ProSolo Championships are determined by combining regular season points with points earned at the ProSolo Finale in Lincoln, Nebraska.
For additional information on Tire Rack SCCA Solo, visit http://www.scca.com/solo.
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 7, 2018)- The momentum of the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda and F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda season continued with the announcement of the 2019 schedule at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show Friday in Indianapolis. The Championships’ powerhouse-schedules include supporting premier series like the IndyCar Series, NASCAR Xfinity and Formula 1.
The Championships’ new race director was also announced as eleven-time Indianapolis 500 starter and former ABC color commentator Scott Goodyear.
“We are very excited to kick off our 2019 season with, not only some stellar venues and events, but also to have Scott join our team,” said Sydney Davis-Yagel, SCCA Pro Racing Senior Manager of Race Operations. “Scott will be a real asset in race control and in the paddock. We are looking forward to working to expand the F4 U.S. and F3 Americas Championships in 2019 and beyond.”
Complete with the only North American application of the Halo safety device, a bump in performance to 303 horsepower from the Honda Civic Type R engine and new Hankook slicks developed specifically for the championship, F3 Americas opens its 2019 season at Barber Motorsports Park as the support race to the IndyCar Series during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama April 5-7.
The tight turns and intense elevation changes of Road Atlanta will challenge the F4 U.S. field for its season four debut. The entry-level, cost-contained, open-wheel championship joins F3 Americas and Formula Race Promotions for a full weekend of formula racing April 18-20.
Both Championships break from racing in May and return to action June 21-23 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. F4 U.S. and F3 Americas then travel to Virginia International Raceway with Formula Race Promotions July 26-28.
F4 U.S. returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the NASCAR Xfinity Mid-Ohio Challenge Aug. 8-10 before traveling south to Florida with F3 Americas to Sebring International Raceway Sept. 13-15.
The F4 U.S. Championship season concludes at Circuit of the Americas with Formula 1 during the United States Grand Prix Nov. 1-3. The sixth F3 Americas date will be announced at a later date.
During the press conference, Goodyear addressed his key objective for this season: help develop young drivers on and off the track in effort to create more green-flag racing.
“All world-class racers start at the grassroots level to forge a path to the top levels of motorsport,” said Goodyear. “Although some time ago, I can remember my first time I climbed inside the cockpit of a formula car — pure magic. The path today is the same, karts to cars, and the best first step for young racers is the SCCA Pro F4 U.S. and F3 Americas. My son, Michael, went from karts to F4 so I know the value in the series. I’m very excited to blend my time behind the wheel along with years training drivers to guide the young up and coming racers in the F4 and F3 Americas Championships.”
More information on the 2019 schedule and teams can be found at F4USChampionship.com and F3Americas.com.
F3 Americas 2019 Schedule
– April 5-7 Barber Motorsports Park with IndyCar Series
– April 18-20 Road Atlanta with F4 U.S and FRP
– June 21-23 Pittsburgh International Race Complex with F4 U.S.
– July 26-28 Virginia International Raceway with F4 U.S. and FRP
– Sept. 13-15 Sebring International Raceway with F4 U.S.
– Sixth Date TBA
F4 U.S. 2019 Schedule
– April 18-20 Road Atlanta with F3 Americas and FRP
– June 21-23 Pittsburgh International Race Complex with F3 Americas
– July 26-28 Virginia International Raceway with F3 Americas and FRP
– Aug. 8-10 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with NASCAR Xfinity Series and Trans Am
– Sept. 13-15 Sebring International Raceway with F4 U.S.
– Nov. 1-3 Circuit of the Americas with Formula 1
About F3 Americas Championship:
The F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda continues the evolution of affordable, competitive and technologically advanced open wheel racing that was established by the successful Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda that debuted in 2016. This next level of open wheel racing meets the demands of racers and teams looking to grow their capabilities into more sophisticated and powerful machinery. The F3 Americas Championship aligns with the global FIA development ladder philosophy of using common components to provide a cost-efficient, reliable, and powerful racing structure as drivers ascend through the levels on their way to U.S. or global racing success.
About the SCCA Pro Racing F4 U.S. Championship:
FIA F4 is designed as entry-level open-wheel racing for participants, around a contemporary, modern, cost conscious formula. SCCA Pro Racing and its chosen partners that embrace these ideals and support this vision with appropriate technology and products. The selected F4 powerplant is a production-based engine powering the Honda Civic® Type R®, tuned to meet FIA-mandated output of approximately 160 Hp. The engine and the ECU are sealed to provide parity and compliance.
About SCCA Pro Racing:
SCCA Pro Racing is a division of Sports Car Club of America, Inc. — a 60,000-member organization dedicated to motorsports events. SCCA Pro Racing provides full-service organization, operation and sanction for numerous professional racing series like F4 U.S. Championship and Trans Am. SCCA Pro Racing is a voting member of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS) — the FIA delegate for this country.
GRIDLIFE announced today the formation of the North American Time Attack Council (NATA). Making the announcement at this year’s Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, GRIDLIFE joins Global Time Attack and Sports Car Club of America® as the founding members of the NATA Council.
The NATA Council is a leadership committee dedicated to the development, evolution, and success of time-based, competitive motorsport events such as Time Attack and Time Trials. The goal of the Council is the progression of motorsports through the consultation and collaboration of its members in the planning and execution of programs and events. NATA and its member organizations seek to represent the interests of all drivers, from beginner to professional competitor, in order to ensure access, inclusivity, consistency and a high quality driver experience.
Chris Stewart, Founder and Director of GRIDLIFE, made the announcement Friday along with Jason Dienhart, President of Global Time Attack, and Heyward Wagner, SCCA Director of Marketing and Experiential Programs.
“We at GRIDLIFE are excited to bring the thought leaders of Time Attack and Time Trials together, formally, with the NATA Council,” Stewart said. “Our mission at GRIDLIFE has always been to increase sustainability and access to motorsports in ways that benefit the entire industry. Our alignment with NATA highlights those efforts perfectly.”
“Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle USA is extremely excited to officially align with GRIDLIFE and SCCA,” Dienhart said. “The NATA Council gives us the framework to cultivate time attack together. Our combined efforts will prove to be positive for drivers across North America. The future of time attack is bright!”
Wagner said, “SCCA is thrilled to formally align with GRIDLIFE and Global Time Attack. Each represent the best of what the sport can be and the shared commitment to progression and development is inspiring. The NATA not only creates strength between the three, but as the SCCA program is in its infancy, this is an amazing opportunity to learn from the best in the industry.”
The NATA Council has launched a website at “‘http://www.northamericantimeattack.com“‘ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NATACouncil/“‘ where they will post announcements, schedules and any information related to the Council and its members’ activities.
The Sports Car Club of America® (SCCA®) announced Friday that, through a grant from the SCCA Foundation, the Club will continue its support for an outreach program that engages active military and veterans in transformative motorsports experiences.
The program, which is run in partnership with the award-winning non-profit VETMotorsports, will continue to place active military, National Guard, Reserve, Gold Star parents, and veterans with service-connected injuries and their caregivers inside the ropes and behind the wheel at select SCCA events, as well as create mentorship opportunities for them with SCCA members and staff.
The program, which launched in 2017, has already hosted qualifying participants in autocross, road rally and road race pit crew events.
“This has been an outstanding program by every measure,” said Arnie Coleman, SCCA Foundation Executive Committee member. “It’s not only allowed our SCCA family to welcome and give something back to the brave men and women who’ve served our country, but also to engage our regions and members in new outreach efforts. We’re excited to see what more we can do in 2019 and beyond.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the relationship we’ve been able to develop with the SCCA over the last two seasons,” said VETMotorsports Founder and Executive Director Peter Cline. “They’ve put together amazing events and opportunities for our participants, and you can tell how passionate the members are not just about what they’re doing but also about sharing it with others. We’re blessed to work with them and can’t wait for what’s next.”
VETMotorsports is an award-winning, non-profit, non-clinical outreach program that honors and empowers active military, National Guard, Reserve, Gold Star parents, and veterans with service-connected injuries and their caregivers by embedding them with professional racing teams and putting them behind the wheel to race in amateur events. By placing veterans in hands-on, high-stress, team environments that mimic active duty, the organization gives them direction, empowerment and challenges that help them focus on ability and moving forward rather than disability and the past. Since its founding in 2012, VETMotorsports has helped more than 200 participants in over 100 motorcycle and auto racing events across the United States. More information about the organization is available at http://www.VETMotorsports.org.
Founded in 1944, the Sports Car Club of America®, Inc. is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 116 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Chevrolet, the Official Truck of the SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Mobil 1, the Official Oil of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit http://www.scca.com.
Founded in 1986, the SCCA Foundation is the charitable affiliate of the SCCA. As well as providing support to VETmotorsports, the foundation funds programs that save teen driver’s lives, preserve the history of American motorsport, and encourage promote automotive passion. To learn more, please visit http://www.sccafoundation.org.
