Mazda Renews MX-5 Cup Sanctioning Agreement with SCCA Pro

TOPEKA, Kan. (Sept. 10, 2008) €“ Following the successful launch and three-straight years of growth with the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, Mazda North American Operations and SCCA Pro Racing have finalized an agreement to continue sanctioning services of the series through 2011.SCCA Pro Racing€™s relationship with Mazda€™s spec series based around the iconic Miata convertible began in 2002, when SCCA Pro Racing sanctioned seven stand-alone Miata Cup events. The affiliation continued as the Miata Cup developed into a full-fledged championship series from 2003 to 2005 and was reinvented once again in 2006 as the MX-5 Cup with the new MX-5 Miata and a single-championship format. €œWe are very proud to continue our strong partnership with Mazda and the MX-5 Cup program,€ SCCA Pro Racing President and CEO Robert Wildberger said. €œWe€™ve demonstrated that we operate this highly competitive series fairly and efficiently. Our talented staff cannot be given enough credit for that. The Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup program is an important part of the SCCA Pro Racing portfolio and will contribute to our company€™s continued growth in the industry.€In its first three seasons, MX-5 Cup has flourished. The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder has successfully bridged the gap from SCCA Club Racing to SCCA Pro Racing by selecting talented Club racers to promote to MX-5 Cup and awarding the MX-5 Cup Champion with an SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring Car ride. Additionally, Mazda€™s recent partnership with Playboy Enterprises has produced exciting new promotional and broadcast opportunities. €œIn just three years, MX-5 Cup has established itself as one of the best talent showcases in all of sports car racing €“ the success of Jim Daniels and Jason Saini in the SPEED World Challenge and Andrew Caddell in the Miller Mustang series being solid proof,€ Mazda North American Operations Alternative Marketing Manager Jim Jordan said. €œOur first MX-5 Cup race of 2008 saw a series-record grid size of 31 cars, and given the excellent partnership with Playboy and our one-hour per race TV broadcasts, we have a great future for the series. We€™re pleased that we are able to extend our relationship with SCCA Pro Racing for another three years.€There are currently three rounds remaining in the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. Round Six of the eight-race series will take place Sept. 19 €“ 20, at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Round Seven follows, Sept. 26 €“ 28, at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J. The 2008 season finale will take place where MX-5 Cup was born, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Oct. 17 €“ 19. All 2008 MX-5 Cup races are aired on select DirecTV, Dish Network and regional cable stations in a one-hour, tape delayed format. All races are also posted on the MX-5 Cup YouTube channel following their TV debut and can be found at www.youtube.com/mazdamx5cup.