FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spec MX-5 Challenge Announces New Options, Same Super-Tight Competition for 2019
Expanded Geographical Coverage Plus Opportunities to Own Cars and Participate in Single Events
Austin, TX – December 5, 2018 – Spec MX-5 Challenge announced today that with the 2019 season the series will expand its geographic coverage to cover key pro tracks in the west and north central. The Challenge will again consist of two regular season series; in 2019 one series will be in the West and the other in the East, with a combined invitational national championship event in November.
Based around the NC-generation Mazda Spec MX-5 race car, the series debuted in 2018 with 18 drivers competing for over $100,000. “Many of our 2018 events had the top cars finishing within a few tenths of a second at the checkered flag. Our drivers in 2018 frequently commented that they were thrilled with that close racing, along with clean competition,” said Tom Martin, one of the directors of the Spec MX-5 Challenge Series. “Our 22 races in 2018 saw nine different drivers stand on the top step of the podium, which we think is indicative of the high quality of the drivers who ran the series. With the enhancements we are making for 2019, we think even more top-notch drivers will want to join us,” he observed.
Expansion To West Coast, New Tracks
The Spec MX-5 Challenge series plans to enhance this level of racing by expanding its geographic coverage. “We are very pleased with the diversity of tracks covered in our 2019 schedule, and we are confident these additional epic tracks will only enhance the reputation the series is earning for great competition and providing useful exposure for drivers interested in an on-going pro career,” said Todd Lamb, series director.
In 2018, the series held events at tracks located mainly in the Southeast and Central portion of the United States. To expand the series’ geographical footprint in 2019, the Spec MX-5 Challenge will add tracks on the West Coast, as well as in the Mountain West and North Central.
The West regular season will consist of 10 races organized into 5 events:
- Circuit of The Americas, May 4-5, NASA
- Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, June 1-2, SCCA
- Sonoma Raceway, June 15-16, NASA
- Road America, August 17-18, SCCA
- Utah Motorsports Campus, October 5-6, NASA
The East regular season will also consist of 10 races organized into 5 events:
- VIRginia International Raceway, March 9-10, SCCA
- Watkins Glen International, July 6-7, SCCA
- Road Atlanta, July 27-28, SCCA
- Sebring, Aug 31-Sept 2, SCCA
- TBD
Regular season drivers will qualify for invitations to the Spec MX-5 Challenge Championship based on points scored in regular season races. The combined East/West championship event will be held November 2-3 at Road Atlanta.
New Service Packages
As in 2018, the Spec MX-5 Challenge will offer a full arrive & drive package to racers including a race car, transport, prep, setup, mechanical repair, tires, fuel, fluids, mechanical services and entry fees. The cost of these services for the regular season will be $45,000. “Drivers in 2018 appreciated that by having the series take care of pretty much everything, they could concentrate on developing their skills as drivers,” said Lamb.
The Spec MX-5 Challenge Series will also offer new service packages for 2019, starting at $15,000 for the season. Drivers will be able to own their cars, for example, in addition to being able to rent from the fleet of cars owned by the series.
Long-term Vision For Cars
The series has worked extensively with Mazda and other partners to develop a multi-year specification for Spec MX-5 cars that is compatible with key SCCA and NASA classes. New cars for 2019 are now being built for specific drivers. Detailed specifications and pricing of new cars are available from the series.
The Challenge will also provide a way for drivers who have compatible cars (e.g., SCCA T4 Mazda MX-5s) to participate on a single-event basis. For more information consult the series FAQ.
Increased Prizes
The series will again offer more than $100,000 in prize money, with support from Yokohama Tire, Mazda and PAGID Racing. The goal is to help drivers continue their racing careers in Mazda-based series such as the Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup sponsored by BFGoodrich, among others. In addition to supporting the year-end $100K scholarship fund, Mazda will offer per-race contingency money for customer-owned NC Miatas that meet the requirements of Spec MX-5 Challenge. Mazda’s contingency awards will be announced within in the coming weeks.
About Spec MX-5 Challenge
The Spec MX-5 Challenge Series is a new sports car racing option run in events sanctioned by the SCCA and NASA. The series runs specially prepared Mazda MX-5 race cars to create tight, challenging competition for semi-professional and aspiring professional drivers.
For more information on Spec MX-5 Challenge, visit:
To contact the series directly with questions:
East Series
West Series
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