AUSTIN, January 14, 2022 – 2022 is proving to be Spec MX-5 Challenge presented by Toyo Tires’ most exciting year. New racers, tracks and shops all set the scene for a competitive 15 race season. In that spirit, Spec MX-5 Challenge announce the addition of Alex Bertagnoli in 2022. Bertagnoli will join the team at Advanced Autosports for a full seven race season, bringing 14 years of karting experience and four national championships to the field.
“I am going to do everything I can to make the championship happen,” Bertagnoli reflects. “I am doing everything possible to mentally prepare for the season. My confidence is higher than it has ever been, I am super excited.”
Bertagnoli’s love for racing started at five. His father, a former Superbike racer, brought him to Mid Michigan Raceway Park and offered him a day of karting. In a moment, Bertagnoli was hooked. From there, hobby turned to obsession. Bertagnoli was fast and wanted to compete. Eventually, he began karting at the Regional and National levels finding great success.
After applying and competing in the 2020 Mazda Shootout, Bertagnoli began to connect with different members of the Spec MX-5 Challenge community, learning he had a knack for the cars. In 2021, that knack came to fruition as he competed in three SMX event weekends with Advanced. Following four top-tens and two wins it became clear that a full run in 2022 would be possible
“They [the Advanced Autosports team] have similar personalities to me, making for such an easy transition to Spec MX-5 Challenge and I wouldn’t want to run with anyone else.” Bertagnoli.
Apart from his goal of the championship, Bertagnoli hopes that a successful run in 2022 brings him closer to reaching Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup and the top-levels of motorsport. To prepare for the season, Bertagnoli spends his days training on the simulator, while coaching up-and-coming karters and viewing countless in-car videos help him learn race-craft. With his racing career, Bertagnoli balances a full course load as a college Sophomore, often thinking of his first days at Mid Michigan Raceway Park as a constant reminder to why he works so hard.
Expect to see Bertagnoli competing in both the National and Regional option for the 2022 Spec MX-5 Challenge season.
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Spec MX-5 Challenge: Is THE Driver Development Series for amateur racing. The third generation MX-5., coming just after the Spec Miata and prior to the MX-5 Cup cars, Spec MX-5 Challenge offers a variety of competitions to appeal to diverse needs and to support driver development from karters to novices to masters to pros. Spec MX-5 Challenge also offers a National Championship with $65,000 in prize money.
Alex’s grandfather and grandmother are very proud of his success. Go Alex. Love you. Grammy and Poppy