Spec MX-5 Challenge headed to legendary Road America this weekend for a National Option and North Region crossover event, showcasing a seventeen-car field with two incredibly thrilling races. Known as “America’s National Park of Speed”, Road America is one of the fastest permanent road racing circuits in the world, and is located on 640 natural acres of rolling hills in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine, being largely unchanged since it first held a race in 1955.
The sun shined all weekend, providing beautiful weather for spectators.
Mazda Motorsports rookie Nate Cicero was on pole for both races, capturing his first win in the series on Saturday after a thrilling battle until the checkered flag waved. Both Alex Bertagnoli & Alexander Searle stormed through from the mid-field to claim 2nd & 3rd place respectively. Sunday’s race brought more tight racing and countless lead changes, with JJ Hansen prevailing for victory under yellow after Cicero was involved in an incident with a Spec Miata driver. Two South Region drivers decided to take advantage of racing at the legendary track would also finish on the podium, seeing Grant West & Jarret Jones excel both days and pick up valuable points during the competitive race weekend.
In two weeks, all four of our regions will be on track in two separate events simultaneously: the National Option heads to Laguna Seca to join the West Region, and the North & South Regions will battle-it-out at Road Atlanta, from July 22nd-24th.
Nate Cicero crossing the finish line, winning the first race of the weekend.Advanced Autosports fielded numerous cars at Road America, setting pole and winning race one with Nate Cicero.Flatout Motorsports brought three cars to the race.This weekend’s hardware.Michael Borden’s Spec MX-5 is a Series favorite for livery design!Flatout boys on the grid for qualifying.The Series Manager was lucky enough to hitch a rid back to the paddock with newcomer Jason Pribyl.Bob & Jake from Advanced fill ‘er up.Michael Borden giving Westin Workman some pre-race coaching.Behind the C6 Pace Car for Saturday’s race. Image courtesy of Austin Boynton.Pace lap behind the scenes.Saturday’s podium finishers: Alex Bertagnoli, Nate Cicero, and Alexander Searle.Formidable Racing’s crew fine-tuning the alignment before Sunday’s race.Aspiring drivers watching Formula 1 before Sunday’s race.Talking shop.Thomas Annunziata going over data before the race.Opening lap of Sunday’s race. Turn 1 provides excellent viewing opportunities (as does the entire beautiful track!).Tight racing through Turn 6.Nate Cicero and Michael Borden keep it close on the front straight.Race 2 podium finishers; Grant West, JJ Hansen, and Jarrett Jones.Sunday’s race winner, JJ Hansen, with his father and his Advanced Autosports car.
