Mazda Raceway to Host First-Ever Mazda MX-5 Cup Global Invitational

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- Twenty international Mazda racers seek to be crowned Global Champion -

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Aug 03, 2016, 08:00 ET

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda has announced details for the inaugural Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Invitational where racers from Europe, Asia and North America will compete against one another at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California. This event is a non-points, invitation-only race, outside of the U.S.-only 2016 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. The invitational races will be held September 9-11, 2016 as part of a Mazda-exclusive weekend that features both the Mazda Road to Indy and the Mazda Road to 24.

Mazda Raceway to Host First-Ever Mazda MX-5 Cup Global Invitational.

John Doonan, director of motorsports, Mazda North American Operations, said, "When we launched the 2016 car and series, we included 'Global' for a reason. Mazda affiliates and racers from abroad have wanted to get involved in what had previously been North American exclusive. We can't wait to have our overseas friends join us at our home track for what we hope will be the first of many such events in the years to come. Combining the weekend with our Mazda Road to Indy and Mazda Road to 24 championships means that we'll likely have more than 100 Mazda-powered race cars on one weekend. With all cars being as identical as possible, it's a perfect showcase for racers to prove that no matter if you are on the highway, or on the track, driving matters."

What:	2016 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Invitational
When:	Friday, September 9th – Sunday, September 11th
Where:	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
Who:	Approximately 20 MX-5 Cup racers from around the world. The complete entry list will be announced at a later date but will include racers from the U.S.A., Europe, and Asia.
Why:	To showcase the talents of Mazda sports car racers and the all-new Mazda MX-5 Cup race car
How:	Two 45-minute races will be run. The racer scoring the most points between the two races will be crowned the champion.
The Prize:	The winner of the Invitational will be sent to Mazda Motorsports partner Multimatic to train on the "Driver in the Loop" (DIL) simulator. Upon a successful simulation performance, he or she could advance to a one-day test in the Mazda Prototype that competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series.
Tickets:	To attend in person: http://www.mazdaraceway.com/events.
Broadcast:	The Sunday race will be broadcast live on www.MazdaLive.com and will include commentary from the Radio Le Mans team.

About the MX-5 Cup
The Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires is the signature spec series for the Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24), the sports car counterpart to the Mazda Road to Indy (#MRTI). On both paths, Mazda-powered champions earn a Mazda scholarship to advance their career. The MX-5 Cup champion earns a $200,000 scholarship.

The 2016 season features the all-new fourth generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. For the first time, Mazda has commissioned complete turnkey race cars, with the goal that all cars are as close to identical as possible, ensuring the best drivers rise to the top. Over 80 of the $53,000 race cars have been delivered to date. Information on the car is online at www.mazdamotorsports.com.

About 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 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. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. 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.

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations