The Mazda MX-5 Cup has been described as a “Crazy-Competitive Hidden Gem” and in this week’s Motorsport Series & Track Day News Roundup I bring you the reasons why and the economics of racing in this ultra-competitive series.
In addition to the spec racing of the MX-5 Cup I look at the increasing popularity of single-seater racing in the Middle East, an expanded Grid Life, a tour of a Fun Cup race car, what team is racing where and more.
All this in this week’s edition of the Motorsport Series & Track Day News Roundup on Motorsport Prospects.
Sportscars
The Race looks at North America’s Mazda MX-5 Cup or as they describe it, the US racing scene’s crazy-competitive hidden gem. “We’d love to say about the series [that it is good value], because in comparison to some of the other spec series and any other racing in North America, it really is a very cost-effective programme and platform to get involved in,” Jonathan Applegate, the program manager for Mazda Motorsports adds. “But at the same time, we don’t want that grassroots expectation. We really are trying to elevate the professional profile of the series and get it to a point where people are seeing the schedule, they’re seeing our product, and it’s all defining premium.”
The article really goes in depth on the economics of racing in the series and how it is an excellent springboard to a career as a professional race driver. Well worth the read.
For 2023, Gridlife has expanded its signature automotive festivities to three new tracks in addition to familiar favorites like Midwest Festival and Circuit Legends at Lime Rock Park.
As a way to maximize enjoyment for drivers and spectators alike, the schedule is broken down into a few different types of events:
The schedule is split into “Festival Tour” events, which will feature an elevated fan and spectator experience, GRIDLIFE Touring Cup (GLTC) points rounds, and the popular GRIDLIFE Live broadcast, while the rest of the year’s events fall into the “Club Series” category, designed to enhance the track time, driver community, and paddock experience for competitors.
The six-round Festival Tour schedule features all three of the new facilities on the 2023 GRIDLIFE calendar, and spans the United States from coast to coast in a true national championship for GRIDLIFE Touring Cup and TrackBattle Time Attack. Pending further agreements, fans can expect to see drift at most, if not all, of the Festival Tour events, including the full WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit with decibel restrictions lifted for the weekend.
The Festival Tour will feature the GRIDLIFE Live broadcast at all six events, paired with a focus on the fan experience. Spectators will be able to visit the GRIDLIFE Arcade, a vendor village, and roam the paddock when they’re not trackside watching the action or participating in ride-alongs on track. The Festival Tour season starts in March with a trip to Carolina Motorsports Park (CMP) before heading to Watkins Glen International in Upstate New York. June brings the return of the annual GRIDLIFE Festival at GingerMan Raceway, before a July break and August return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Circuit Legends at Lime Rock Park. The season will come to a close with a new festival, GRIDLIFE Laguna, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in October.
GRIDLIFE’s Club Series calendar focuses on TrackBattle Time Attack, High Performance Driving Environment (HPDE), and the new SuperGrid Endurance series, at some of the staple facilities from past GRIDLIFE schedules. Autobahn Country Club, Heartland Motorsports Park, New Jersey Motorsports Park, GingerMan Raceway, and Willow Springs International Raceway will feature Club Series rounds in 2023. These events are designed to supplement the driver community and retain the paddock vibes that GRIDLIFE strives to build, without the outside pressures of fans, music, and GRIDLIFE Live broadcasts that the Festival Tour events bring.
Click here for all the details at grassroots motorsports.com
Updates have been made to the 2023 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Western Championship schedule, as Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch replaces Utah Motorsports Campus, and dates shift for the Portland International Raceway event. “We’ve made the decision to move the doubleheader to Portland, since that track is a known commodity to competitors, and it allows plenty of prep time before and after the event to account for the extra challenges a doubleheader weekend entails,” said Clagett.
A six-round calendar has been unveiled for the 2023 Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series, including four Supercars events. “We are thrilled to announce the 2023 Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series and we’re proud to have secured a calendar that incorporates a great mix of street circuits and permanent racetracks,” said Aussie Racing Cars CEO Brad Ward.
The 2023 Blue Marble Radical Cup North America series promises to be bigger and better than ever with three INDYCAR events confirmed, and you can save $1,600 by committing to the full season.
Start your season by applying for your license and signing up for the two-day Official Pre-Season test at NOLA, January 28-29. This event is open to all prospective and existing Radical Cup racers, including track day drivers who can apply for a single event license. All sessions will feature timing & scoring, Radical technical staff will be onsite, along with Series officials and scales. Light hospitality will also be provided, including all day drinks and snacks. Then save $1600 by signing up for the season before February 3. You’ll save $250 per event plus the $100 Annual Driver Registration fee to secure your racing number will also be waived.
MPG, previously known as GT Celebration in its first three seasons, now enters the 2023 racing campaign with a strong seven-weekend (plus two testing rounds) schedule which gets underway next month at Apex Motor Club at Maricopa, AZ with the first tests on Feb. 6-7. Rob Morgan, a longtime sports car and truck competitor prior to establishing his new racing series in 2020, earlier announced the expansion of the MPG divisions with the GT Celebration (GT3/GT4 with Yellow, Red and Blue classes), Prototype Celebration (LMP3 and LMPC cars in Prototype and Prototype Lites classes), Cup Celebration (Porsche GT3 Cup with Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze classes) and M2 Celebration (BMW M2 CS Cup).
The two test sessions are as follows:
APEX MOTOR CLUB TEST DAYS
The preseason test at Apex Motor Club on Feb 6-7 is quickly approaching. The event will offer live timing for competitors as well as full safety and track support.
Location: Apex Motor Club, 22408 N Ralston Rd, Maricopa, AZ 85139
Dates: Feb. 6-7
Series Eligible: GT Celebration, Prototype Celebration, Cup Celebration and M2 Celebration
Registration deadline is Jan. 27th.
AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB SPRING TEST
Test opportunities continue at Autobahn Country Club April 1-2. The event will offer live timing for competitors as well as full safety and track support.
Location: Autobahn Country Club, 3795 Centerpoint Way, Joliet, IL 60436
Dates: April 1-2
Series Eligible: GT Celebration, Prototype Celebration, Cup Celebration and M2 Celebration
You can now register for the upcoming tests and races by visiting www.mpg-racing.com. MPG will be releasing more detailed information in the coming weeks regarding rules and regulations for each series.
Single-Seaters
With the upcoming debut of the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, Feeder Series looks at how COVID-19 and European influence created FRMEC from Asian F3. They also look at how the series will launch with a capacity grid. “We didn’t expect to have so many requests.”
The UK’s Monoposto Racing Club have released details on their 2023 Monoposto Membership, Technical Updates and Entries.
The 2023 Monoposto Membership Form is now available and can be found by clicking here. If you have already sent your membership form, you should have received confirmation of receipt by email. If you have not received a confirmation and you posted your form, please let the club know as the post has been very slow and unreliable over the Christmas period.
Please note that 2022 race numbers are only reserved until 31st January so please renew your membership before then if you would like to keep your 2022 race number, after this date they will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.
A reminder of the Technical Updates for 2023 are available here for those who missed the previous emails. The technical regulations for both championships, as well as the entry forms, will be available soon. Please make sure you have renewed your membership in good time to secure your place once entries open.
Miscellaneous Racing Series
The video above is your essential guide and specs for the race car used in the Fun Cup Endurance Championship.
The Tire Rack One Lap of America Presented by Grassroots Motorsports has announced its schedule, and this time it’s a trek through the central and Southeast parts of the U.S. Click here for more details at grassrootsmotorsports.com.
Team News
- OnlyFans Racing With P1 Groupe By MRS Porsche For 24H Dubai & GT America
- Orange Racing powered by JMH signs on for 2023 GT3 Championship
- Risi Reprises Last Year’s Daytona Lineup for 296 GT3 Debut
- Murillo Returns With Multiple Mercedes-AMG GT4s
- Esses Racing Launches GT World Challenge America Campaign
- Prema announces two-car LMP2 WEC effort for 2023
- Craft-Bamboo Racing confirms Bathurst 12 Hour return
- Cyan Lynk & Co announces involvement in planned TCR World Tour
- Pinnacle Motorsport and Van Amersfoort Racing collaborate to join F4 UAE and FRMEC for 2023 season
- MP Motorsport and Hyderabad Blackbirds team up for 2023 FRMEC season
- Hitech GP to run six drivers in FRegional Middle East
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.