2016 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires Schedule Announced - Speedway Digest

Mazda announced the 2016 Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires schedule today, following the series’ tradition of racing at iconic race tracks on major race weekends. The 2016 schedule includes one new venue and the return of a driver and fan favorite circuit. Each of the six weekends will be a doubleheader, making for a 12-race championship.

The MX-5 Cup 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 will feature the all-new fourth generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. For the first time, Mazda has commissioned complete turnkey racecars ensuring all cars are as close to identical as possible, all to ensure the best drivers rise to the top. The first orders for the new race car were accepted starting on October 1, 2015 and within the first 36 hours after the announcement, more than 40 racers placed $10,000 deposits for the $53,000 race car. More than 80 deposits have been accepted, and nearly 100 cars have been spoken for. Information on the car is online at www.mazdamotorsports.com

The 2016 season will kick off at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the IMSA WeatherTech weekend at the end of April. Mazda Raceway has hosted at least one MX-5 Cup race every year since the 2006 season opener.

New for 2016 is a visit to historic Watkins Glen International Raceway, where the MX-5 Cup teams will be sharing the May 13-15 weekend with Trans Am.

Next, the teams will travel to Road America to headline the SCCA June Sprints weekend. This weekend could also see crossover from club racing to the MX-5 Cup series, as the new MX-5 Cup race car has been approved for the Touring 3 class in SCCA Club Racing.

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park will host the annual north-of-the-border trip in July.

August will see the teams return to VIRginia International Raceway for the first time since 2012. VIR is both a racer and fan favorite.

The season will conclude at Road Atlanta during the Petit Le Mans weekend. Road Atlanta has hosted the MX-5 Cup finale each year since 2011.

Rounds Date Venue Racing with

1-2 April 28 – May 1 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca IMSA

3-4 May 13-15 Watkins Glen International Raceway Trans Am

5-6 June 17-19 Road America SCCA

7-8 July 8-10 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park IMSA

9-10 August 26-28 VIRginia International Raceway IMSA

11-12 Sept 28-30 Road Atlanta IMSA

During the previous generation of the MX-5 Cup, the series visited 20 different tracks over 10 years for a total of 100 races.

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.