HDNet to Broadcast Two Mazda-centric Race Weekends

Irvine, June 8, 2009: The optimistic cliché is that tough times produce new opportunities. The current economic situation is indeed a rough one for all segments of industry, especially the automotive world. The MAZDASPEED team has taken that as a challenge, and is pleased to announce a new TV partnership that will be kicked off with two big weekends of live high-definition coverage on HDNet in June and July.

The broadcasts will focus on a pair of weekends where multiple classes of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder will compete:

Mazda Formula X at The New Jersey Motorsports Park -- June 13-14

Autobahn Grand Prix Presented by Mazda at The Autobahn Country Club – July 25-26

Both weekends will feature a Mazda triple-header with races on both Saturday and Sunday, featuring:

Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered By Mazda

Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear

SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup

Each of the four broadcasts will be live for three hours (1:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT). The broadcast team will be led by veteran commentator Rick Benjamin and legendary race-driver Elliott Forbes Robinson.

“By focusing on two of our biggest Mazda-centric race weekends, we can offer a unique viewing opportunity. Frequently, support races are broadcast at a different day and time, and often on different networks. We know that the road racing fan who follows the Atlantic Championship also will enjoy the Star Mazda and MX-5 Cup races. Our partnership with HDNet will allow us to more closely share the on-track experience with fans around the country by giving them a three-race afternoon, and the quality of the programming and high-definition transmission means it’s nearly as good as being trackside. A big thank you to our series partners at Cooper Tires (Atlantic) and BFGoodrich Tires (MX-5 Cup) for helping to make this happen,” noted Mike Nakashima, Director of Marketing, Mazda North American Operations.

To kick off the partnership HDNet will broadcast the season opener from the 2009 Atlantic Championship season, the VISIT FLORIDA Grand Prix from Sebring, Fla., on Saturday, June 6 at 3:00 pm EDT. The Sebring Star Mazda race will also be broadcast on HDNet at a date and time to be determined.