Smrz Moves to Alara Racing for 2008 MX-5 Cup Season

COUER d’ALENE, Idaho (April 29, 2008) - Brett Smrz and Smrz Racing have teamed up with Alara Racing out of Sonoma, Calif., for the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup season. The 17-year-old has been hard at work both in the gym and on the track in preparation for the first event.

Still recovering from his leg amputation sustained last year in an off-track incident, Smrz has been working with his physical therapist, Brad Sharples, of In Touch Physical Therapy, to prepare for the Road Atlanta event.

“I am very excited to be running with Alara Racing for the 2008 season,” explained Smrz. “The mechanics and engineers listen carefully to my input and make the necessary changes, so I can get the most out of the car.”

Smrz has also been training over the winter in the Skip Barber open-wheel cars as well as the Skip Barber Mazda MX-5 cars. Competing against 50 other drivers in a Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shootout held at the Sebring Raceway this spring, Smrz was awarded a sponsored ride in the Western Region open-wheel series.

Most recently competing in the Jim Russell Scholarship Run-Off at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., Smrz was the recipient of a sponsored half-season in the new Lola FJR-50 cars. The cars are based on the Lola B06/30 Formula 3 car, which won the German Recaro F3 Championship in 2006. The cars weigh 1,025 lbs and produce 300 bhp with 270 ft lbs of torque. Smrz’ first race in the new cars will be in between the Road Atlanta and Mosport MX-5 races.

The opening round of the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup takes place May 1 – 3 at Road Atlanta, site of Smrz’ last MX-5 Cup race in 2007 before his amputation.

Stepping up in place of the former MAZDASPEED Miata Cup, the Mazda MX-5 Cup made its debut in 2006. Featuring identical Mazda MX-5s on spec Kumho tires, MX-5 Cup gives drivers the opportunity to run on high-profile weekends in an economical, entry-level racing series. As part of the MAZDASPEED Driver Development Ladder, the 2008 MX-5 Cup Champion will receive a ride in the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship, courtesy of Mazda. The 2008 MX-5 Cup schedule features eight races at prestigious events across North America, and with grids composed of roughly 30 cars at each race, MX-5 Cup has become one of the best shows in motorsports today. For more information, visit www.mx-5cup.com.