2009 Molecule Formula Mazda Challenge Preview
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For the 2009 MFMC Season the Pro Formula Mazdas will compete in 13 races. Six of the races will take place at Infineon Raceway where the series was first started in 2004. Four races will be at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows California, and two of those will be run in the "Llih Red Nhut" configuration (Thunderhill backwards.) Two races will take place at the series' spiritual home; Mazda Raceway, and a single event will be at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. Two of the weekends are a part of the televised Star Mazda Championship. The championship will be decided by the best ten finishes of the thirteen events. Every event that the Pro Formula Mazdas compete in this season will be a series exclusive with only Formula Mazdas on track.
The Standard Formula Mazda and Formula E powered by Mazda drivers have a nice mix of NASA exclusivity and SCCA Club racing. Their schedule has them at Infineon Raceway and Thunderhill Raceway for five races each, and they will visit Mazda Raceway for three races. The best twelve out of thirteen races decide the championship for these classes.
The Molecule Formula Mazda Challenge is a regional Star Mazda series that keeps costs in check by limiting travel to a general region and racing spec open wheel cars. There are three classes that are welcomed to compete in the events; The Pro Formula Mazda, the Standard Formula Mazda, and the Formula E powered by Mazda. The series has its own media team and website and gets covered by most of the more popular racing sites such as Motorsport.com and EFormulaCarNews.com. The Pro FM schedule has a limited amount of TV coverage as well.
As the MOLECULE Formula Mazda Challenge forges into its fifth consecutive season it was announced that NASA has agreed to promote the series as an officially sanctioned NASA race group.
"This comes at a great time in the series history," stated Eric McCombs the MFMC series administrator. "The series has been growing each and every season, and in 2008 we started to work more closely with NASA. We are delighted to announce that they will now be the sanctioning body for the Molecule Formula Mazda Challenge. As one of the largest club level road racing championships in the United States, it certainly makes sense for us to align with the fastest growing racing club in the country." Jerry Kunzman NASA's President had this to add, "We have a good working relationship with the Formula Mazda Challenge from 2008, and I think it's a great program. I am looking forward to our 2009 season and beyond."
"We have worked with NASA in the past when we competed in the FormulaTR series, and we have always been impressed with how they operate," stated WSM Operations Manager Mark Milazzo. "Running six races with them in 2008 confirmed our previous dealings, and we are looking forward to building a long-term relationship with NASA." Ten of the thirteen races on the 2009 calendar are NASA race weekends. One race is with San Francisco Region's Vintage SCCA club, and the remaining two are with IMSA.