Mazda Excels at SCCA Runoffs
15 October 1999
Mazda Excels at SCCA Runoffs
- More Mazda Vehicles Participate Than Any Other Import Brand -
IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 15 -- There are no guarantees in racing,
but it appears that one factor helping many amateur racers get to this year's
Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship, better known as the
Runoffs, was driving a Mazda or Mazda-powered car. Of the 580 vehicles
participating in the event, roughly one in six, were Mazdas or vehicles
powered by a Mazda engine. The 93 vehicles made Mazda the best-represented
import-brand manufacturer, easily eclipsing the next most populous import
brand (Nissan, at 51 entries).
Mazda vehicles competed in 10 of the 24 classes contested at the Runoffs.
Mazda scored class wins in Showroom Stock B, C Sports Racing and Formula
Mazda, backing those results up with podium (first-, second- or third-place)
in E Production, GT3 and GT5 classes.
"We are very proud of the showing by Mazda vehicles at the Runoffs," said
Richard Beattie, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations.
"Racing has played a significant role in Mazda's history, and our performance
on the track speaks to the 'Spirited' part of Mazda's 'Stylish, Spirited and
Insightful' brand character."
In Showroom Stock B, Mazda Miatas occupied the top three positions, and
captured seven of the top 10 positions. This is typical of the dominance that
Mazda's legendary sports car has held in SCCA Showroom Stock racing since it
was introduced a decade ago. In fact, some observers refer to Showroom Stock
B as "Spec Miata" in recognition of this winning tradition.
At this year's runoffs, David Daughtery of Noblesville, Ind., took the
victory in a rain-shortened race, edging out Eric Morehouse of Fountain
Valley, Calif., and Bob Schader of Louisville, Colo. Thirty-one of the
45 cars that took the green flag at the start of the race were Miatas.
In C Sports Racing, Mazda-powered Beasley B-2 racers took first and third
positions. Ben Beasley of Mentor, Ohio, captured first place, while Matias
Bonnier of New Albany, Ohio finished third. The Beasley B-2 is powered by
Mazda's unique 12A rotary engine. The compact size of the rotary, coupled
with its incredible durability and high power output, makes it ideal for
streamlined sports racers. The 12A is related to the four-rotor engine that
powered the Mazda 787B sports prototype to victory in the 1991 running of the
24-Hours of LeMans, making Mazda the only Japanese manufacturer to ever win
this grueling endurance race.
It would be next to impossible for a Mazda-powered vehicle not to win the
Formula Mazda event, as all 19 starters were powered by Mazda rotary engines.
Keith Roberts of LaGrange, Ga., was first to the checkered flag, followed by
Matthew Beardsley of Breckenridge, Colo., who set fastest lap of the race in
his effort to chase down Roberts. Mickey Gilbert of Golden, Colo., placed
third. Formula Mazda uses open-wheeled chassis powered by Mazda's 13B rotary
engine to deliver exciting, highly competitive racing.
Mazda remains committed to the development of the rotary engine and, in
fact, will unveil a revolutionary rotary-powered concept car at the Tokyo
Motor Show later this month.
Mazda has a long and successful history in motorsports, including its
victory in the 1991 edition of the 24-Hours of LeMans. The Mazda RX-7 is the
most successful model in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)
history, with more than 100 victories and numerous manufacturers'
championships. Since its introduction in 1989, the Mazda Miata has dominated
SCCA Showroom Stock racing, first in Showroom Stock C and, more recently, in
Showroom Stock B.
Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and
marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United
States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 750 dealerships
nationwide and is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan.