NEW SKIP BARBER MAZDASPEED CHALLENGE RACE SERIES DEBUTS APRIL 5

Closed-wheel, arrive-and-drive series will run at prestigious road courses nationwide

Amid the excitement of the 56th running of the Mobil1 12 Hours of Sebring and the 10th season opener of the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda, the Skip Barber Racing School today announced final details on its all-new closed-wheelrace series: The Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge.

The newest offering from the first name in equal-car racing features Mazda MX-5 Miata Cup cars with specifications closely matched to the Miatas used in the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Series. The MAZDASPEED Challenge will be modeled on the long-running Skip Barber open-wheel regional race series.

The inaugural 10-race season begins April 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, company officials said. Skip Barber’s long history of producing regional and national race series events means the remainder of the new championship’s inaugural season will take place on similarly prestigious road courses, including Virginia International Raceway (May 3-4); Road Atlanta ( July 11-12); and Road America (September 27-28).

‘‘The Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge is an important new rung on the Mazda-built motorsports ladder,’’ said Skip Barber President George Ayres. ‘‘Drivers can now move from our MAZDASPEED Racing School to the new MAZDASPEED Challenge and from there into the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, Grand-Am, ALMS, SCCA and other sedan and sports car championships. Throughout, drivers will experience a highly professional environment that emphasizes skill development and great racing at competitive prices.’’