Courtesy Skip Barber Racing School
Only one month remains until the 2011 Annual Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shootout at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca; a Shootout that has awarded over sixty-four scholarships to famous racers such as Ryan Hunter-Reay (IZOD IndyCar Series), Alexander Rossi (World Series by Renault), Spencer Pigot (USF2000) and many more. Few seats remain and time is running out for potential applicants. Only $2,500, the Shootout offers more value than any other program of its kind. Participants will learn driver safety, media skills, sponsor relations from today's professionals and receive quality on track time in Formula Skip Barber 2000 race cars.
The first day of activities will be dedicated to safety and survival modules provided by Skip Barber Racing School and sponsored by the FIA Motorsports Safety and Development Fund. These drills include:
1) Skids, recoveries and car control in Mazda RX8's on a wet skid pad
2) Car handling on an autocross in Mazda MX5's
3) Safety discussion with Skip Barber Racing School instructors
For many of these young participants, this may be their first experience behind the wheel of a street car and they will be judged on their adaptability, skill and overall presentation. For the first time of the event, the karters will also strap in and become acclimated to the Formula Skip Barber 2000 race cars by running on an autocross track.
The first day will also consist of mock interviews with SPEED broadcaster Bob Varsha and long-time auto racing writer and broadcaster Jeremy Shaw. Contestants will be judged on professionalism, ease of speaking, and overall presentation.
In motorsports, presentation and ability to promote one's self are a necessity amongst professional race car drivers. The second day of training will begin with several seminars to educate the drivers on skills needed to succeed in motorsports. Skip Barber Racing School alumnus and IZOD IndyCar Series driver Townsend Bell, arguably the most skilled racer in finding effective sponsorship, will be presenting on sponsorship in the sport. Dean Case, Communications Officer of MAZDASPEED Motorsports will speak on media and sponsorship. Finally, Skip Barber Racing School alumnus and ALMS driver Gerardo Bonilla will present on the preparation of a race car driver.
The rest of the event, the karters will be performing on track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Formula Skip Barber 2000 race cars. Points will be rewarded based on best lap times and deducted for car contact and spin offs. On the final day, the panel of 12-13 judges including, Jeremy Shaw and Bob Varsha, more will gather to deliberate the winners of the ten scholarships including the grand prize of a full season in the Skip Barber Racing School presents the 2011-2012 Winter Race Series or Summer Race series to further train, develop and compete in hopes of advancing up the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder; a ladder that allows young racers to advance from Skip Barber Racing School to USF2000, the first step in the Mazda Road to Indy. The Mazda Road to Indy awards drivers scholarships to advance to Star Mazda, Firestone Indy Lights and ultimately the IZOD IndyCar Series.
As a prerequisite to compete in the Shootout, karters must complete a Skip Barber 3 Day Racing School at one of the School's various locations. Call 800.221.1131 for program availability and to apply today. Acceptance is based on seat availability, so don't wait!