Palmetto, Fla. – Andersen Promotions, administrator of the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, today unveiled an enhanced incentive awards program designed to assist drivers in SCCA, International Formula Ford and North American F2000 competition to advance their careers to the USF2000 series in 2012. The awards are valued at $108,400 which represents a $37,000 increase in incentives from 2010.
“We are delighted to be able to continue and increase our program of incentive awards to assist the next generation of open-wheel talent,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “The landscape of racing has changed and now there is a clearly defined path for drivers wanting to reach the top level of the sport with the Mazda Road to Indy program and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder. The USF2000 Series is the first official rung on the ladder system and we want to reach out to drivers around the world to help make this step a reality with award packages to offset entry fees.”
A total of $32,400 in contingency awards is on offer for first and second-place finishers in each of nine national rounds of the SCCA Club Racing “Super Sweep” program. An awards program valued at $20,000 is also on offer for winners in four classes at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Eligibility is open to the Formula Mazda, Formula Continental, Formula Ford and Formula SCCA single-seat, open-wheel classes.
Internationally, Andersen Promotions continues its support of drivers in the British Formula Ford Festival – the British Racing & Sports Car Club’s ‘blue riband’ event highlighting young talent from around the globe – with $21,200 in awards offered to the winner and runner-up in the Duratec class. Awards totaling $20,000 in value are also being offered to champions in four worldwide Formula Ford series (British, Australian, Benelux and Canadian).
In North America, $14,800 in awards has been earmarked for the top finishers in the 2011 F2000 and Pacific F2000 Championships.
All award programs will be managed by Andersen Promotions, with the exception of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs which will be administered by the SCCA. Pre-registration in all programs is required and a registration form for the SCCA “Super Sweep” awards is available at www.usf2000.com. For drivers interested in the international and F2000 awards, please contact the series office at (941) 723-3900 or via email at info@usf2000.com.
###
Mazda: On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the largest road-racing class in the world is Spec Miata, with more than 2,500 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America’s racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda’s involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s premier road-racing circuits, the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing, and the Mazda Road to Indy.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world.