IRVINE, Calif. - MAZDASPEED announced the 2011 SCCA Pro racing Playboy MX-5 Cup Schedule and a new prize payment structure on Wednesday via a live webcast onwww.justin.tv/mazdausa. The 2011 schedule features single events and doubleheaders at many of the iconic tracks and events across the United States.

“Building a race schedule is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, while riding shotgun in an off-road race,” Jim Jordan, Alternative Marketing Manager, Mazda North American Operations said. “You are constantly reacting to input from the racers, time and paddock availability at tracks, and working to insure a sane travel schedule.  We think the 2011 schedule will allow our teams to showcase their talents in front of great crowds, and in front of team owners and racers from other series.  With the demise of several other spec series in 2010, we welcome those who are looking for an affordable place to race, one that provides a clear path upwards.” Read more

Updated!

New Photos in these galleries:

Watkins Glen 2010

Limerock Park 2010

Friends and Family 2010

Over 30 minutes of racing videos added:

Driver change practice at Barber

MX-5 crashes at VIR

Cobalt Crash at VIR in front of Chris Brown

Subaru punts Chris Brown off track in a turn at Watkins Glen

Bits and Pieces from  VIR

Watkins Glen Qualifying

Watkins Glen Racing Action

Laura’s MX-5 was recently used as the model MX-5 Cup at Lime Rock for the online game iRacing at iRacing.com. Randy’s green and black car was used on track for the simulation and Laura’s for the visual. It was ‘too shiny’ so they had to powder it up. Here are some photos of the powdering.

iRacing is the ultimate place to go racing online. From NASCAR, to IndyCar, to sports cars and Grand Prix racing, iRacing has it all. All you need is a PC, a gaming wheel or game pad and an Internet connection. iRacing organizes all of the racing for you, or you can choose to host your own race. Either way the competition is as real as it gets – you’ll be racing against motorsports fans who share your passion for racing.

iRacing is a thrilling on-line experience that offers: Read more

Yep, that's the carpet

I am on my flight back from the test weekend with my team at Watkins Glen. Chris and I did a test weekend with an organization called Trackmasters. It was a really great weekend and I think we accomplished a lot. Trackmasters did a great job of running the weekend giving us great track time. Aside from one black NSX that I was ready to punt, most of the other drivers were great. You had to get a point by in order to pass and apparently this guy thought he was Michael Schumacher. It was about 70% street cars (Carreras, NSX’s, BMW’s. etc.) and 30% race cars. We race there in about a month and I was very surprised that we were the only Continental team that was testing this weekend. Read more

Check out the new photos from the Grand-Am Homestead 200 at Homestead Miami.