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| Features |
| EFCN Article Series - Mazda Road to Indy |
As part of eFormulaCarNews.com's leading worldwide coverage of junior formula car racing, the editorial staff is excited to present an in-depth look into the the premier driver development program in North America...Mazda Road to Indy.
Presented via a three-part article series, EFCN will give details on the creation/development, value, and those involved in premier Mazda Road to Indy program.
Part One
Mazda Road to Indy - A Driver Development Game Changer
From the early days of junior formula car competition in the late 1960s, one of the primary goals of the equation was to develop, nurture and train raw talent behind the wheel. Initially, it was the teams who focused on providing this opportunity, with the hopes of getting the next motorsport star behind the wheel of one of their cars. While teams continue to play a key role in driver development, how the racer becomes part of a particular squad has been altered significantly over the past decade.
Of particular note has been the role of finances in determining who races where, who moves up the motorsports ladder, and in the end, how far they rise. While talent behind the wheel has been, and always will be, a key ingredient, financial support has continued to grow in importance with each passing year. Fortunately for some racers, the past few decades has seen a lifeline of sorts thrown out via corporate-backed driver development programs.
With an eye on building brand awareness, loyalty and good will, a few driver development programs have achieved solid success for limited periods of time. Those of note included the Team Kool Green and Player’s Racing programs in the Atlantic Championship and Indy Lights series. However, as changes in North American advertising laws restricted who could be involved (i.e. tobacco companies), it appeared that the days of company-supported driver programs were numbered. That, however, has proved not to be the case, thanks to one car manufacturer that has not only stepped up to the plate, but knocked the ball out of the park.
Under their MAZDASPEED Motorsports banner, Mazda USA has not only revitalized the driver development concept in North American junior formula car racing, but they have taken it to an unparalleled level.
Part One Full Story HERE
Part Two
Mazda Road to Indy - A Winning Solution in Junior Formula Car Racing
Like any sport, the road to the top of the motorsports mountain takes tremendous commitment and hard work. Unfortunately, unlike the traditional stick-and-ball sports, talent alone won’t get you a ride in the IZOD IndyCar Series. The truth of the matter is that you need significant financial backing to reach the upper echelon of motorsports in North America. While this is unlikely to change anytime soon, if ever, young racers looking to make this journey now at least have something to help them move up motorsports ladder if they win. They have the ‘Mazda Road to Indy’ program.
A one-of-a-kind world-renowned driver development system, the ‘Mazda Road to Indy’ program provides significant financial scholarships to series champions of the USF2000 National Championship, Star Mazda Championship and Indy Lights programs to advance them up to the next level in North American formula car competition.
In recognition of this outstanding program, world junior formula car news leader eFormulaCarNews.com is doing a three-part article series on the ‘Mazda Road to Indy’ program. As discussed in the opening segment of this exclusive Mazda Road to Indy article series, the program has changed, evolved and grown organically over the past few years to reach the point it is now…the premier driver development/scholarship system in North America, if not the world. That being said, this process likely would not have occurred if all the parties involved were not getting some value or benefit via their association.
Part Two Full Story HERE |
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