TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Mazda Canada announced today it will support motorsports competitors across the country through an all-new contingency program. Canadian racers racing a Mazda in the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC), including the all-new B-Spec class, and the Toyo Tires Spec Miata Championship will have the opportunity to win cash prizes.

In addition to cash, Canadian racers are now eligible to compete in the Mazda North American Club Racer Shootout. For the past six years, one American club racing champion was annually promoted to the professional ranks. Now it becomes a true North American event with Canada included. The 2012 shootout prize is a full season in the 2013 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup valued at $75,000 USD.

For the Canadian Touring Car Championship and the Toyo Tires Spec Miata Championship, Mazda Canada is paying contingency awards, for those competitors who are racing eligible Mazda race cars, for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each points-paying race in the Championship, as well as Year-end Championship awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall.

Mazda Canada's 2012 Spec Miata contingency payouts are as follows:

Per-race Contingency Payouts:
1st place: $200.00
2nd place: $100.00
3rd place: $ 75.00

Year-end Overall Contingency Payouts:
1st place: $2,000.00
2nd place: $1,000.00
3rd place: $ 375.00

The 2012 Toyo Tires Spec Miata Champion is eligible for the Mazda North American Club Racer Shootout.

"Mazda has always been a leader in both amateur and professional motorsports in the U.S.," said John Doonan, Director of Motorsports for Mazda North American Operations. "Developing the Canadian contingency program and expanding our support to Canadian competitors is a logical extension of our motorsports program."

"This is exciting news for motorsports in Canada. We are grateful for the commitment that Mazda Canada and Mazdaspeed are making to the Canadian motorsports community," said John Bondar, President, Canadian Touring Car Championship. "We have worked very hard to gain the attention of the automotive manufacturers and it is wonderful to see Mazda Canada showing leadership in this area. I am particularly appreciative of the commitment being made in the Canadian Touring Car Championship."

"Spec Miata Championship Drivers Association (SMCDA) is very pleased to include Mazda Canada in the 2012 Toyo Tires Spec Miata Championship," said Blu Vandaalen, President, Spec Miata Championship Drivers Association. "Today's announcement, that Mazda Canada is offering a contingency program, is exciting for everyone. Mazda has been involved in motorsports for a long time and we look forward to working with them by offering incentives to those competing in this exciting new Spec Miata Championship Road Racing Series."

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GT1 - 88 Camaro 1LE/Nissan 200SX
GT2 - 90 CRX/Nissan 200SX
GT3 - 88 CRX/1975 Civic/1997 Acura Integra
GT4 - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
GT5 - 89 Suzuki Swift GTI
GT6 - 86 CRX
ITE - 88 Camaro 1LE
ITA - 89/90 CRX Si
ITB - 85 Civic 1500S/89 Suzuki Swift GTI
ITC - 85/86 Civic
SM - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
Targa NL - 88 CRX Si
Rally Sprint - 95 Del Sol VTEC
Unlimited - All of the above!

Nice!!!

Pretty cool. Good job Bruce and Blu

That's it...2 posts!!!...where are the racers on here?...*crickets*....go back to your games, tuning Mitsubishis, windshield decals etc.

So far I'm not sure many of the Spec Miata folks are forum participants. Hopefully that'll change after people see a season of 10 SMs roaring up over 11 for inspiration.

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2005 Forester XT (Daily/B2Tuned), 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS P4WD Class Rally Car, 2006 WRX RallyCross Car (Sponsors: Rally-Tech, Great North Performance, ISI Automotive)
Check out: Rally East, The Ledwidge Lookoff Rally

We're busy working on building our cars.

Windshield decals.

_________________
Speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure. - Aldous Huxley

Okay, now I really want to be in a Spec Miata in 2012. I always like racing for money! Great job on getting hooked up with Mazda Bruce & Blu. This should definitely help generate interest for Spec Miata.

There...this forum just needs a little kick in the ass now and again to wake its members up...

Thanks very much. This is really great news for motorsports in Canada, and a much needed shot in the arm for Atlantic Canada. I believe we all have seen the low for local road racing. I think the tide has started to turn and we are on our way up. Thank you, to all you die-hards who have stuck with our sport.

We are still working on other sponsors too. We should have a nice prize payout this year, right back to 10th place. We are working on the 2012 incentive plan as well. Our complete package and race schedule will be announced soon. The Toyo Tires Spec Miata Championship competitors believe in the series (and the future). They believe in road racing. And they are going to have LOTS of fun racing this year.

YOU should be in the series too!

_________________
GT1 - 88 Camaro 1LE/Nissan 200SX
GT2 - 90 CRX/Nissan 200SX
GT3 - 88 CRX/1975 Civic/1997 Acura Integra
GT4 - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
GT5 - 89 Suzuki Swift GTI
GT6 - 86 CRX
ITE - 88 Camaro 1LE
ITA - 89/90 CRX Si
ITB - 85 Civic 1500S/89 Suzuki Swift GTI
ITC - 85/86 Civic
SM - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
Targa NL - 88 CRX Si
Rally Sprint - 95 Del Sol VTEC
Unlimited - All of the above!

The timing very much sucks for me, though I definitely want to rent a seat for a race this year at least.

_________________
2005 Forester XT (Daily/B2Tuned), 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS P4WD Class Rally Car, 2006 WRX RallyCross Car (Sponsors: Rally-Tech, Great North Performance, ISI Automotive)
Check out: Rally East, The Ledwidge Lookoff Rally

Hear! Hear!...would be nice to see the per race contingency a little closer to where it is for the CTCC classes; B spec pays 1500.00 to win, same as Super and Touring, and SM and B-Spec are pretty close to one another in my mind...but don't mistake this as a bitch, CTCC is a proven series with healthy numbers (for a Canadian series in this decade) in a far bigger market, the TTSMC is fledgling and this is a good start...if competitor support is forthcoming Mazda would probably be inclined to increase contingency money commensurately...

Watching this develope ! Looking for the schedule to be posted ! Thinking I need to really put a race on my schedule this year. I have 1 set of R888s left,,,but are old. Hope they will be acceptable. ( SM in the states have moved to Hoosiers. ) Nice job all !!! I will keep watching.

Hey Dwayne,

You guys are more than welcome. After all, you & John were the very first Spec Miatas to race on our track. The ARMS race date schedule is out. We are just working on the SM schedule (within the ARMS schedule). The race dates are as follows;
May 27
June 24
Aug 11/12
Sept 23
Oct 8 (JCM Enduro)

If you guys wanted to capitalize on the races & points tally, the double in Aug would be best bang for your buck. Did you get your crappy 38mm restrictor plate yet?

BTW, we may crash your town on July 1st weekend as a bunch of us are going to do a bike run to the Mountains.

_________________
GT1 - 88 Camaro 1LE/Nissan 200SX
GT2 - 90 CRX/Nissan 200SX
GT3 - 88 CRX/1975 Civic/1997 Acura Integra
GT4 - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
GT5 - 89 Suzuki Swift GTI
GT6 - 86 CRX
ITE - 88 Camaro 1LE
ITA - 89/90 CRX Si
ITB - 85 Civic 1500S/89 Suzuki Swift GTI
ITC - 85/86 Civic
SM - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
Targa NL - 88 CRX Si
Rally Sprint - 95 Del Sol VTEC
Unlimited - All of the above!

Current List of 2012 SM Competitors;

Blu Vandaalen
Bruce McNutt
Steve Ellis
Josh Ellis
Todd Roberts
Steve Manley
Robert Ferguson
Bill Anwyll
Aaron Pettipas

AND a few guys & gals working on getting into the game.

_________________
GT1 - 88 Camaro 1LE/Nissan 200SX
GT2 - 90 CRX/Nissan 200SX
GT3 - 88 CRX/1975 Civic/1997 Acura Integra
GT4 - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
GT5 - 89 Suzuki Swift GTI
GT6 - 86 CRX
ITE - 88 Camaro 1LE
ITA - 89/90 CRX Si
ITB - 85 Civic 1500S/89 Suzuki Swift GTI
ITC - 85/86 Civic
SM - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
Targa NL - 88 CRX Si
Rally Sprint - 95 Del Sol VTEC
Unlimited - All of the above!

3x SM race per race day...total purse of 1125.00, 2250.00 for the Aug. double?

We are working on clarifying that with Mazda as we speak...

_________________
GT1 - 88 Camaro 1LE/Nissan 200SX
GT2 - 90 CRX/Nissan 200SX
GT3 - 88 CRX/1975 Civic/1997 Acura Integra
GT4 - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
GT5 - 89 Suzuki Swift GTI
GT6 - 86 CRX
ITE - 88 Camaro 1LE
ITA - 89/90 CRX Si
ITB - 85 Civic 1500S/89 Suzuki Swift GTI
ITC - 85/86 Civic
SM - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
Targa NL - 88 CRX Si
Rally Sprint - 95 Del Sol VTEC
Unlimited - All of the above!

Tell them to round up to the nearest 500 and make it 1500.00...

At media day at the Toronto Auto Show, during Don Romano's presentation (Don is the President of Mazda Canada and the CMO of Mazda North America) he mentioned our grassroots program. When he did, the picture (below) shows what was flashed across the video boards...

_________________
GT1 - 88 Camaro 1LE/Nissan 200SX
GT2 - 90 CRX/Nissan 200SX
GT3 - 88 CRX/1975 Civic/1997 Acura Integra
GT4 - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
GT5 - 89 Suzuki Swift GTI
GT6 - 86 CRX
ITE - 88 Camaro 1LE
ITA - 89/90 CRX Si
ITB - 85 Civic 1500S/89 Suzuki Swift GTI
ITC - 85/86 Civic
SM - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
Targa NL - 88 CRX Si
Rally Sprint - 95 Del Sol VTEC
Unlimited - All of the above!

Good stuff!

_________________
2005 Forester XT (Daily/B2Tuned), 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS P4WD Class Rally Car, 2006 WRX RallyCross Car (Sponsors: Rally-Tech, Great North Performance, ISI Automotive)
Check out: Rally East, The Ledwidge Lookoff Rally

Bruce I just recieved my super...super %^$#! restrictor plate. Wow not good for the short tracks. Probably just fine for Watkins Glen. Hills will be tough !! If it evens the playing field..so be it. I will be around beginning of July if your in town. Any pointers I can give you for touring let me know. Visit our awesome Chamber Com. web site. Or just call Julia at the Chamber !

yeah I haven't ordered mine yet. That 38mm plate is going to hurt me big time on our track. I do not think I could possibly win any race here choked back that much. I was struggling with the 43mm plate. I might have to get another 1.6L car.

Yes we will be in your neck of the woods on our bike trip. More info soon...

_________________
GT1 - 88 Camaro 1LE/Nissan 200SX
GT2 - 90 CRX/Nissan 200SX
GT3 - 88 CRX/1975 Civic/1997 Acura Integra
GT4 - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
GT5 - 89 Suzuki Swift GTI
GT6 - 86 CRX
ITE - 88 Camaro 1LE
ITA - 89/90 CRX Si
ITB - 85 Civic 1500S/89 Suzuki Swift GTI
ITC - 85/86 Civic
SM - 93/2000 Mazda Miata
Targa NL - 88 CRX Si
Rally Sprint - 95 Del Sol VTEC
Unlimited - All of the above!