Archives for Andersen Promotions PR

Pro Mazda Championship Augmented by National Class in 2016

Posted by  on Tuesday, February 16th 2016     

Pro Mazda Championship Augmented by National Class in 2016
Lower-Cost, Entry-Level Division Added to Mazda Road to Indy’s Middle Rung

PALMETTO, Fla. – The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires will include a revised sub-class for 2016 following today’s announcement that the Expert Series, which previously catered to drivers over the age of 30, will be brought more in line with the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Presented by Mazda and replaced by a new National Class.
Pro Mazda represents the middle rung on the acclaimed Mazda Road to Indy development ladder which provides Mazda scholarships to assist drivers graduating from karting through USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires to the Verizon IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.
The new National Class will be open to any drivers who have reached the age of 20 before March 1, 2016 and is aimed at providing a lower-cost entry point. Eligible cars include those currently running in Pro Mazda specification and meeting the older Star Mazda technical requirements as governed by the Sports Car Club of America General Competition Rules pertaining to the FA class.
“There are so many former Star Mazda race cars competing in North American club racing and in other forms of open-wheel competition that it just makes sense to create an opportunity for interested drivers to sample the fantastic schedule of events we have in the Pro Mazda Championship,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions.
“With the revival of the National Class in USF2000, the model is perfect to use as a replacement for the Pro Mazda Expert class as it does not require any investment in changes required for our championship class car regulations. We look forward to welcoming some new faces and hope they enjoy this great new place to compete.”
Entry fees for the new National Class will be discounted 50 percent below the regular Pro Mazda rate, and each race winner will earn a free entry for an upcoming event in the same season. The second-place finisher will claim a 50 percent reduction in the entry fee for an upcoming race.
The National Class will utilize the same point system as the former Expert Class. Competitors will vie for their own separate classification and will not be eligible for overall series awards or championship points.
The 2016 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires will comprise 16 races, beginning with a double-header on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 12/13.
category: Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
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National Class Reintroduced in USF2000 – Champion to Receive “Ticket” to $200K Scholarship Shootout

Posted by  on Wednesday, February 10th 2016     
PALMETTO, Fla. – Drivers seeking to make their way onto the Mazda Road to Indy now have an alternate, lower-cost route onto the first rung, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, with today’s confirmation that the National Class will be returning in 2016.

The Mazda Road to Indy is unique in the world of auto racing, offering a scholarship-funded path all the way from karting via USF2000, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires to the Verizon IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.

Eligible to drivers at least 20 years of age before or during the 2016 season, the National Class will be open to all Sports Car Club of America-legal FC (Formula Continental) cars, from any chassis manufacturer, dating back to 2000. Any aerodynamic devices approved by the SCCA are permitted, although in the interests of safety all cars must be fitted with a nosebox crash structure, wheel tethers, Staubli devices, approved head surrounds and seats and yellow light system as required by all other current USF2000 cars.

Cars will be permitted to run either the same 2.0-liter Mazda MZR engine per the USF2000 Championship Class regulations or sealed 2.0-liter Ford Zetec motors as prepared by Elite Engines or Quicksilver RacEngines with National Class mapping. Any SCCA-legal 6″ and 8″ wheels may be used, although all cars must run on Cooper tires.

Entry fees will be discounted 50 percent below the Championship Class rate, and each race winner will earn a free entry for an upcoming event in the same season. The second-place finisher will claim a 50 percent reduction in the entry fee for an upcoming race. In addition, race winners equipped with the MZR engine will take home a $1,000 award from Mazda.

As an added benefit and based on a minimum average car count of five entries per race weekend, the 2016 National Class champion will receive an “entry ticket” to the Mazda Road to Indy $200K Scholarship Shootout in the fall of this year where champions of select junior level-open wheel and karting series from around the world will compete for a Mazda scholarship to enter the USF2000 Championship Class in 2017.

The point system will be the same used by the Masters Class (formerly Expert Class) in the Pro Mazda championship.

“We are excited to bring back the National Class and allow drivers to sample the Mazda Road to Indy,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “RC Enerson began his path on the ladder system in the National Class. It’s a great first step onto the platform for many drivers, and we are excited to offer this year’s champion an entry into the Shootout as well as a full-season entry package to USF2000 in 2017 in either the Championship or National Class.”

The Mazda Road to Indy will head to Barber Motorsport Park for Spring Training on March 5 (Indy Lights) and 6/7 (USF2000/Pro Mazda). The 2016 season will kick off on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 11-13 in support of the Verizon IndyCar Series.

category: Andersen Promotions PR, Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, Mazda Road To Indy PR
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My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Jordan Cane

Posted by  on Wednesday, February 3rd 2016     

My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Jordan Cane

A weekly series providing an inside look at new faces on the Mazda Road to Indy, the only driver development program of its type in the world.
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PALMETTO, Fla. – At a mere 14 years of age, Brit Jordan Cane turned some heads last year in his first season in a car (and only his fourth year racing) as he earned seven F1600 victories for Team Pelfrey despite missing the first two events due to age restrictions. This year Cane, who was brought up just a few miles from the Goodwood circuit in England, will step up to the Mazda Road to Indy, competing for Team Pelfrey in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.
You were 11 when the racing bug hit with a trip to Goodwood?
I’d always loved cars, but I never thought of racing. I was 8 years old when I first encountered the Festival of Speed at Goodwood. I went again when I was 11, and that sealed the deal for me. I wanted to take this up as just a hobby at first. I wanted to do pit biking (motocross) because my best mate was going to buy a pit bike, but my dad said no because he’d really hurt himself on a dirt bike when he was young. He asked if I’d ever thought of karting, and that’s where the seed was planted. We went to a cadet course at Thruxton every Sunday for a month. In the first session, I was the slowest on track. But at the second session, I broke the track record. I took the test for a license and my hobby turned into a career.
Take us through your racing career to date.  
After the cadet course, I won a club cadet championship. That helped us make the decision to go into the top level of British karting. We switched mid-season to a Mini Max because I got too big for the cadet kart. I won a couple of races and finished 10th out of 33 karts despite a good amount of bad luck. We decided to make the move to cars at that point going to Skip Barber courses.
It was quite a big shock. You have much bigger surroundings and the car is much faster than a kart. Everything is maximized in a car, but Skip Barber taught in a way that got the best out of me. After three days at Road Atlanta and two days at Lime Rock, I felt very confident in myself and I felt that I could compete in cars. It made the feeling that I wanted to be a race car driver even stronger.
How did you connect with Team Pelfrey?
It’s a funny story, and it shows that it’s a very small world. My very first karting mechanic had tested with Team Pelfrey in Pro Mazda and he recommended that I contact them. That’s how the relationship started. From the first test, we bonded really well. I was 10 times more confident at the test because of the Skip Barber program. I signed with them to do F1600 and everything just went from there. The team felt I had potential to win races, so we signed with them.
You had a very good year in F1600 even though you missed the first two race weekends.
You have to be 14 to run in F1600, so I missed the first two events. It was quite hard to get used to running with 20 other cars, but we got there in the end. We had two fifth-place finishes the first weekend at Virginia and the season went upwards from there. I finished fifth in the first race of the Mid-Ohio weekend and won the second one, which was the first race win of the season for the team. We ended up with seven wins and 10 podiums at the end of the season, which was a huge confidence booster for me and for the team.
Obviously it’s a natural progression from F1600, especially with Team Pelfrey, but what attracted you to the Mazda Road to Indy and the USF2000 series?
I think the Mazda Road to Indy offers something no other racing series does which is the scholarship program. You can’t get that anywhere else and that’s what persuaded me and my dad to race here for another two years, to fight for the championship. If you look at where I was two years ago, it’s been a game changer for me. On the American path, IndyCar is definitely the goal.
How difficult has it been to be away from home? It’s a big transition, coming to the States.
My parents bought a vacation house in Florida before I was born and we spent our summers here so we’re not your typical tourists. This is more like our second home. It was hard at first, almost like a different culture, but we did it at such a young age that we bonded with American culture. We go back and forth from America to England for every race, so it’s a bit of a jump. We have a lot of air miles! I go to a regular public school at home and they’ve really supported me, even though I will miss 75 days of school this year. The work piles up, and I have to catch up no matter where I am. It’s hard being away from home, because my family is everything to me. And I’m in the gym five times a week and on the simulator twice a week so the commitments are huge.
What are your expectations for 2016?
I want to win races, but I’d be happy with a top five in the championship. I went into last year as a learning year and I’ll take that same approach this season. What will be will be, but of course, I’ll try to win every race.
What kind of activities do you do away from the race car?
I’ve always had a dog, so I love dogs. I wanted to do something to help so we approached the Dog’s Trust. (Note: founded in 1891, Dog’s Trust is the largest dog charity in the United Kingdom.) I’m working with them, doing media bits and talks. They work on getting dogs re-homed and fighting animal cruelty.
Do you have a “hidden” talent?
I used to play drums, so that was my forte three or four years ago. But I was also Junior Fishing Champion in Key West in 2009. My dad and I entered this competition and we won it. We won a pretty big trophy, which is currently the biggest trophy I have!
Who is your greatest inspiration – personal and/or professional?
Racing-wise, I’ve always been a Lewis Hamilton fan. For motivational purposes and someone who links to my life, it would be Jenson Button. He came from a more difficult background than I did and he still had the determination to make it work. Personally, it would be my dad. He came from a rough background, leaving school at age 18. He started his own business in a small work shed with a welder and a saw. Before long, he was working on buildings like the Canterbury Cathedral and the Tower of London.
Source: Andersen Promotions PR
category: My Road To Indy, Uncategorized

My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Zachary Claman De Melo

Posted by  on Wednesday, January 27th 2016     

My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Zachary Claman De Melo

PALMETTO, Fla. – While Zachary Claman De Melo may be new to American audiences, his name is well known among karting aficionados in his native Quebec and across Eastern Canada. The 18-year-old won nearly everything there was to win during his seven-year karting career, including multiple regional and national titles. Moving up to cars last season, De Melo competed in three Formula Renault 2.0 series (Alps, Eurocup and NEC).
De Melo recently signed with Juncos Racing, winners of the 2015 driver’s championship with Spencer Pigot. He joins returning driver Kyle Kaiser to contest the 2016 season with an eye toward a Verizon IndyCar Series career.
Canadian Zachary Claman De Melo is joining the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire series for 2016 after spending last season in Europe ((Photo Courtesy of Andersen Promotions)

Canadian Zachary Claman De Melo is joining the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tire series for 2016 after spending last season in Europe ((Photo Courtesy of Andersen Promotions)

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Westmount, in the city of Montreal. All my friends are there, my family is there, and I started racing there. I played every sport I could play growing up, but the only one I played seriously was hockey.
What first got you interested in racing?
When I was 10 years old, I went to a friend’s birthday party at an indoor karting track. I turned out to be pretty good at it, so my father got me a kart. I started practicing and I wanted to go every single weekend, every day I could. I started racing and everything carried on from there.
Take us through your racing career.
I started in cadets, then moved to ECKC (the Eastern Canadian Karting Championships) for four years and won every time I did it. I also won nationals a few times. I decided to race in Europe because I thought it would be good for me, and I finished third in the world championships. I learned a lot at the world championships. Traveling around with so many different people from countries all over the world and getting the chance to race in so many different places really stands out for me. It was very different than what I was used to back home. The driving standard was a bit higher – back home, there were two or three people that could win a race, but in Europe, it was more like 10 people who could win. There are so many variables: the driver, the people you’re racing against.
What got you interested in the Mazda Road to Indy and the Indy Lights series?
My coach knew Ricardo Juncos and he thought I could compete in Indy Lights. I tested an F3 car with Ed Jones and our times were similar, so I thought Indy Lights would be a good start. I did a test with Juncos and it went really well, so that’s when we decided to go ahead and do it. It’s a goal to be a professional racing driver and the Mazda Road to Indy really helps with that. Wherever I can go and make a career out of racing would be a great opportunity.
You were at or near the top of the speed charts in the November Chris Griffis Memorial Test at Circuit of The Americas, how was the transition to the Dallara IL-15 and what did you think of the car at COTA?
The car was great and the team was really helpful. I couldn’t be happier with the team, they listened to my feedback and we got along well. The car has a lot more power than a Formula 3, but the driving is basically the same. You just have to get used to the downforce.
It’s great to be with the team that won the championship last year. It will be good to compare my data with Spencer’s and Kyle’s. Kyle has helped me already – I can learn a lot from him but hopefully I’ll start beating him by the end of the year!
What are your expectations for 2016?
I think I’m with the best team and I’m confident of my abilities, so I believe I can challenge for the championship. We’ll see how the year goes, but I definitely think it’s possible.
Favorite racetrack and what is your best memory about that track?
I would have to say Goodwood Kartways in Toronto. I grew up racing there; it’s only a five-hour drive from Montreal. There are so many familiar faces. Winning the Nationals there against so many good drivers is one of my highlights.
If I wasn’t driving a race car, I’d be ___________________________.
Playing hockey. I played center for a house-league hockey team when I was younger, 7 or 8 years old. I decided to try out for AAA which was the highest level of hockey you could play at that time. I made the team, but when I told the coach I could only make a certain number of games throughout the year, because I’d started karting at that point, he said I’d have to choose between karting and hockey. I chose racing right away. Of course, now I wonder what would have happened, but I don’t regret picking racing! Now I just play for fun with friends. We go out whenever I’m home, wherever there’s ice. I’ll go and just play whenever I can, but not in any leagues anymore.
Do you have a “hidden” talent?
I don’t want to sound cocky but I think I’m pretty talented at everything! I’m pretty athletic and I’m good at sports. I could work on my school a bit, because I don’t enjoy it as much as I enjoy sports. I play as many sports as I can and I go to the gym, but whenever I can get in the go-kart, I will.
What do you do to relax?
I like to go fishing. It’s very relaxing and calm out on the water, which is nice because I’m usually doing something very high intensity!
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About Indy Lights: The third and final step on the unparalleled Mazda Road to Indy debuted as Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2014. Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the series is operated by Andersen Promotions, which oversees all three levels of the ladder system. Indy Lights has a rich history as a development step for many of today’s top drivers. Its series’ champion is awarded a three-race scholarship in the Verizon IndyCar Series including the Indianapolis 500. For more information, visit www. indylights.com.
About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports: Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to Indy includes USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights racing categories with Mazda power. In sports car racing, a similar ladder system involves a number of racing series, culminating with the Mazda Prototype team which races in the top level of IMSA sports car racing in North America. In the grassroots categories, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer.
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 and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers.  Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.  For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.
About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, great-performing tires that people depend on for all of life’s road trips, whether on city streets, off-road adventures or high-speed tracks. In fact, Cooper Tire is proud to sponsor and race in all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development program within the IndyCar racing series. Cooper tires can also been seen on the track as a sponsor of the IMSA Prototype Lites Series, and competing in the short course off-road TORC Series. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper, together with its subsidiaries, has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities in 11 countries around the world.  This year, as we head into our second century in the tire industry, Cooper is looking toward a future where innovation will continue to drive our products and our products will continue to drive the world. To connect with Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/teamcoopertire.
Source: Andersen Promotions PR
You can follow Zachary’s career on the way to IndyCar on his social media channels: Twitter, and Facebook.
category: My Road To Indy
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My Mazda Road to Indy: Meet Robert Megennis

Posted by  on Thursday, January 14th 2016     
PALMETTO, Fla. – 15-year-old Robert Megennis makes the jump to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda this year after a successful season with Team Pelfrey in F1600. The young New Yorker moves up to the team’s Mazda Road to Indy squad after finishing eighth in the F1600 standings with eight podium finishes. There’s much more to this young man than meets the eye.
What got you interesting in karting and in racing?
We went to England for my dad’s 40th birthday and we all went to a karting track. I just went to watch but they told me I could drive even though I was only 9. So I went out and I just loved it. When we came home, I wanted to keep driving. We found a little indoor karting track and it all went from there with the Saturday junior racing leagues.
Take us through your career to date.
I drove at the indoor karting track for a few years and then went to Rotax junior karts when I was 11. I raced at the club level, finished second in a club championship when I was 12, then started racing at the regional level. I finished second in the Northeastern championship and then won the regionals the next year (the Northeast Rotax Max Challenge Series, earning the title by 70 points with podium finishes in all 11 races). I competed in the Rotax Pan American Challenge, the Florida Winter Tour and U.S. Grand Nationals. I did a couple of Skip Barber Racing Schools then got a call from Team Pelfrey inviting me to test their F1600 car. The test went great – I loved the team and they thought I did a good job so I signed to race with them in 2015. I really learned how to race a car and had so much fun last year.
It was a big transition to the F1600 car but it’s all the same basics: track line, carrying speed, etc. But it was more complex with gears, setups, higher speeds, more risk. It was a lot to take in at first but I got used to it quickly. I wouldn’t be where I am or have learned as much as I have without Team Pelfrey. The coaches, the engineers, everyone is so professional but you still enjoy yourself so much.
What got you interested in progressing to the Mazda Road to Indy and the USF2000 series?
With the eventual goal of being a professional race car driver, there was really no other logical step than moving up to USF2000 after F1600. The cars have wings, they’re a little bit faster, but the racing is better. It’s on the Mazda Road to Indy so it’s logically what you would do to get to the Verizon IndyCar Series. I want to get to IndyCar with Pelfrey so nothing other than moving up to USF2000 made sense.
After a season in F1600 with Team Pelfrey, Robert Megennis will be moving up to contest the Cooper Tires USF2000 powered by Mazda championship with the team. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

After a season in F1600 with Team Pelfrey, Robert Megennis will be moving up to contest the Cooper Tires USF2000 powered by Mazda championship with the team. (Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography)

What are your expectations for 2016?
It’s hard to judge since I’ve never raced a winged car but I think we have the potential to be at the front, get on the podium and win a few races this year. I expect to learn a ton: how to race these cars and how to drive these ridiculous IndyCar tracks, which look like so much fun. And have a great time!
In addition to racing cars, you’re a nationally-ranked saber fencer?
I was in love with Star Wars so it seemed as close as I could get to light saber fighting! I started saber fencing when I was 9 and I got good at it, so now I’m going to national and international competitions. That’s what I do with most of my time. I probably go to 20 or 30 tournaments a year, which includes local and regional tournaments as well. My dad is English, so I have dual citizenship. When I visit Britain I go to national competitions and I’m one of the best British fencers under the age of 17. I’m trying to make the World Championship team this year.
If I wasn’t driving a race car, I’d be _________________?
I’d be a saber fencer! That would be my sole passion. Racing is different in that you can’t practice every single day. You have to go where the cars are. You can do simulator time, or train, but it’s not real practice. So I go to fencing practice four times a week. It’s not hard to balance the two, but it’s been very tiring!
What is your favorite race or racetrack?
Watkins Glen was my favorite track and race last year. It’s Watkins Glen – there’s so much history. The whole track is amazing, all the high speed and incredible turns like the Bus Stop. I finished third on Sunday, which was my first podium of the year, which made it 200 times better.
Do you have any “hidden” talents?
I’m actually a blacksmith. Once a week I go to a forge and make knives at 2,000-degree temperatures. I love it – it’s fun and feels like art and science combined into one. And you’re making cool stuff at extreme temperatures and in extreme conditions! I’m a student, so with that and the racing, there isn’t time for much else.
What do you do to chill out?
I spend time at home with my family and my dog. I’ll go mountain-biking or play video games with my brother, just hanging out at home.
Source: Cooper Tires USF2000 powered by Mazda PR
category: Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda
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