GT3 Challenge presented by MPI: The SCCA ARRC

The inaugural GT3 Challenge presented by MPI kicks off at Road Atlanta during the SCCA’s American Road Race of Champions (ARRC) November 1-4. The GT3 Challenge will be part of an ARRC race on Saturday, and the second GT3 Challenge race will be a standalone, featured race on Sunday.

“MPI, Hoosier Racing Tire, and Mazda have come together to provide some special prizes to help maximize participation at these events,” says David Cook, business development manager for Mazda Motorsports. “The participation is what excites us. It’s all about the competition of many high horsepower GT3 machines tackling Road Atlanta. The bonus for the competitors and those involved is all the partners that are coming together to raise the stakes.”The prizes:

• GT3 Challenge presenting partner MPI (Max Papis Innovations Inc.) will award custom stitched steering wheels (special for these GT3 Challenge events) to each of the podium finishers. Details are being finalized.

• During the Saturday Mazda BBQ at Road Atlanta, Hoosier Racing Tire will raffle one set of Hoosier racing tires for GT3 competition to one GT3 Challenge competitor. All GT3 manufacturer drivers are eligible for the raffle, and invited to the lunch to be held at Mazda Motorsports’ trackside support hospitality paddock space. All Mazda drivers are also invited to the lunch on Saturday, November 3.

• While SCCA’s entries fees for each of the two races is TBA, Mazda is offering a subsidy of $175 per competitor, regardless of manufacturer (includes non-Mazda’s), for those who register and pay for entry into both GT3 races. A coupon code to be entered on MotorsportReg.com will be provided in advance of registering.

• Mazda offers contingency awards for the top three finishers in the SCCA ARRC race. For both GT3 Challenge races, however, Mazda is sweetening the pot. For each of these two races, Mazda drivers who place in the top 20 are eligible for the following contingency awards:
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  • 1st place overall: $400
  • 2nd place overall: $300
  • 3rd place overall: $250
  • 4th place overall: $225
  • 5th place overall: $200
  • 6th -15th place overall: $175 each
  • 16th – 20th place overall: $150 each
• More prizing and giveaways will be announced.

“Mazda is known for going above and beyond for our racers,” continued Cook. “I’m not sure many manufacturers have ever subsidized entries for their competition, but that’s one part of this strategy to support our racers and kick off these Challenge events. It’s all about ensuring our racers get to compete in full fields; if we need to help other brands cars, we will. Hoosier and MPI get this, and that’s why we are working so well together to make this happen.”

The SCCA ARRCAs the 2018 racing season draws to an end, the 25th running of the ARRC, November 1 – 4, is positioning itself to provide championship caliber competition with the fun that Club Racing is all about.

The weekend events will start with a Road Atlanta Test Day on Thursday. On Friday there will be two qualifying sessions for the ARRC Championship Race Groups and one qualifying session for the Atlantic Pro Cup Series. Friday’s action will conclude with the first of two Atlantic Pro Cup Series races. On Saturday, ARRC Championship racing will combine both National and Club classes and will race for the ARRC medals.

Sunday will be packed full of Feature Races for classes including FF, Formula FST, GP4, Spec-MX5, and GT3. And the weekend will end with a combined Endurance Championship Racing Series and Atlantic Pro Cup Series race. For more information go to www.atlantascca.org