BATTERY TENDER ANNOUNCED AS TITLE PARTNER FOR 2015 MAZDA MX-5 CUP

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --  Mazda Motorsports is thrilled to announce that global, market-leading technology brand Battery Tender joins the Mazda MX-5 Cup as title partner. For 2015, the series will be known as the "Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires."

"As we embark on our 10^th Anniversary of Mazda MX-5 Cup, we're elated to welcome the undisputed industry leader in battery charger technology – Battery Tender – as title partner of our series." said John Doonan, director of Mazda Motorsports.  "Throughout the paddock the MX-5 Cup is considered 'must see' racing with many races determined on the last lap, if not the last turn.  Key to our success are great partners, great teams and drivers, and great events.  We're equally happy that our partnership with both BFGoodrich Tires and SCCA Pro Racing will continue for 2015."

Evin Prelec, Director of Marketing and Advertising for DelTran noted that "DelTran Battery Tender is excited to announce our partnership with Mazda and the successful Mazda MX-5 Cup Series.  We are like-minded brands with similar goals, objectives, and values and both of our organizations strive towards introductions of industry leading, innovative and efficient products. DelTran chargers were the first to pass the California Efficiency Compliant test while Mazda has brought SKYACTIV Technology to the forefront. We look forward to maximizing our title partnership of the Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich and are already collaborating on ways to leverage our collective design, engineering and technical capabilities to bring exciting new products to market." 

"BFGoodrich Tires is proud to again partner with Mazda in support of Mazda MX-5 Cup with the g-Force R1-S tire," stated Peter Calhoun, Motorsports Marketing Manager, BFGoodrich Tires. "2014 was a stellar demonstration of Mazda MX-5 and BFGoodrich performance and 2015 should be even better."

For the 2014 season, the total series payout was in excess of $500,000.  The top prize of the Mazda MX-5 Cup is a Mazda Scholarship towards the next higher rung of the Mazda SportsCar Racing Academy ladder.  2014 Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion Kenton Koch will use his scholarship to move up to IMSA Prototype Lites for the 2015 season.

The 2015 season will consist of six weekends supporting the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, IndyCar, and the NASCAR XFINITY Series.  All weekends will be doubleheaders.

Within the Mazda MX-5 Cup, there is a separate class for cars prepared by the Skip Barber Racing School. Their race within a race is classified as the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge. 

2015 will be the final year for the third generation Mazda MX-5s to compete in the Battery Tender MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich.  Beginning in 2016, the fourth generation Mazda MX-5 will debut on racetracks around the globe.

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports, and MAZDASPEED
Mazda is a leading player in all aspects of sports car racing with an emphasis on endurance road racing.  Mazda is the number-one brand for road-racers across North America among both club racers and professionals.  Thousands of Mazda-powered grassroots racers compete in various classes with the SCCA and NASA highlighted by Spec Miata, the world's largest spec class with over 2,500 cars built.  Via the Mazda SportsCar Racing Academy, and the Mazda Road to Indy, Mazda supports racers at all levels of the sport from club racing up to the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship where it races with production SKYACTIV Technology.

Mazda remains the only Asian car company to score an overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1991).  Mazda has had a naming rights agreement at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca since 2000.

Mazda Motorsports is managed by Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).  MNAO 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.

Consumer information can be found at www.mazdausa.com, with press information at www.mazdausamedia.com.  Racers and fans can follow the action on Facebook (Mazda Motorsports), Twitter (@mazdaracing), Instagram (MazdaMotorsport) and www.mazdamotorsports.com  

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SOURCE Mazda Motorsports

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