Mazda is the number one brand in road racing. It is the most involved car manufacturer in racing and on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other vehicle brand. Mazda started racing in the 1960’s and debuted on the international racing stage in the 1968 84 Hour Marathon de la Route endurance race at the Nurburgring in Germany. Mazda is the only Japanese manufacturer to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, accomplishing that honor in 1991 with the four-rotor 787B sports racer.

“Zoom-Zoom” is not just a marketing phrase. It is a way of life for Mazda. At the track you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the largest road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA’s Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first and second-generation Miatas, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda’s involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s premier road-racing circuits, and multiple race series including the Mazda MX-5 Cup, the Skip Barber National Series Presented by Mazda, the Star Mazda Championship, and the Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda.

These three open-wheel race series make up the official MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development system. The BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda series is positioned as a primary steppingstone for young drivers whose next step would be the Star Mazda Championship, then the Cooper Tire Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda.

Mazda has a pyramid of its own within IMSA, the sanctioning body for the American Le Mans Series. In addition to its partnership with Dyson Racing in LMP2, Mazda also has heavy involvement in the Star Mazda Championship and IMSA Lites, both IMSA-sanctioned series. Mazda drivers have the potential to move up through the sportscar ranks as they progress in their racing careers.

Mazda’s racing presence is a competitive factor in an even wider cross section of racing. Last year, Mazdas also mounted challenges in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact Drag Racing Pro FWD and Modified, and a pair of Grand-Am classes: GT racing in the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special and ST competition in the KONI Challenge.

Nothing showcases Mazda’s philosophy of 'Always the Soul of a Sports Car' in every car they build better than their depth of involvement in these multiple levels of racing. It is a car company driven by engineering, ingenuity and a passion for a true driving experience.