Monticello, N.Y. (27 September 2018)-The season-finale Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich weekend at Monticello Motor Club will feature two races on Saturday to determine the overall series champion. Six drivers enter the weekend with a mathematical shot at the title, and the $200,000 in support from Mazda that will go with it.
But that isn’t the only championship that will be decided, as the 2018 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup season saw the debut of the Challenger Class presented by Monticello Motor Club. The championship, which will see the winner emerge with a custom motorsports experience with Mazda valued at $20,000, is comprised of drivers who are getting their start in professional racing.
Leading the championship with a near-insurmountable 31 point advantage is Alex Wolenski, who has relished his first full season in Global Mazda MX-5 Cup competition.
“I think the Challenger Class championship is a great idea,” said Wolenski. “It is designed for gentleman drivers getting into pro racing, and it gives us incentive so that we can compete against each other and chase something that is obtainable. I’m very humbled by the (overall) top ten that I got (in Portland). That was a goal of mine this season. I wanted to do well in the Challenger championship, but also start to get closer to that overall top ten.”
The Challenger Class has attracted a lot of drivers who are also members of Monticello Motor Club. As the COO of the New York automotive club, Wolenski has a high level of familiarity with his Challenger classmates.
“We have all progressed together this season, and that has made it fun,” said Wolenski. “There was never a moment where I didn't feel like I had pressure. Anytime I made a small mistake, there was another guy from my class right behind me. And there were multiple times that I was chasing someone but just couldn't catch them. So we are a really well-matched group and it is quite competitive.”
The move to Global Mazda MX-5 Cup competition started slowly, but then accelerated quickly for Wolenski after experiencing the Global MX-5 Cup machine.
“I started doing drivers education with the Porsche Club for several years, then made the move to wheel to wheel racing three or four years ago with PCA,” said Wolenski. “I did several of those races and did well and was excited about them. But as the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car became available, it caught my interest and I started to follow the series. I had the chance to enter a race weekend at Laguna last year. It was the most humbling thing I’ve ever done, and also the most addictive!”
Wolenski holds a 31-point advantage heading into the Saturday finale as he hopes to lock in the title to cap off the season.