January 14, 2021 – There are a few people behind the scenes of every motorsports venture that rarely get the accolades but always put in some of the hardest work. This is true to form with Hixon Motor Sports newest team member Andrew Carbonell. Not a Driver, Engineer or Team Owner, Carbonell is the HMS Driver Coach and will take on the duties throughout the 2021 Global MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich® Tires season with the growing Hixon Motor Sports program.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Hixon Motor Sports organization in the Mazda MX-5 Cup in 2021,” explained Andrew Carbonell. “Bryan has put together an incredibly strong lineup of drivers, sponsors and crew to battle for class honors in what is one of the most competitive classes running today. The team chemistry during our pre-season test in December is a testament to the hard work HMS has done to secure the right people for the job.”
“Having a coach with the caliber of Andrew is a major asset to our program,” explained Bryan Hixon. “His knowledge, experience, skills and true professionalism bring HMS to a whole new level. Andrew is a driver’s coach and understands what is needed to succeed both on and off the track.”
Based out of Miami, Florida, Carbonell has been racing, coaching and instructing for 15 years. Starting in go karts securing a World Karting Association (WKA) Florida Championship before moving his way up through SCCA Spec Miata program to the professional ranks of sports car racing, ultimately accomplishing his goal of becoming a factory driver. Andrew has been a part of Mazda Motorsports programs since 2014 where he joined Mazda’s SKYACTIV-D GT racing program in the Rolex Grand Am series co-driving to the first win of the program. Carbonell also campaigned in the IMSA Continental Challenge, achieving numerous race wins and over twenty podium results. Well known for his record at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Carbonell has finished on the podium in all of his seven races, four of them being race wins.
In addition to racing, Andrew was one of the two factory drivers who completed the testing and development of Mazda’s turnkey homologated race car, the Mazda MX-5 cup car. Carbonell has assisted in Mazda’s scholarship shootouts every year since 2015 and has gone on to coach the MRT24 winner through their first seasons in Mazda MX-5 cup. Andrew also served as the driver steward for the Mazda MX-5 Cup series, assisting with race control during series events.
With on-track action at the Daytona International Speedway beginning Wednesday, January 27th, two wheel-to-wheel races will go green on the 28th and 29th as the 2021 season takes the green flag and Andrew Carbonell looks to assist HMS drivers to reach the top step of the podium.
For more information on Hixon Motor Sports or Andrew Carbonell, please contact RTD Media and Management via email to Mike@RTD-Media.com.