5 May 2020 -- The entry list for the first round of the Ricmotech iRacing Global Mazda MX-5 Cup includes a veritable who’s who of Global Mazda MX-5 Cup racing. Amongst the 35 entries are three former Battery Tender® Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires® Champions, five Mazda Road to 24 Shootout winners and two IMSA drivers.
The Ricmotech iRacing Global Mazda MX-5 Cup series kicks off Tuesday, May 5, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Practice begins at 6:00pm ET followed by qualifying, then racing action begins at 8:15pm. The race will stream live on Mazda Motorsport’s Facebook page and on the ApexRacingTV YouTube page.
It’s well known that on any given weekend, more Mazdas are road raced across America than any other brand. That popularity carries over to iRacing, where the Mazda MX-5 Cup is the most raced car on the platform.
Among the entrants vying for $4,000 in prize money are former Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Champions Nikko Reger (2018), Patrick Gallagher (2017) and Steven McAleer (2012). Other notables include Mazda Road to 24 Shootout winners Justin Piscitell (2009), Glenn McGee (2015), Matt Cresci (2016), Selin Rollan (2017) and Michael Carter (2018).
McGee found his way to MX-5 Cup via sim racing. He was the first MX-5 Cup iRacing Champion, which earned him a spot in the 2015 Mazda Road to 24 Shootout, which he won. His experience with the MX-5 Cup car both real and virtual platforms will likely make him a tough opponent.
McGee scored the fasted lap overall in an open practice (1:39.071) on May 3, but it was Cresci who recorded the fastest lap average (1:40.356).
"I started my racing career in simulators almost a decade ago and haven't really touched them since,” Cresci said. “However, the pandemic has pushed my work and coaching back to the virtual world for the time being. I have a very basic wheel/pedal setup, paired with a small single monitor. However, I did finally upgrade from the infamous "desk and carpet setup" to a proper racing seat and mount.”
While they are technically new to MX-5 Cup racing, guest drivers Harry Tincknell and Oliver Jarvis are no strangers to Mazda race cars: both are drivers in Mazda’s IMSA WeatherTech DPi program. Neither driver will be eligible to score points, just bragging rights.
Ricmotech Racing Simulators (https://www.ricmotech.com) provides technical support for the Battery Tender® Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires® eSeries and its registered drivers. The support includes administration, timing, iRacing software guidance and instruction, tech support on race day as well as during the practice sessions.
Don’t miss the first Ricmotech iRacing Global Mazda MX-5 Cup race, live on Mazda Motorsports Facebook and ApexRacingTV YouTube, Tuesday at 8:15pm ET.