NEWS // CHRISTODOULOU TO TEST INDY LIGHTS @ MID-OHIO

2009 Star Mazda champion turned GRAND-AM road racer, Adam Christodoulou, has been offered the chance to test an Andersen Racing Indy Lights car on Thursday, June 10 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The test, which was made possible by Performance Friction, is part of a previously-announced expansion of the Indy Racing League's 'Road to Indy' program in which the 2009 and 2010 Star Mazda series champions are guaranteed a test with a top Firestone Indy Lights team... [read more]

"I've been an open-wheel racer all my life, so I'm very excited to get back behind the wheel of a single-seater for my test with the Andersen Racing Indy Lights team," says Christodoulou. "And the fact that my time in the car will take place during a private test with several top teams participating will give me a good comparison of my pace against other the top drivers in the series. Right now I'm focused 100% on helping Mazda win the 2010 GRAND-AM GT class, but I'm definitely keeping my options open for the future. The opportunities that arise from being part of the Star Mazda Championship, the Road to Indy and the MAZDASPEED Ladder are much greater than anything that exists in Europe. These programs have provided a huge boost to my career and I would recommend them to any driver who is serious about advancing their ambitions to have a professional career in motorsports."

Image and Info: Star Mazda
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

NEWS // ADAM CHRISTODOULOU WINS @ LIME ROCK

In only their fourth race, SpeedSource’s Adam Christodoulou and John Edwards scored a win in the Rolex GT Series at Lime Rock. The two drivers, who are both graduates of Mazda's development driver program, led a 1-2-3-4 finish for Mazda's RX-8, adding to its already already impressive racing pedigree. A strategic pit call put the #07 Corvette in the early lead, but Christodoulou took over on lap 39. From that point on, Christodoulou and Edwards were unstoppable. And while the #30 Mazda led briefly thanks to quick pit work by the Racers Edge crew, the #68 SpeedSource machine was the car to beat all race... [read more]

“I think the last ten minutes were probably the longest ten minutes of my life!” Edwards said. “They were certainly the longest since my last race last year that I had to go through the same thing with pressure from behind and trying to stay ahead and not make any mistakes.”

The pair of open-wheel turned sports car drivers shined thanks in part to their brand new SpeedSource Mazda. The car, which was completed only days before heading to Lime Rock, replaced an older car borrowed from Jack Smith (owner of Yellow Dragon Racing), completed its first laps on track just hours before taking victory.

"I'm just thrilled, the heat today was unbelievable. but apart from that, it's been an awsome day, the car handled beautifully, It didn't have any faults to it. The SpeedSource team put it together in the last month, and the first test we had was this morning. First, second and third today for Mazda on the podium - you can't beat that," smiled Adam Christodoulou.

And while Edwards and Christodoulou didn’t have the seat time or the car development of their teammates in the opening three races, it all came together today.

“Every time we hop in the car, I know we learn something,” Christodoulou said. “Just from the experience of those three races in the older spec car its helped hugely, without the other car, we would have been on the side watching the start of the GRAND-AM series. I know the race experience and the development of the car have brought it all together.”

Edwards added: “There’s no one change they made to the new car. There’s an endless list of very small changes that have made a difference to the car. That’s just part of development and part of Mazda learning of what works with the car and what works with the tires. Every time SpeedSource makes a new car, it’s the best car they built because they learn as they go. That showed here today with the very first day of the car and we came in P1.”

It marked the fourth victory in five races for SpeedSource entries, which has placed all three of its cars at the top of the podium this season.

"Every one of the SpeedSource cars has won a race this year, and that speeds volumes for the effort we put in at the shop," said team owner Tremblay. "The No. 68 was a brand-new car – today was the first time it's been on the track – and it's a credit to the Mazda ladder program to give us two young drivers with this kind of talent."

There’s no rest for Rolex Series competitors, as the Six Hours of The Glen starts this Saturday, June 5th.

Photo: Curtis Creager
Editorial: Adam Christodoulou

NEWS // DALY TAKES STAR MAZDA POLE @ ST.PETERSBURG

We just received word that Conor Daly has claimed the pole position for tomorrows Star Mazda race at the Honda Grand Prix of St.Petersburg. Daly, who was fastest in yesterday's practice, managed a 1:10.352 (92.108) lap of the 1.8 mile, 14 turn St. Petersburg street circuit in his #22 Juncos Racing Mazda... [read more]

"The car felt really good this morning and the Juncos Racing team and I are ready for a good race on Sunday," said Daly. "The second session for the faster cars being so short it has really scrambled the grid and left a number of quick cars starting back in the field. I'm sure they're going to want to move up as soon as possible, so the start and early laps will be exciting for them. Personally, I'm hoping for a long, uneventful run at the front to victory… but we're also prepared for a lot of full-course yellows."

Starting alongside Daly will be Brazilian rookie Joao Victor Horto, who turned a 1:10.794 ((1.533 mph) lap in his #18 Team Apex Mazda. Starting third, after a heroic effort by his JDC Motorsports crew to repair his severely damaged #19 JDC Motorsports Mazda, will be Brazilian driver Caio Lara.

Star Mazda @ St.Petersburg Grand Prix // Qualifying Results:

1. Conor Daly 1:10.352 92.108
2. Joao Horto 1:10.794 91.533
3. Caio Lara 1:11.049 91.205
4. Anders Krohn 1:11.307 90.875
5. Rusty Mitchell 1:11.317 90.862
6. Connor De Phillippi 1:11.403 90.752
7. David Ostella 1:11.565 90.547
8. Chris Miller 1:11.578 90.531
9. Court Vernon 1:11.610 90.490
10. Michael Furfari 1:11.762 90.298
11. Nick Andries 1:11.763 90.297
12. Jorge Goncalvez 1:11.903 90.121
13. Tristan Vautier 1:11.999 90.001
14. Richard Kent 1:12.399 89.504
15. Tatiana Calderon 1:12.842 88.960
16. Hayden Duerson 1:13.156 88.578
17. Carlos Linares 1:14.018 87.546
18. Patrick O'Neill 1:14.783 86.651

Image and Info: Star Mazda
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

NEWS // CONOR DALY TOPS TIME SHEETS @ ST.PETERSBURG

Ahead of this weekends Star Mazda race at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, American Conor Daly finished yesterday's practice session atop the time sheets, laying down a best-of-session lap of 1:10.656 (91.712 mph) in his #22 Juncos Racing Mazda. Connor, son of racing legend Derek Daly, finished last seasons Star Mazda Championship third overall.

Follow the link for complete results from yesterday's practice session... [read more]

Star Mazda @ St.Petersburg Grand Prix // Practice Results:

1 Conor Daly 1:10.656 91.712
2 Tristan Vautier 1:10.776 91.556
3 Mikael Grenier 1:10.869 91.436
4 Richard Kent 1:10.904 91.391
5 Jorge Goncalvez 1:10.976 91.298
6 Anders Krohn 1:11.377 90.786
7 Joao Horto 1:11.383 90.778
8 Caio Lara 1:11.426 90.723
9 Connor De Phillippi 1:11.595 90.509
10 Court Vernon 1:11.730 90.339
11 Nick Andries 1:11.852 90.185
12 David Ostella 1:11.890
13 Michael Furfari 1:11.971 90.036
14 Chris Miller 1:12.060 89.925
15 Juan Piedrahita 1:12.569 89.294
16 Patrick O'Neill 1:12.660 89.182
17 Rusty Mitchell 1:12.740 89.084
18 Tatiana Calderon 1:13.166 88.566
19 Hayden Duerson 1:13.263 88.448
20 Carlos Linares 1:13.345 88.350
21 JW Roberts 1:14.620 86.840
22 Carlos Conde 1:14.887 86.530
23 Walt Bowlin 1:17.386 83.736

Image and Info: Star Mazda
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

NEWS // '09 STAR MAZDA CHAMP READY FOR GRAND-AM DEBUT

This weekend will see a major transition for talented young British single seater driver, Adam Christodoulou, as he switches to GRAND-AM GT racing at this weekends Homestead Grand Prix.

Having transferred his talents across the pond for 2009, the 20 year old claimed the Star Mazda Series crown with an impressive record of results following his British Formula Renault Championship title back in the UK at the end of 2008.

Earlier this month MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development confirmed the change of direction for the former UK karting champion and announced that he would be paired with 2009 Atlantic Championship winner John Edwards in a SpeedSource-prepared Mazda RX-8 for their GT debut... [read more]

This being the first time either young driver has raced a Grand-Am GT car, will also mark the start of a full-season program where the two will hone their skills in an unfamiliar form of racing, with the intention of helping Mazda win the 2010 Grand-Am GT class manufacturers’ championship.

The RX-8 will be entered by SpeedSource/Newman Wachs Racing. The car has been sourced from Yellow Dragon Motorsports, owned by long-time Mazda club-racer Jack Smith, and will be prepared by Florida-based SpeedSource, Inc,. SpeedSource’s Castrol Syntec-sponsored RX-8 won the GT class at the 2008 and 2010 runnings of the Rolex-24 at Daytona.

With such an impressive single seater track record behind him, Adam is now looking forward to moving into the world of GT racing and told us “After a fantastic two seasons racing in 2008 and 2009 winning two titles back to back in two different championships from around the world, I’m now being thrown my next challenge. This is a big step for me as I have never competed out of single-seater racing, I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel and proving to everyone that I’m competitive in whichever series I race. I think it’s going to be great working with John, as I know we both want the same thing: to be fast, competitive and to win races. I don’t think I could have been partnered up with a better team and team mate.Without the MAZDASPEED ladder and its support of young drivers,I may not have been driving this year.”

Adam will be providing CTD readers with regular updates throughout his debut GT season. And stay tuned to CTD for an in depth profile and photoshoot soon.

Editorial: Neil Tozer
Images and Info: Adam Christodoulou

NEWS // STAR MAZDA CHAMP MOVES TO FIA GT3

Mike Guasch of Walnut Creek, California, who won the 2009 Star Mazda Championship 'Master Series' title, will make the switch from open-wheel racing to sports cars in 2010.

Guasch will pilot the #22 United Autosports-MOLECULE Labs-MG4 Manufacturing Audi R8 LMS car in the FIA GT3 European Championship this upcoming season. His co-driver will be Mark Patterson, another former Star Mazda Master Series competitor, who for the last five years, has competed in the Grand Am Rolex series driving a Daytona Prototype... [read more]

Guasch and Patterson will share the car in more than a dozen 1-hour events held in six countries, including Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Portugal and Italy during a season that stretches from May 2nd to October 31st.

To race in the FIA GT-3 series will be a great adventure and I frankly can’t wait,” said Guasch. “The caliber of teams and drivers is absolutely top-shelf, and there is a lot of interest from the media because Henri and I make up an all-American team. I've lived in Europe in the past, so I know the culture and the food and I expect to spend a lot of time there testing and working to be competitive in the series."

A semi-retired businessman and entrepreneur, Guasch clinched his 2009 Master Series championship with six in-class victories driving the #91 JDC Motorsports-Molecule Labs-MG4 Manufacturing Mazda.

"The Star Mazda Championship is a tremendous training ground for drivers of any age, and I feel well-prepared to take on this new challenge," says Guasch. "I'll get to drive my new GT car for the first time later this week, but I recently did a three-hour endurance race in a Porsche to get a feel for racing a sports car. It’s a somewhat claustrophobic experience at first, with all that metal around you, and while the car is more powerful and faster in a straight line than my Star Mazda, it reacts much more slowly in the corners. But I got the hang of it pretty quickly and turned some respectable laps, so with even more time testing and racing my new R8 LMS, I expect to be very competitive; it's just a matter of dedication, that's what makes anyone good at what they do."

Image: Mike Guasch
Info: Star Mazda
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

EVENT // 2010 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

ColdTrackDay correspondent, Brendan Lester, is live at the Chicago Auto Show. Having already provided us with an exclusive look at the unveiling of Delta Wing's 2012 IndyCar concept, Brendan has since been able to wander the show floor, capturing images of just a few of the cars on display.

Follow the link for a look... [read more]























Stay tuned for continued coverage of the 2010 Chicago Auto Show!

Photo: Brendan Lester
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

NEWS // FIVE FORMER STAR MAZDA DRIVERS TO RACE @ DAYTONA

Dane Cameron, winner of the 2007 Star Mazda Championship, is but one of five former Star Mazda drivers expected to race at this weekends Rolex 24 at Daytona. Cameron, who raced in the Grand-Am GT class last year, driving the Racers Edge Mazda RX8, will this year share driving duties in the #2 Beyer Racing/uberwürx Crawford Prototype with Jared Beyer... [read more]

Other Star Mazda series alumni expected to race this weekend include, 2008 series champion John Edwards (#30 Racers Edge RX-8 GT), 2005 series champion Raphael Matos (#59 Brumos Racing DP), 2002 winner Guy Cosmo and 1999 champion Joey Hand (#94 Turner Motorsport GT).  Also in the field are Colin Braun (#75 Krohn Racing DP), Brian Frisselle and Mark Patterson (#6 Michael Shank Racing DP) and John Pew (#60 Michael Shank Racing DP).

The 48th annual Rolex 24 at Daytona is scheduled to start at 12:30pm PST Saturday. Live SPEED coverage begins at 3pm and runs through 10pm, and resumes Sunday from 7am-4pm.

Images and Info: MAZDASPEED
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

NEWS // 20+ CARS EXPECTED @ STAR MAZDA TEST SESSION

The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, now in its 20th year, has just announced that 20+ teams are expected at this weekend's three-day test at the Sebring International Raceway. Among those expected to attend is Anders 'The Viking' Krohn, who is now entering his second year of Star Mazda competition. Krohn, who was named Rookie of the Year in 2008, went on to win the championship in the F2000 series with nine victories in 14 races driving for Andersen Racing... [read more]

Also expected at this weekends test are a pair of lesser known open-wheel racers, both of whom will be driving for JDC Motorsport in 2010. The first is Connor De Phillippi, winner of the 2009 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda, and winner of the prestigious Walter Hayes Trophy at the Silverstone circuit in England. The other is Chris Miller, a 20 year-old American from Edina, Minnesota who won the 2009 F2000 Championship driving for JDC and will campaign the #85 Miller Milling/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports Mazda for the 2010 season.

With a full field of cars expected at this weekends test session, and a plethora of young, talented drivers, the 2010 Star Mazda Championship is shaking out to be quite the series.

Images and Info: Star Mazda
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey