Star Mazda Series 2002 Schedule

Star Mazda Announces 2002 Pro Series Slate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--Marking its fourth year as a supporting event for the American LeMans Series and 12th year as a professional series, the 2002 Star Mazda Series North American Championship will consist of a nine-race schedule, which includes eight ALMS events and one race with CART (June 7-9 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca).

"This is the best cross-section of premier venues and major markets the Star Mazda Series has so far assembled," said series administrator Gary Rodrigues. "It has taken 11 seasons of hard work to get to this point and our heart-felt thanks go to the series racers, teams, sponsors and driver graduates who have made us proud and helped us gain the recognition the series deserves."

The championship will open at Sebring for the historic 12-hour endurance race, March 13-16. In May, the series travels to Sears Point with ALMS, followed by two races in June. The first will be with CART race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, followed three weeks later with a first-time stop for the Star Mazda Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In July, both races are new to the Star Mazda schedule, including a race at Road America and then the new street race in Washington, D.C., at RFK Stadium. The August race at Mosport is slated for the weekend of Aug. 16-17, and then the teams head back to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Sept. 21-22, ALMS date. The series concludes Oct. 11-12, at Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans weekend.

Rodrigues expects the entire Star Mazda Series North American Championship will be televised on Speedvision with broadcast dates to be announced at a later time.

"As I've stated in the past, our relationship with ALMS continues to be mutually rewarding," said Rodrigues, who has overseen the series' successful growth. "I'm proud to have been with this racing organization since its inaugural year, and I appreciate the testing opportunities our drivers have with teams like Tom Milner's BMW Team PTG and World Speed Motorsports' Rising Star Pro Formula Atlantic program."

2002 Star Mazda Series Schedule

RACE DATE       LOCATION
March 13-16     Sebring (ALMS, with 12-Hours)
May 18-19       Sears Point Raceway (ALMS)
June 8-9        Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (CART)
June 29-30      Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (ALMS)
July 6-7        Road America (ALMS)
July 20-21      RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. (ALMS)
Aug 16-17       Mosport Park (ALMS)
Sept. 21-22     Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (ALMS)
Oct. 11-12      Road Atlanta (ALMS, with Petit LeMans)

STAR MAZDA SERIES / 10639 Glenoaks / Pacoima, CA  91331 / (818) 686-3359 / www.starmazda.com