Thursday, January 03, 2008
The BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda opens with its traditional date, the 12 Hours of Sebring. Photo by Sidell Tilghman
LAKEVILLE, Conn. – The BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda has released its 2008 schedule, a 14-race championship that opens mid-March. All seven Skip Barber National race weekends – there are two 30-minute races per weekend, plus practice and qualifying – are in support of major spectator shows. The opener is at the Sebring 12-Hour and the closer is at the Petit Le Mans event at the newest Skip Barber Racing base location, Road Atlanta. In between are races at VIR, Mosport, Barber Park, Road America and the all-new Thunderbolt Raceway in southern New Jersey. Todd Snyder, vice president of racing for Skip Barber, said, ‘‘The National already has a solid reputation for introducing and developing star talent to the racing world,’’ citing A.J. Allmendinger, Scott Speed and Marco Andretti as the most recent proof. ‘‘Drivers are succeeding on the Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Ladder that now starts with Skip Barber, steps up to Star Mazda and culminates in the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. It is an incredibly efficient, not to mention exciting, system for developing the next generation of racing stars.’’ Of particular note is the early August race weekend at Road America, where all three Mazda-driven series – Skip Barber National, Star Mazda and Champ Car Atlantic – are on the slate. As in 2007, drivers 40 or older will be scored separately in pursuit of a Masters Division championship.
2008 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda scheduleSeven double-race weekends Rounds 1 & 2, March 12-14, Sebring International Raceway with American Le Mans Series Rounds 3 & 4, April 25-27, Virginia International Raceway with Grand-Am Rounds 5 & 6, June 13-15, Mosport International Raceway with Grand-Am Rounds 7 & 8, July 18-20, Barber Motorsports Park with Grand-Am Rounds 9 & 10, August 8-10, Road America with Champ Car Rounds 11 & 12, August 29-31, Thunderbolt/New Jersey Motorsports Park with Grand-Am Rounds 13 & 14, October 1-3, Road Atlanta with American Le Mans Series Rick Roso
