Pro Mazda announces incentive program

The 2017 Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires will see a reduction in the number of events from eight to six and the number of races from 16 to 14. The purpose is to reduce budgets while still providing a mix of road, street and oval courses.

Just last week, Pro Mazda had to cancel this weekend’s Iowa Speedway race due to having only six entrants, and instead add a third race to the end-of-season event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. 

The Pro Mazda champion’s scholarship to advance to Indy Lights will be increased from $590,300 to $790,300 next year bringing the total event and year end prizes to over $1.1m. The Cooper Tires Pole Award will be increased to $1,500 per race.

Additional enhancements will include a one-day Indy Lights test for each of the top-three finishers in the championship, and a new Pro Mazda Rookie of the Year Mazda Car Award which features a new Mazda street car of choice to the winning driver.

The PM-18 will be made available to teams by June 1, 2017 providing an opportunity for a summer testing program with the new chassis in preparation for 2018. Andersen Promotions will also offer teams a $5,000 discount on the PM-18 for each driver who commits to running the entire 2017 season in addition to its almost 20 percent full-season entry fee discount.

2016 incentives, too

An additional $52,500 has been allocated to the 2016 prize structure. Championship Class finishing positions sixth through tenth will now earn an increased purse of $1,000 for each race. In the National Class, $17,500 has been added with $1,500 for a race win, $750 for second and $250 for a third-place finish.

For non-points entrants for the remainder of this season, race entry fees will be reduced by 50 percent for the Championship Class and will be free for all National Class entries.  A team bonus in the form of a $500 credit off of 2017 team registration fees will be issued for each new car/driver added for one or more races in 2016 up to a total credit of $2500. Teams adding a new driver for all remaining events will also receive one free set of Cooper tires.

“All of us at Andersen Promotions, Mazda and Cooper Tires are fully committed to the Pro Mazda class and to securing the healthy grids we have seen the past few years,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “With the PM-18 making its competition debut in 2018, we felt the need for a fresh and strong commitment now and I have to thank our great partners in Mazda and Cooper Tires for their increased support.

“We believe the opportunity to reduce budgets with a shortened season next year combined with a summer testing program of the new car and an increased prize package and program incentives will open the door for more drivers to join the series.

"Our 2016 incentives are designed for drivers to have the opportunity to jump in now and compete at three great venues.”