Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Final Round, Laguna Seca, 2017

Patrick Gallagher won the final round at Laguna Seca and the championship.

Based around the 4th generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, this series provides close racing at six North American venues and provides the winner with a $200,000 "Mazda Road to 24" scholarship.  These 2 litre slick shod open 2 seater sports cars provide extremely close racing and they reward smooth drivers who don’t make mistakes.   At the September IMSA meeting at Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca, the final two rounds of the championship were held.  24 year old Patrick Gallagher took both rounds at Laguna Seca,  thus making it eight wins out of twelve races and winning the championship.  Robert Stout sealed Rookie of the Year with a fifth place. The photos below are of the twelfth and final round held on the Saturday, which was a race of 45 minutes duration.  Most are taken from around the famous Corkscrew turn and Rainey Curve.

Pole Sitter Robby Foley leads the field through the Corkscrew early in the race.  Patrick Gallagher is looking menacing in second place.   They finished in reverse order.

Side by side battle out of the Corkscrew with Bryan Ortiz on the outside and Drake Kemper on the inside.

Keith Jensen in the Corkscrew.

More side by side action in the Corkscrew. Alex Bouchoura in the white car and Ashton Harrison in the red car.

IMSA Prototypes at Laguna Seca, if you click here.

IMSA Le Mans GT cars at Laguna Seca if you click here.

Lamboghini Super Trofeo cars at Laguna Seca, if you click here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

A long stream of Mazdas but one has got on to the dirt at turn 10.