We just received this press release from our friends at the Ford Mustang Challenge -
TOOELE, Utah -- With the current economic landscape experiencing a different dynamic, the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge has emerged as a popular choice of racers looking to make the most of their racing dollar. Close racing at reasonable rates in reliable but fun to drive machinery on some of the most compelling tracks on the continent has made Mustang Challenge’s 2009 championship an easy choice for a wide scope of racers.
After a tremendous inaugural season of operation in 2008, the series has grown the 2009 schedule for its sophomore season to include some of the continents most thrilling and challenging bends of asphalt, including Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew corners and the high-banked circuit on Homestead-Miami Speedway’s road course, which will set the stage for a cost-effective double-header race weekend to open the season. The early Homestead entry list, posted at www.mustangchallenge.com, shows that several drivers who raced in the 2008 Mustang Challenge championship are giving the series their vote of confidence by returning to compete for the full season, while there are also several new entries expected to participate.
“For a lot of guys looking around and doing the research about where a smart place to race is, the answer keeps coming back ‘Mustang Challenge,” said Mustang Challenge Marketing Director Jamie Slone. “The budget is fairly reasonable, but the experience is remarkable. Looking ahead to Homestead, we’ve had a lot of interest from racers who have gone through the years of racing in vintage or other more budget-intensive categories, and they are really reacting to the package we’ve got going, with competitive teams, the option to just arrive and drive, and a very close field, not to mention the Champion has an opportunity to move up to KONI Challenge with Ford Racing.”
One factor feeding the choice is the opportunity to be competitive on a budget by racing with the series’ official “Arrive-and-Drive” entry--Speedworks R&D.
Mustang Challenge organizers have confirmed that Speedworks R&D will once again provide the official entries in 2009 for drivers wishing to compete in the Series. Having first fielded entries in the 2008 Mustang Challenge championship, SpeedWorks R&D has several team Ford Mustang FR500S entries available for competition. Peter Parrott, who won the Indianapolis 500 three times as Rick Mears’ chief mechanic at Penske Racing, heads the Indianapolis-based team, which has already received a full-season commitment for one team entry.
“For a lot of the people who race with us, turning up to the track knowing that your car is going to be as competitive as you are can be the best way to go racing from a value point of view, now more than ever,” said Parrott. “These Ford Mustang FR500S machines are clearly a blast to race, and the series does a lot of smart things to keep the focus on the fun, rather than spending money on the cars. So that keeps the racing is very competitive. We are going to some great tracks and going to be part of some very big events in 2009, so we have already had a lot of interest in what we are doing.”
Speedworks R&D can provide a package that is based on the full championship, or will also work with drivers interested in racing in individual race meetings on a custom basis.
In addition, Speedworks R&D can also provide race preparation services for drivers who already own the Ford Mustang FR500S and are looking for a team to manage race-to-race logistics and on-site event support.
The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge season will open on March 13-15 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
About Ford Racing Mustang Challenge:
The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is a new professional racing series co-developed by Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park. Utilizing the new Ford Mustang FR500S and sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association, the Mustang Challenge series is a support series to major professional road racing events across North America. Mustang Challenge is an affordable, challenging platform for racers who want to compete in a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive car on a level playing field that showcases driver ability in high-profile events. A competitive point structure and generous purses make the Mustang Challenge The Place to Race!
www.mustangchallenge.com
