The Toyo Tires Spec Miata Championship kicked off the 2013 season with Round 1 on May 26 at the 2.75km, 11-turn Road Race course at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. This fantastic growing new Spec Miata Road Racing Series is a grueling 15 race event that tests the competitors stamina, ability and preparation right to the last event on September 22. Round 1 is typically a double points paying event and series top contenders are keen to get into the game early to ensure they are in Championship contention right to the end. Round 1 included three 15-lap Sprint races throughout the day under a dry sky and excellent racing conditions.
2012 Series Champion, Bruce McNutt, Lantz, N.S. was in top form as he captured 2 wins from the 3 races and is currently leading the Championship. Cal Vandaalen, Grand Lake, N.S. captured a 2nd & two 3rd place finishes to capture an impressive 2nd overall in the Championship. The race team of Andy Mitchel and Brian Partridge, Hantsport, N.S. grabbed a 2nd in one of the races to ensure the 3rd spot in the points Championship. Series Rookie, Kevin Sibley, Truro, N.S. finished well in the points in all the races to sit in the 4th spot in the Championship. 2012 Series runner-up, Blu Vandaalen, Grand Lake, N.S. was on his way to a near perfect day with 1 win & a very strong 2nd place finish when he suffered a mechanical breakdown in race 3. Blu sits in 5th place overall. Another Series Rookie, Brian Bower, Bedford, N.S. impressively completed all three races well in the points to sit 6th overall in the Championship. The Father & Son team of Steve & Josh Ellis, Wittenburg, N.S. suffered an electrical failure in the last sprint race and now sits 7th overall.
Round 2 takes place on Sunday, June 23 at AMP with races 4,5,6 of the Series. All competitors are expected to take the green flag at this event, so its sure to be very exciting indeed. The Spec Miata Championship Drivers Association would like to thank the 2013 Series Partners including;
- Toyo Tires Canada Limited
- Mazda Canada
- Mazdaspeed USA
- Mills Mazda, Truro, N.S.
- Ellis Import Service
- Scotia Tire Limited
- Dairy Queen/Orange Julius
Current Competitors
- Blu Vandaalen, Grand Lake, N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Cal Vandaalen, Grand Lake, N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Steve Ellis, Wittenburg, N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Josh Ellis, Wittenburg, N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Bruce McNutt, Lantz, N.S. 1992 Mazda Miata
- Bill Anwyll, Fall River , N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Aaron Pettipas, Hatchet Lake , N.S. 1993 Mazda Miata
- Andy Mitchell, Hantsport, N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Steve Manley, Sydney, N.S. 2000 Mazda Miata
- Brian Partridge, Newport, N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Gerald Casley, Charlottetown, P.E.I. 1994 Mazda Miata
- Scott Giannou, St. John’s, N.L. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Kevin Sibley, Truro, N.S. 1990 Mazda Miata
- Brian Bower, Bedford, N.S. 2000 Mazda Miata
The Toyo Tires Spec Miata Championship was created by the Spec Miata Championship Drivers Association (SMCDA), which is a non-profit society that is dedicated to creating a fantastic Spec Road Racing Series that is fun, competitive and features a low-cost approach that is enjoyable by all. For this Series, the SMCDA includes purchase discounts, incentives, and has developed a contingency fund and prize payout available to all competitors.
The Spec Miata (SM) class is intended to provide the opportunity to compete in low cost, production-based cars with limited modifications, suitable for racing competition. The rules are intentionally designed to be more open than the Showroom Stock class but more restricted than the Improved Touring or GT class. Spec cars, such as SCCA Spec Miata take the car out of the equation and it becomes more driver vs. driver. This is the purest form of racing. The idea is to eliminate the race car element and focus on the drivers, their car setup, the competition, and to create an even playing field for everyone. This series shall be fun to watch and participate regardless of their speed. The Mazda Miata has been competing very successfully for over a decade in the US. The Spec Miata is a proven concept and is very marketable. And now it has finally made its debut in Canada. The Toyo Tires Proxes R888 Competition tire is the tire of choice for the series.
Event Dates
- May 26
- June 23
- July 14
- August 11
- September 22
Series Contacts
