Representatives from Mazda have released the calendar for the 2013 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. The 12-race schedule shares weekends with the IZOD IndyCar Series, the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron, and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

The calendar features many of the North America’s best road courses, including Sebring International Raceway, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and Road Atlanta. The series also returns to Houston’s temporary street circuit for the first time since 2007 as the race is relaunched. The MX-5 Cup makes its second consecutive appearance during the Coronado Speed Festival on Naval Base Coronado as the feature pro racing series.

In addition to the seven-event schedule that contains five doubleheaders, for the first time the series will feature an official pre-season test for teams and drivers at Sebring International Raceway.

“The competition in the MX-5 Cup is among the best in all of racing,” John Doonan, Motorsports Director, Mazda North American Operations, said. “We have a great schedule planned for 2013, including our second time at the Coronado Speed Festival and a long anticipated return to the streets of Houston. Some of our racers still talk about the 2007 MX-5 Cup under the lights in Houston."

The complete 2013 Playboy MX-5 Cup Calendar:

February 11-12           Sebring International Raceway Pre-Season Test
March 13-15               Sebring International Raceway (doubleheader) with American Le Mans Series
May 9-11                    Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (doubleheader) with American Le Mans Series
June 14-16                  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (doubleheader) with Grand-Am Rolex Series
July 19-21                   Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (doubleheader) with American Le Mans Series
Sept 20-22                   Naval Base Coronado Airport Course
October 4-6                 Houston Street Course with IZOD IndyCar Series
October 16-18             Road Atlanta (doubleheader) with American Le Mans Series

More information on the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup is available at www.MX-5Cup.com.

Photo by Chris Putman